CBS News and the National Journal will broadcast a GOP primary debate in primetime on Saturday, November 12. The move makes CBS the first broadcast network to televise a primary debate in this election cycle. ABC News had been slated to host the first broadcast debate in December.

Focusing primarily on national security and foreign policy, the debate will be moderated by Scott Pelley and former Fox News-turned NJer Major Garrett.

“The first debate of the campaign on broadcast television will be on CBS,” said CBS News president David Rhodes. “Scott Pelley and all of us at CBS News look forward to a spirited discussion of the issues with all of the Republican candidates in Spartanburg next month.”

The debate will air on CBS from 8-9 PM ET, with additional content featured online, the next day on “Face the Nation” and to local affiliates.

More information, including the official announcement, after the jump.

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Major Garrett was back on Fox News Channel for the first time as a daytime guest today since leaving the network almost a year ago. Garrett was a guest in the 2 p.m. hour of “America Live” and talked with anchor Martha MacCallum about President Obama’s surprise afternoon news conference.

Garrett, who worked for FNC for eight years, was the network’s senior White House correspondent from 2009-2010. He left last fall to return to print journalism as the Congressional correspondent for National Journal.

In the past year, Garrett has appeared frequently on MSNBC. He also appeared twice on FNC’s “Red Eye” and several times on Fox Business Network.

Thanks to one of our eagle-eyed TVNewser viewers, Ethan Klapper (who also blogs for 10,000 Words), for the tip.

Another week, another Republican Presidential primary debate has been added to the schedule. The latest is from NBC News, the National Journal and the St. Petersburg Times, which will be held at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida in early 2012.

The Forum is the site of the Republican National Convention.

NBC News had to postpone its first scheduled Republican primary debate slated for May at the Reagan Library in California. So far, at least, few candidates are willing to formally announce their candidacies.

More info, after the jump.

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In August, Major Garrett (Twitter avatar, right) left Fox News Channel for the National Journal. And since then, he’s turned up a couple times on MSNBC — but that’s too much for one of Garrett’s followers.

At 3:14pmET, Garrett tweeted:

RT @Kazport: Everytime I turn around you are on MSNBC whats the deal??//I dunno. Maybe you turn around too much. Not on THAT much.

The tweet has since been removed from the twittersphere, but saved on TVNewser’s tweetdeck. By the way, according to a search on TVEyes, Garrett’s been on MSNBC twice this month: Oct. 1 and Oct. 8.

A lot of notable tvnewsers will be at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar in Washington, DC next month, all to help out CNN cameraman Jerry Thompson and his family: Wolf Blitzer, John King, Dana Milbank, Candy Crowley, Major Garrett, Dana Bash, Mike Viqueira, Jill Dougherty, Claire Shipman, Jamie McIntyre, Chris Plante, Ed Henry, Lisa Sylvester, and Brett Baier are just a fraction of the names set to be at the event.

The 25-year TV veteran was diagnosed with brain cancer and lost his job at CNN when his medical leave expired. The event will raise money for Thompson and his three children. Celebrity bartenders from CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC, The Washington Post and National Journal, and entertainment from, Suspicious Package, the Washington all-journalist band. Tickets for the event, which will be held November 17 from 7-10pm can be purchased through Eventbrite.

More information about the event is after the jump…

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Former Fox News White House correspondent Major Garrett is on MSNBC right now, talking to “Hardball” host Chris Matthews about a new poll out from the Pew Research Center and National Journal. Garrett is in-studio with Matthews, who introduced him by.

Garrett left Fox News last month to go the National Journal, where he covers Congress.

Before joining FNC, he was a correspondent for CNN. At the National Journal, however, Garrett likely has free reign to appear on whichever TV networks or shows want to book him.

Today was Major Garrett‘s last day at Fox News, with the White House correspondent preparing to return to his ink-stained roots covering Congress for National Journal.

He appeared this afternoon on “America’s Newsroom” with Megyn Kelly, who recalled some of the memories they shared at the network, including when they shared an office in its DC bureau:

Last week, we learned that Fox News Channel White House correspondent Major Garrett would be leaving the network to join the National Journal.

Last night, FNC’s 8 PM host Bill O’Reilly asked an important question: is Garrett a pinhead, or a patriot?

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

In the updated version of his WaPo story about Fox News WH correspondent Major Garrett and his departure from TV news back to print journalism, Howard Kurtz has Press Secretary Robert Gibbs weigh in. “I have always thought Major was one of the smartest people in the briefing room,” he says. “He’s tough, and I’d say the slogan actually did fit him.” Garrett announced yesterday he leaving FNC to be a congressional reporter for the National Journal.

Related: On the FBN simulcast of “Imus” this morning, Garrett added of the new gig, “The money is demonstrably different than TV money, but joys in life count for a lot and, in my world, pay a lot of expenses.”

Breaking: Fox News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett announced today that he is leaving the network “to return to his roots in print journalism.” Wendell Goler and Mike Emanuel will take over joint coverage.

He has been with the network since August of 2002 and became Senior WH correspondent in January 2009, taking over for Bret Baier. Garrett’s departure comes just a month after Fox News was given a front row seat in the WH briefing room, which he lobbied for and played an integral role in. During the White House’s “feud” with Fox News last year, Garrett was often cited by the administration and others as an example of fair reporting.

His last day will be September 3rd.

More: Press release (via Mediaite) after the jump. Excerpted quote from Garrett:

Throughout my television career, I’ve known with certainty I would someday return to my roots in print journalism. That day has come. I will soon announce an exciting new phase of my career — one made possible in no small part by FOX News’ consistent support. It would take a lot — something near perfection — to lure me away from the best job I’ve ever had. Details to come.

Update: NYTimes’ MediaDecoder reports that Garrett has been hired by National Journal editor-in-chief Ron Fournier to be a Congressional correspondent. From the NJ release (which is also available in full after the jump):

“Major Garrett is the embodiment of the new team we’re building here at National Journal,” said Editor-in-Chief Ron Fournier. “He is known across Washington as one of the hardest-working journalists in the business, a fierce competitor on his beat, and a good and decent man. It is a rare combination, and one we’re incredibly lucky to be bringing into our newsroom.”

More: From an internal email from FNC SVP Michael Clemente: “We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and we want to give a heads up to those who may find themselves on the receiving end of his questions…get ready. [P]lease join me in wishing Major the best of luck, as he bids farewell here. Michael”

More: Garrett explains his move to WaPo’s Howard Kurtz: “I want to talk less and I want to think more. I always considered myself an accidental TV reporter.”

Developing…

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