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Brian Stelter struggled not to cry as he defended his show vigorously during his last show and goodbye to those who have watched it.
He had his final episode of “Reliable Sources” on Sunday as he lauded how important his CNN show was.
“I love this show,” he said. “This small but mighty show punched above its weight for so many years. Even a former president commented on the cancellation. Reliable sources has been a one of a kind show, and a popular show. This is one of CNN’s highest rated weekend shows,” the host said.
He said that his show was “part of journalism school curriculum” and that is why his show’s legacy will continue.
“The thing about TV is that it’s ephemeral, right?” he said. “It’s fleeting. It evaporates up into the air, and a lot of it is not even meant to be remembered. But this program transcended that.”
“CNN has a new owner. Warner Brothers Discovery is making big changes across the company,” he said.
But later in the show he spoke to Claire Atkinson, the chief media correspondent for Insider, who mentioned John Malone, a major Warner Bros. Discovery shareholder and asked if he was responsible for Stelter’s show getting cancelled.
“I think that’s a good question that people are asking: Is John Malone responsible for axing your show?” she said. “I don’t know the answer to that. I think people might suspect it’s political. He’s a libertarian who believes in not paying taxes if he can avoid it … He said he’s not directly not involved. That’s an interesting quote. But then, I think he’s a businessman. He’s looking at where the money is, where the audience is. And the viewership on the left is split between CNN and MSNBC, and the viewership on the right is all at Fox News. They have a bigger audience, lots of money, and perhaps he’s saying, ‘You know what, if we shift a little bit this way, maybe we’ll get that, too.’”
“There definitely will be more change,” the host said, in what could be a warning to others at CNN.
And he struggled to not cry at the end of the show.
Brian Stelter struggling to hold back tears as he ends his last broadcast pic.twitter.com/mv7Hpav2AL
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) August 21, 2022
President Donald Trump laid the smackdown on a man who, on Monday, will be a former CNN host.
After news broke of Brian Stelter, a major Trump critic, being gone from CNN, the former president celebrated on Truth Social.
“Brian Stelter of Fake News CNN got fired because he lied, and lied, and lied – ABOUT ME. May he REST IN PEACE!” the former president said.
CNN did not say that it fired the host.
“Trivia question: Who’s got less charisma, Brian Stelter or Liz Cheney. I say Liz Cheney, because Stelter could have gotten more votes than she did the other night in Wyoming – She lost by 40!” he said.
CNN host Brian Stelter is out of a job after months of speculation that he could be on the chopping block.
His last “Reliable Sources” show will air this Sunday, the network said, Fox News reported.
“CNN will end its ‘Reliable Sources’ program on Sunday, August 21st. As a result Brian Stelter will leave the company. We appreciate his contributions to the network and wish him well as he embarks on new endeavors,” a CNN spokesperson said to Fox News.
The host spoke to NPR about his departure from the network and said that he is grateful for the show and the way his team examined “the media, truth and the stories that shape our world.”
“It was a rare privilege to lead a weekly show focused on the press at a time when it has never been more consequential,” he said.
The host said he would have more to say on his show this Sunday.
“Stelter came to CNN from the New York Times as the nation’s top media reporter. He departs CNN an impeccable broadcaster,” CNN’s executive vice president for talent and content development, Amy Entelis, said. “We are proud of what Brian and his team accomplished over the years, and we’re confident their impact and influence will long outlive the show.”
