Christiane Amanpour Will Exit CNN in June 2027 After 43 Years

By Amara Osei

Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international anchor, announced on Monday that she will leave the network in June 2027, ending a run she called 43 "fantastic years." She made the announcement at the end of her namesake CNN International show.

"After thinking about this carefully for several months and experiencing a few sleepless nights, as you can imagine. I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years," Amanpour said on air.

She gave no specific reasons for her departure. She thanked the teams she has worked with and the viewers. Her daily show, which also airs on PBS, will continue until the end of the year, then transition to a weekly format until her June exit.

CNN CEO Mark Thompson told staffers in a memo that he and Amanpour had discussed her departure for months. "I'm very sorry to see her go, but I've come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally," Thompson wrote. The warm framing came without any succession plan, and none was announced.

Who else is leaving CNN?

Anchor Bianna Golodryga is also exiting, saying she was leaving for "an opportunity that I couldn't pass up." Variety reports she is in talks with Politico for a global affairs role and with CBS News, where she previously worked, for a contributor role. She has been with CNN since September 2019.

What is happening in CNN's fight with the White House?

CNN has threatened additional legal action if the White House continues to exclude it from traveling aboard Air Force One on days it is assigned as the designated TV pool provider. In a letter to the Justice Department, outside counsel Ted Boutrous wrote: "These efforts to retaliate and discriminate against CNN based on the content of its news coverage are mistaken, counterproductive, and unlawful."

Fox News, meanwhile, is petitioning the Supreme Court to hear an appeal involving its journalist Catherine Herridge and the protection of confidential sources. The network wants the court to overturn a civil contempt order that imposed daily $800 fines. Fox warns that a negative outcome could undermine investigative journalism by making it easier to force reporters to reveal their sources.

In a separate case, U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett has ordered President Trump to appear for his deposition hearing in the $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC by December 11. The president has repeatedly delayed his appearance; the judge said failure to appear could bring sanctions, up to dismissal of the lawsuit.

What is CBS News building in audio?

CBS News is investing in its podcasting unit with two original shows featuring on-air personalities. CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil hosts Great Questions with Tony Dokoupil, debuting Monday, October 26, at 5 p.m. ET, available twice a week. CBS Mornings' Vlad Duthiers and CBS News anchor Kelly O'Grady co-host Straight Up, a podcast about trending stories, available every Friday.

CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford deleted a tweet criticizing Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, over his response to a question about the Muslim Brotherhood. Crawford said she deleted it because "it was a violation of CBS News standards." CBS also named Jon Tower permanent executive producer of CBS Mornings, where he faces the challenge of lifting ratings after Norah O'Donnell's return.

Where do the wider cuts land?

BBC News informed staffers this week that it will eliminate more than 100 roles over the coming months. Deadline reports the cuts should save $7.4 million. New BBC News director Rachel Jupp called them necessary, "but they are not sufficient to meet our funding reduction," which signals more cuts may follow.

MS NOW's Jonathan Capehart and Eugene Daniels were named Out100 2026 honorees. For media marketers, the message of the week is contraction at the top: star anchors leaving, roles cut, and legal budgets rising faster than headcount.