Top of the Ticker: CNN’s chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour, announced that she will be leaving the network in June.
Amanpour made the announcement at the end of her namesake CNN International show on Monday, saying, “After thinking about this carefully for several months and experiencing a few sleepless nights, as you can imagine. I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years.”
She said her daily show, which also airs on PBS, will continue until the end of the year. After that, it will transition to a weekly show until her June departure.
The legendary correspondent did not give specific reasons for her departure during her announcement, but she thanked the teams she has worked with throughout her career at the network and the viewers.
CNN’s CEO Mark Thompson, in a memo to staffers about Amanpour’s exit, said they have been discussing her departure for months, adding, “I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally.”
CNN is also losing anchor Bianna Golodryga, who said she was leaving for “an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”
Variety reports Golodryga is in talks with Politico for a global affairs role and CBS News, where she previously worked, for a contributor role. She has been with CNN since Sept. 2019.
Legal briefs: Sticking with CNN, the network has threatened additional legal action if the White House continues to exclude it from traveling aboard Air Force One with the president on the days it has been assigned as the designated TV pool provider.
In a letter to the Justice Department, Ted Boutrous, outside counsel for the network, said, “These efforts to retaliate and discriminate against CNN based on the content of its news coverage are mistaken, counterproductive, and unlawful.”
Meanwhile, Fox News is petitioning the Supreme Court to hear an appeal in a case involving its journalist Catherine Herridge and the protection of confidential sources and press freedom. The network wants the court to overturn a civil contempt order that previously imposed daily $800 fines. It remains steadfast in its support for Herridge and First Amendment protections, including the confidentiality of journalistic sources. It warns that a negative outcome could potentially undermine investigative journalism by making it easier to force reporters to reveal their sources.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett has ordered that President Trump must appear for his disposition hearing in the $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC by December 11. The president has repeatedly delayed his appearance, and the judge said that if he does not show up, he may face sanctions, up to dismissal of the lawsuit.
Audio expansion: CBS News is investing in its podcasting unit, as the network launches two original podcasts featuring its on-air personalities. CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil will be the host of Great Questions with Tony Dokoupil, where he will dive deeper into the biggest issues driving the news cycle and shaping our world. The podcast debuts on Monday, October 26, at 5 p.m. ET and will be available twice a week.
Meanwhile, CBS Mornings’ Vlad Duthiers and CBS News anchor Kelly O’Grady will co-host Straight Up, a podcast about popular trending stories people talk about. Straight Up will be available every Friday.
Walk back: CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford deleted a tweet in which she criticized the response of Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, to a question about the Muslim Brotherhood. In a separate post, Crawford said she deleted it because “it was a violation of CBS News standards.”
Revolving Door: CBS Mornings has a new permanent leader as Jon Tower was officially named the executive producer of CBS News’ flagship morning program. Tower previously served as CBS Mornings’ interim executive producer and now faces the challenge of improving ratings for the program, which recently saw Norah O’Donnell’s return.
Earlier this week, BBC News informed staffers that it will eliminate more than 100 roles over the next few months. According to Deadline, the cuts are expected to save $7.4 million, with the newly appointed BBC News director, Rachel Jupp, saying they are necessary, “but they are not sufficient to meet our funding reduction,” possibly signaling additional cuts may be in store in the near future.
Awards: MS NOW’s Jonathan Capehart and Eugene Daniels have been named Out100 2026 honorees.
