Kara Swisher, a CNN host and contributor, has made no secret of her feelings about Paramount Skydance, the company the Justice Department approved to take over the network's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. The DOJ approved the proposed merger last week, stating it would likely not harm industry competition or negatively affect consumers.
However, many others disagree, fearing that the new owner, Trump-friendly CEO David Ellison, will engage in what they call 'improper political meddling.' As a result, Swisher, who joined CNN as a contributor in 2023, bluntly explained on her 'Pivot' podcast Tuesday that she has no plans to work there once the takeover is complete.
'With the CNN thing, well, you know my feelings on that. I'm leaving as soon as I can,' she declared to co-host Scott Galloway, who quickly asked for clarity. 'So, you're out? You're out of CNN?' he asked warily, considering Swisher had attempted to recruit him to the network for months.
Swisher emphasized that any pro-CNN entreaties she made occurred before the merger was approved. 'Let me try to outline it: I don't want to work for the Ellisons, and I don't want to work for their handpicked minions because I think they're incompetent,' she said.
She elaborated, stating she didn't think it was possible for Ellison's 'minions' to 'make good decisions' and admitted not trusting them. 'I don't want to work for tech people,' she said. 'Like you, I think TV is great, but it's not that great to put up with this s---.'
Swisher, who hosts the six-episode series 'Kara Swisher Wants To Live Forever,' told Galloway that she is under contract until the end of the year but hopes the new owners will let her out earlier 'because I don't want to affiliate with them.'
Swisher's snark toward Paramount Skydance and its owners is not out of character. In March, she made a comment about the Ellisons — 'I'm not working for you hacks' — while on a panel at Syracuse University. After praising a fellow journalist for leaving CBS News after it was purchased by the Ellisons, she said, 'You don't want to work for the Ellisons. I've spent a lot of time with Larry Ellison, and he's a terrible person.'
HuffPost reached out to Paramount Skydance for comment on Swisher's desire to depart CNN when it takes over, but no one immediately responded.
