Kara Swisher to Leave CNN if Ellison Merger Succeeds

Kara Swisher, a prominent CNN contributor and host of the upcoming series "Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever," stated on Monday that she would leave the network if a proposed $111 billion media merger places it under the influence of billionaire Larry Ellison and his son David Ellison.

Swisher made the remarks during a panel discussion at Syracuse University's Toner Prizes for Excellence in Political Reporting in Washington, D.C. The event, which honors achievements in political journalism, featured conversations about the industry's challenges, including ownership changes driven by technology leaders. Swisher, who joined CNN in 2023 as a panelist and contributor, expressed deep reservations about the potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company, by Skydance Media in partnership with Paramount Global. The deal, if completed, would integrate CNN with CBS News under a shared corporate structure.

"They have no interest in journalism," Swisher said. "And I refuse to work for an organization that doesn't respect journalists." She described Larry Ellison, the Oracle co-founder at the center of the transaction, as "a terrible person," based on her past...