Kara Swisher to Exit CNN Early Amidst Paramount Merger Rumors

Kara Swisher announced Tuesday on her podcast "The Pivot" that she is accelerating her departure from CNN. The tech journalist stated she has asked her agent to facilitate an early exit from her contract, which is currently set to conclude at the end of 2026. Swisher's decision comes as David Ellison's Skydance is reportedly in the final stages of a deal expected to absorb CNN.

While Swisher cited a lack of confidence in the new ownership as her primary reason for leaving, industry chatter suggests a more personal element may be at play. Sources close to the situation speculate that Swisher's eagerness to depart may be influenced by her ex-girlfriend, Nellie Bowles, who is now married to Bari Weiss.

Weiss, described as Ellison's "golden child," was appointed to lead CBS News in 2025 following Ellison's acquisition of the network. There are ongoing rumors that Weiss is being considered to oversee editorial operations at CNN as well. Insiders suggest Swisher may be uncomfortable with the prospect of working under Weiss, given her past relationship with Bowles, who co-founded The Free Press with Weiss.

Swisher's public comment on the matter, posted to Threads after an inquiry, read: "As exciting as girl on girl action is for you to gin up, I have been saying for a long time now that I would depart CNN if the deal goes through, due to my lack of confidence in the owners as decent media stewards & not whatever minion they decide to install… Please try to keep up as hard as that is for you."

Bowles and Swisher were previously in a romantic relationship for several years in the mid-2010s, during which time Bowles worked on Swisher's "Recode" podcast. Swisher, who is now married to Amanda Katz, separated from her previous partner, Megan Smith, in 2014. Weiss and Bowles married a few years after Weiss began dating Swisher in 2018 and have two children together.