Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher at Pivot Live, recorded at ADWEEK House. Sean T. Smith By Mark Mwachiro --> Top of the Ticker : Kara Swisher is sticking to her word, saying she will leave CNN once Paramount Skydance assumes full control of CNN after completing its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Swisher, who joined CNN as an on-air contributor in November 2023, spoke about her future with the network in a recent episode of her Pivot podcast with Scott Galloway , saying that she had asked to get out of her contract, which comes to a close on December 31.
Swisher was initially trying to figure out how to work with CNN’s new owners, but the journalist added: “But then I thought, ‘F— these guys! I don’t want to work for them. I just don’t.”
Swisher has made her stance on her future with CNN known since June . And now that a settlement was reached this week between Paramount Skydance and the state attorneys general, the journalist intends to see her intentions through.
Meanwhile, CNN announced that it is once again partnering with Farm Aid to air the Farm Aid 2026: Musical Festival Live. Airing on September 26 at 7 p.m. ET, CNN anchors John Berman and Laura Coates will broadcast from the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and CNN chief climate correspondent Bill Weir will provide on-the-ground reporting from the celebration of music and family farmers.
Meanwhile, CNN recently unveiled a state-of-the-art facility in Media City Qatar, in Doha, for its multiplatform programming initiative, CNN Creators. According to the network, the new open plan of the facility features a highly versatile studio offering a host of possibilities for the show’s multiplatform team to explore, combining a studio, newsroom, and production center into one space—all of which will be in front of the camera.
Blue light special: Reporters from NBC News’ Dateline were at the Empire State Building on Wednesday to “light up” the building ahead of the premiere of its 35th season, starting on Friday at 9 p.m. ET. Lester Holt , Josh Mankiewicz , Blayne Alexander , and Andrea Canning will be on hand for the ceremony, which will see the building light up in blue on Friday night. Holt said, “It’s appropriate, I think, that a program that’s certainly become an icon of television broadcasting in this country is here celebrating at this iconic place here in NYC.”
Revolving Door: Fox News has announced that Billy Bush is joining the network as a contributor appearing across all platforms. Bush made his debut on the Tuesday night edition of Jesse Watters Primetime.
Meanwhile, Larry Kudlow was named the temporary anchor of Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures through November 8. Kudlow takes over a show that was previously helmed by Maria Bartiromo , whose departure was announced on September 3.
CNN has promoted Leigh Waldman to a Los Angeles-based correspondent, beginning October 12. Waldman previously worked as a CNN Newsource correspondent out of the network’s New York bureau.
CNBC has announced a slew of appointments, including Megan Morrone , who will join from Axios as a technology editor based in the San Francisco bureau and report to Christina Passariello . Daren Fonda joins as a senior editor, investing, from Barron’s and will report to John Melloy . Sebastien Chasse joins as senior equity analyst and Reporter, and Paulina Likos joins as markets reporter, after previously working on the C…