Veteran News Anchor Quits CNN To Go ‘Where The Action Seems To Be’ [WATCH]

Veteran journalist Chris Wallace has announced he is leaving CNN to pursue new media opportunities, including streaming and podcasting.

Wallace, 77, revealed his decision in an interview with The Daily Beast on Monday, saying he plans to step away from his current role at the end of the year.

77-year-old Chris Wallace will quit CNN and walk away from a seven-figure salary rather than renegotiate his contract. His plan is to go into independent streaming or podcasting, pointing to Joe Rogan and Charlamagne tha God’s reach as inspiration.

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Wallace, who joined CNN after 18 years as the anchor of Fox News Sunday, told the outlet that the decision to leave CNN felt “liberating.” “This is the first time in 55 years I’ve been between jobs. I am actually excited and liberated by that,” he said.

His departure comes shortly after he hosted CNN’s coverage of the 2024 election night.

While Wallace indicated his interest in exploring the streaming and podcasting spaces, he said he has not yet solidified any specific plans. “Not knowing is part of the challenge. I’m waiting to see what comes over the transom. It might be something that I haven’t thought of at all,” he explained.

Despite his uncertainty, he emphasized, “I am clearly not going to become a hard-right or hard-left advocate. It’s just absent from my DNA.”

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Wallace told the Daily Beast that streaming and podcasting is “where the action seems to be.”

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Wallace joined CNN in 2021 initially to anchor programming on the now-defunct CNN+ streaming service, which was discontinued shortly after its launch in 2022.

Since then, he has anchored The Chris Wallace Show on Saturday mornings and hosted Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?, which streams on Max.

According to Wallace, his decision was not driven by negative experiences at CNN. “I have nothing but positive things to say,” he remarked, adding that CNN had been “very good to me.”

CNN Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson commended Wallace for his contributions, describing him as “one of the most respected political journalists in the news business with a unique track record across radio, print, broadcast television, cable television, and streaming.”

Wallace, whose storied career began in 1973 at a local Chicago TV station, has worked with major networks such as NBC’s Meet the Press, The Today Show, and ABC’s PrimeTime Live.

Over the years, he has won three Emmys and interviewed high-profile figures, including presidents Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, and President-elect Donald Trump, as well as global leaders like Vladimir Putin.

A significant factor in Wallace’s decision was his family’s support.

He and his wife Lorraine had discussed his future plans earlier this year and decided he would stay through the 2024 election cycle.

Wallace, a father of six and grandfather of nine, shared that his family simply wants him to be happy and to keep working. “They do not want to have to worry about entertaining me,” he said.

Wallace also confirmed that he plans to continue contributing to his Countdown book series, which has previously covered historical events like the 1960 presidential election and the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

This announcement comes amid financial and operational challenges at CNN, as the network grapples with lagging ratings against rivals Fox News and MSNBC.

The industry has seen similar moves recently, as notable figures such as Today Show host Hoda Kotb, who announced her upcoming departure to pursue new ventures, also step away from longstanding roles.

As CNN faces rumored restructuring and budget cuts, Wallace’s departure adds to the shifting media landscape, with many veteran broadcasters exploring new formats and independent projects.

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