CNN boss wants to poach MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski: report

CNN’s new manager Chris Licht is allegedly in “secret talks” to poach MSNBC mainstays Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, according to a report on Wednesday.

Licht, a longtime Television manager who formerly served as govt producer on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and “CBS This Morning,” is intrigued in using the services of Scarborough and Brzezinski even though leading an overhaul at CNN, RadarOnline.com documented, citing unnamed sources.

“When CBS employed Chris, he preferred to use Joe and Mika to head up his morning display rather of Gayle King,” 1 unknown supply explained to the outlet.

“Joe and Mika were being into it, but they could not get out of their offer with NBC. Now Chris is pulling the exact same trick again as he begins his new task at CNN hoping this time, he will be able to pull it off,” in accordance to the source.

“It is not likely MSNBC will let them out of their agreement, but Chris is a affected person gentleman,” the resource additional.

The Article could not independently verify the report’s promises. CNN and MSNBC reps did not immediately return a request for remark.

MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” debuted in 2007 with Scarborough and Brezezinski serving as co-hosts alongside John Ridley. Scarborough and Brezezinski married in 2018.

“Morning Joe” switched to an expanded four-hour format in April and recently passed its 15-12 months anniversary on air. Each Scarborough and Brezezinski have contracts running by the conclusion of the 12 months, but are said to be in energetic negotiations on extensions.

Business enterprise Insider claimed last slide that the pair had begun early agreement discussions with NBC executives relating to their next moves at the community. Puck News reported that Scarborough was in search of $31 million for each 12 months from the community for a contract extension.

It’s unclear how including Scarborough and Brzezinski would match into the general CNN approach getting pursued by Licht and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. Scarborough and Brezezinski are left-leaning hosts at a time when CNN is aiming to get rid of its status for liberal bias and pivot to difficult information.

The two executives are aiming to re-aim CNN on straight news protection relatively than left-leaning view programming that defined the network less than former president Jeff Zucker – who was ousted earlier this calendar year right after failing to effectively disclose a passionate relationship with a subordinate.

Nonetheless, in May, Licht explained CNN prepared to “reimagine our early morning show” commencing this drop.

“[To] be sincere there, we are in search of to be a disrupter of the broadcast early morning demonstrates in this room, and we consider we have the folks and resources who can do it,” Licht mentioned.

Licht is reported to be checking CNN’s anchors and personalities, with those not able to undertake the network’s focus on non-partisan content material likely facing the ax.

“Chris’ very first precedence will be correcting CNN’s early morning and primetime programming,” resources advised RadarOnline. “That is wherever the massive advertiser funds is. Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, and the morning hosts should really be concerned.”

The CNN president has also reportedly told producers to steer clear of contacting previous President Donald Trump’s statements that the 2020 presidential election was stolen “the massive lie,” among other efforts aimed at centrism.

Meanwhile, Scarborough and Brezezinski are between Trump’s most vocal critics and have regularly clashed with him in current years.