NBC anchor Lester Holt said Thursday that the battle over impeachment is likely to get uglier, creating new challenges for the news media.

During a rare commentary on "NBC Nightly News," Holt said the nation's political divide is likely to widen over impeachment. He then said the "collective challenge" that those at his program vow to do every night is to demand nothing short of the truth.

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“If history is any guide this will only get uglier. And louder. And yes, further leach at this country’s political divide,” Holt said. “Which makes our collective challenge even more important: To listen. To ask. To examine the facts and demand nothing short of the truth. That’s what we endeavor to do here every night. And will continue to do as this story unfolds.” “If history is any guide this will only get uglier. And louder. And yes, further leach at this country’s political divide,” Holt said. “Which makes our collective challenge even more important: To listen. To ask. To examine the facts and demand nothing short of the truth. That’s what we endeavor to do here every night. And will continue to do as this story unfolds.”

An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released on Thursday shows 49 percent of Americans surveyed approve of the impeachment proceedings, while 46 percent disapprove. Five percent said they were unsure.