The swift collapse of CNN+ was the worst possible start to the $43 billion merger of its parent companies WarnerMedia and Discovery.
But it could also spell doom for the estimated 400 journalists currently fighting for 100 jobs for the broadcast giant.
CEO Chris Licht, who didn’t officially take over until May 2, tried to reassure them that they would have a chance to apply for a position at Warner Bros. Discovery.
Still, some of them have posted on social media suggesting they are looking for work elsewhere or being fired.
Meanwhile, speculation has grown about what will happen to CNN+’s mega-deal with the app’s mega-figures.
Chris Wallace, Sarah Sidner, Audi Cornish, Casey Hunter and Brian Stewart were among the disappointing stars.
Wallace is a hot tip for the new role of the cable news mothership, and his lengthy interviews attest to the streaming service’s limited ratings.
Sidner also appears to have had success during her brief stint as Big Picture host, and she may have her sights set on another role in the network.
Cornwall is another recipe for the move after the veteran former NPR host continues to impress CNN+.
Former MSNBC reporter Kasie Hunt has already said she’ll stick with it, tweeting: “Proud to be on the CNN team. I’ll be fine.”
However, questions remain about what will happen to Stelter as his show Reliable Sources sparked some people’s obsession with Fox News.
Chris Wallace: Veteran in good standing
Chris Wallace proved he still has it when he made a dramatic switch from Fox News to CNN+ earlier this year.
The 74-year-old veteran host was billed as the streaming service’s biggest scalper and returned with a series of gripping interviews.
He clashed with White House press secretary Jen Psaki when the veteran news anchor asked her about Joe Biden not sitting down for a media interview.
He also asked her to share some of her most high-profile moments in the briefing room and shared her tears over Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Act.
Meanwhile, Wallace has a lively interview with Project 1619 author Nikole Hannah-Jones.
He confronted her when she claimed that Americans who fought in World War II were guilty of “brutal oppression of democracy” against black Americans.
Wallace asked her: “Again, I would never belittle our terrible racial heritage. But aren’t you exaggerating on these things?
Hannah-Jones said, “When you have half the country with a majority in some states and a majority in many other states, 25 percent of the population, 40 percent of the population can’t vote, their votes will be where they are. Places are suppressed by violence. ‘re.” In an area where about 30 percent of the population is black, it’s a one-party, one-race rule. Would you call it democracy?
Despite his success, it is unclear where the journalist stands now, as he was unavailable for comment today and yesterday.
But there are growing expectations that he will get a proper gig on the mothership of TV news – possibly filling the 9pm weekday slot.
He’s unlikely to return as Sunday morning’s host, and heavyweight Jack Tapper has cemented his place.
And it’s even less likely that he’ll get a spot on Fox News again after his ex-peer like Greg Gutfeld slammed him last night.
“The Democrats’ badge is thinner than CNN+’s Chris Wallace demo tape,” he said.
He continued, “BLM did to black people what Chris Wallace did to CNN+. Seduced them with promises and left them by the side of the road.”
Insiders also suspect a reunion with his former team. One told the Daily Mail: “Chris Wallace has balls all over his face.
