April 25, 2023

Different Wavelength

The Story

The broadcast news world got a major shakeup.

What’s going on?

Yesterday, Fox News and CNN cut ties with their respective anchors, Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon. Both men had been leading faces on network shows, garnering hundreds of thousands of daily viewers each. The back-to-back announcements came amid a string of separate controversies involving both anchors. It also came days ahead of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and as media companies have been dealing with mass layoffs. Here’s the latest:

Don Lemon…Yesterday, CNN announced Lemon and the network “parted ways” after 17 years. The news came hours after the anchor had signed off “CNN This Morning” and followed months of backlash. In February, Lemon came under fire after he said former UN ambassador Nikki Haley “isn't in her prime” to run for president. He later apologized for his misogynistic on-air remarks, but the damage had been done. The network was reportedly having a hard time booking guests and ad sales with Lemon on the morning show. Earlier this month, a report revealed he also disrespected female colleagues, including Soledad O’Brien and Nancy Grace. Lemon said he was “stunned” he wasn’t told directly about the change. But CNN reps said Lemon was given a chance to meet with management. “CNN This Morning” will continue without him.

Tucker Carlson…Yesterday, Fox News announced its prime-time host is leaving the network after 14 years. “Tucker Carlson Tonight” was one of the most successful shows on the network, with an average nightly audience of 3.2 million viewers. Over the years, the show increasingly became a platform for former President Trump and conservative commentators. Carlson has come under fire for pushing theories that the 2020 election was stolen and for misleading viewers about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Now, his exit comes days after Fox’s settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over the network’s election lies. And after Carlson's private texts were also leaked, blasting Fox management — which is apparently what prompted network leaders to pull the plug on his show. Carlson's last episode aired last week, and his time slot will be replaced with “Fox News Tonight.”

You also mentioned layoffs?

Yesterday, Disney began laying off thousands of staff members. It's the second time the company has carried out layoffs in a move to save $5.5 billion in costs and cut 7,000 jobs. Employees at ESPN, Disney Entertainment, Disney Parks, and Experiences and Products will also be affected. The company's expecting a third round of layoffs before summer starts. Meanwhile, Insider’s employees went on strike yesterday — after about 10% of its staff was laid off. The wave of staffing cuts have also affected several other news orgs, from Buzzfeed to NPR and counting.

theSkimm

Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon were among the biggest names in broadcast news. Now, they are both out of the roles they’ve held for years. The shifts in the industry — from firings to layoffs — show that media outlets appear to be facing a reckoning.

Who’s having her day in court…

E. Jean Carroll. Today, the author and advice columnist's civil trial against former President Trump is set to begin in Manhattan. Last year, Carroll sued Trump for sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the '90s and defaming her when she first went public with the allegations in 2019. Trump has called the accusations “a complete con job.” Now, the trial is scheduled to begin today with jury selection and could last at least a week. Carroll, who's seeking an unspecified amount of damages, plans to testify. As for Trump, his lawyer has said the former president “wishes to appear” in court. However, Trump's not required to make an appearance, and Carroll’s lawyers have said they won’t be calling him as a witness. The civil trial comes as the former president and his org are also facing at least four investigations...and a trial in Manhattan where he faces more than 30 criminal charges.

What’s passed new abortion restrictions…

North Dakota. Yesterday, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed a near-total abortion ban into law. The measure, which is effective immediately, would only allow the procedure up to six weeks of pregnancy — even in cases of rape or incest. It would allow a few exceptions if the mother’s health is at risk. The new law comes about a month after the state Supreme Court blocked a similar ban from going into effect. Previously, abortions were allowed up to 22 weeks of pregnancy in the state. Now, North Dakota joins at least 13 other states with near-total bans.

Who people are talking about...

CNBC anchor Hadley Gamble. Yesterday, Gamble's lawyer said the anchor had filed a sexual harassment and sex discrimination complaint against former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell. Over the weekend, the company announced Shell was leaving his role because of an inappropriate relationship with a woman at the company but gave no details. Media reports came trickling in naming Gamble as the employee. Now, Gamble’s lawyer says it’s “very disappointing” that her client's name has been released and that her privacy has been “violated.” No word from Comcast or Shell yet.

What we are going to pretend like we didn’t see…

A study on fries. Yesterday, researchers revealed that everyone's favorite hangover foods — from french fries to potato chips — could lead to a 12% higher risk of anxiety and 7% higher risk of depression. That's compared to those who don’t eat fried foods. The study said the link appears to be more common in males and younger consumers. However, other nutrition experts said the research is still in the early stages and that people struggling with their mental health could actually be turning to fried foods for comfort.

Who’s wearing a different shade of green…

Aaron Rodgers.

Who’s singing a different tune…

Meghan Trainor.

Who’s making a salpique…

Shakira.