Reporter to Get Out Before Bari Weiss and the Gang Takeover

Another day, another major headache for David Ellison and his new media empire.

Word is filtering out that CNN Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent Paula Reid has politely—but firmly—told the network brass "no thanks" to a generous new contract offer. Reid is officially planning to walk away when her deal wraps up later this summer.

And why would a top-tier journalist walk away from a fat paycheck at a major cable news network?

You can thank the looming specter of Bari Weiss.

With Paramount Skydance pushing through its massive acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the corporate suits have dropped plenty of hints that Weiss—currently the controversial Editor-in-Chief over at CBS News—is slated to expand her kingdom and take editorial control of CNN.

Apparently, Reid took one look at the ongoing dumpster fire over at CBS News under the Weiss regime—which has already treated the industry to mass layoffs, spiked 60 Minutes segments, and the unceremonious firing of veteran anchor Scott Pelley—and decided she wanted absolutely no part of it.

Instead of waiting around to be managed by an opinion writer who had zero broadcast experience before landing a multi-million dollar corporate gig, Reid is reportedly packing her bags and heading to MS NOW.

Reid is just the first major domino to fall, but inside sources say the rank-and-file at CNN are watching the impending Skydance takeover with absolute dread. When your top-flight talent would rather jump to a streaming startup than stick around for the new management, it tells you everything you need to know about the confidence level in the new regime.

Stay tuned.