Kara Swisher to Exit CNN Following Settlement Clearing Path for Paramount-WBD Merger

Kara Swisher has announced she will leave CNN following a legal settlement that clears the way for Paramount to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, the network’s parent company.

During her podcast *Pivot* with Scott Galloway, released on Tuesday, Swisher disclosed that she has asked her agent to terminate her contract, which was set to expire on December 31. She explained that while she had explored potential licensing arrangements, she ultimately decided against continuing with the network, stating she no longer wishes to work there.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Monday that a settlement had been reached in a lawsuit seeking to block the merger, which includes the formation of an independent editorial board to oversee journalistic standards. Swisher dismissed the idea as “nonsense,” comparing it to a similar board created when Rupert Murdoch acquired The Wall Street Journal in 2007, which she described as ineffective.

Swisher has contributed to CNN since 2023 and hosted the original series *Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever* earlier this year. She noted that the network had been attempting to retain her services.

She added, “I have a lot of respect for the executives there now,” but went on to say, “I have other opportunities that generate more revenue, have greater impact, and reach a larger audience… I simply do not want to work” under the new ownership led by David Ellison.

Swisher, who has been critical of David Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison, and their acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, remarked, “I think they are terrible media owners. I would rather work for Rupert Murdoch.” She further stated that while she cannot leave immediately, she intends to depart as soon as possible.

A CNN spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.

The anticipated merger has created considerable uncertainty within CNN regarding the changes that will accompany the new ownership. At a recent Politico summit, Paramount’s Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim discussed the company’s plans for CNN, noting that Ellison “wants to bring it back to news,” implying that the network currently is not meeting that standard and that a significant shift in its editorial approach is forthcoming.

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