EXCLUSIVE: ABC NEWS IN FULL MELTDOWN AFTER TERRY MORAN FIRING
PLUS: TOM LLAMAS STRUGGLES TO KEEP NBC VIEWERS TUNED IN
EXCLUSIVE: ABC NEWS IN MELTDOWN AFTER TERRY MORAN FIRING
Terry Moran’s abrupt firing from ABC News has sent the entire network into crisis mode — and insiders tell #ShuterScoop that what’s happening behind the scenes is unlike anything they’ve seen before.
“This isn’t just a firing. It’s a purge,” one senior staffer confesses. “People are wiping everything — social media, emails, old files. Even personal text threads are vanishing. If Trump could see it and spin it as anti-him, it’s being erased.”
Multiple sources say the newsroom has entered what one producer calls a “full-blown survival mode,” with employees scrubbing their digital footprints in anticipation of further crackdowns.
“I deleted 10 years of tweets overnight,” another source reveals. “Even stuff that seemed harmless — quotes from journalists, links to op-eds — it’s all gone. We’re terrified.”
One junior correspondent adds, “People are even screenshotting and deleting Slack messages. There’s a fear that if the wrong thing leaks, someone else could be next.”
A high-level insider describes the mood as “chilling,” adding, “This isn’t the ABC News I joined. It feels like Trump is running the place now.”
That sentiment is echoed by a longtime producer who spoke on background: “Let’s be honest — Trump didn’t just get Terry fired. He’s dictating what we can say now.”
The ripple effects are being felt across divisions. “The View” hosts have been warned to tread lightly, and producers are canceling segments deemed “too hot.”
“David Muir made it clear — there will be no tolerance for political drama,” a newsroom exec says. “It’s about optics now. Clean, safe, and neutral — or you’re gone.”
George Stephanopoulos, still reeling from Moran’s ousting, is said to be “devastated” and privately questioning his own future at the network.
“George fought for Terry,” a source close to him reveals. “But the decision was made. Trump’s shadow is on every floor here now.”
#ShuterScoop
EXCLUSIVE: TOM LLAMAS STRUGGLES IN FIRST WEEK AT NBC NIGHTLY NEWS — VIEWERS TUNE OUT
The Tom Llamas era at NBC Nightly News is off to a rocky start — and the numbers don’t lie.
According to Nielsen, Llamas’ first full week in the anchor chair saw the broadcast drop -5% in total viewers and -7% in the advertiser-coveted 25-54 demo compared to Lester Holt’s final week. The show pulled in 5.4 million viewers and 771,000 in the demo, finishing behind ABC and failing to generate the ratings spark NBC execs had hoped for.
“Tom’s debut wasn’t what we hoped for,” an NBC insider tells #ShuterScoop, “It wasn’t the kind of launch that calms nerves either. Everyone’s still holding their breath.”
Behind the scenes, sources say staffers are still adjusting to Llamas’ leadership style — and some miss Holt’s steady hand and long-earned trust. “He’s polished and hungry, but the connection just isn’t there yet,” says one longtime producer.
While Llamas has modest name recognition and a small loyal fan base from World News Tonight and Today, critics say the transition from correspondent to anchor has been bumpier than expected. Still, NBC found a silver lining: 27% of Llamas’ first-week audience were viewers who hadn’t tuned in for over a month, indicating some level of curiosity.
“People gave him a shot,” the source adds. “The question now is: Will they stick around?”
In contrast, ABC’s David Muir remains the undisputed leader, while CBS Evening News quietly posted week-to-week growth, defying the drama surrounding its parent company, Paramount.
For now, Llamas has the chair — but whether he can keep the audience remains to be seen.