EXCLUSIVE: CNN’S SUPPORT FOR KAITLAN COLLINS IS STARTING TO CRACK
Execs Are “Worn Down” and Quietly Weighing Exit Options
When Kaitlan Collins was promoted to primetime and crowned CNN’s rising star, executives were quick to say they had her back. But now? Sources tell Rob Shuter’s Substack that support inside the building is wobbling fast — and her future may not be as secure as it once seemed.
“At first, it was all-in,” one network insider spills. “But now, the vibe has shifted. They’re asking if she’s worth the constant blowback.”
The latest flashpoint came Wednesday, when White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shut down Collins during a briefing, after the CNN anchor pressed for a follow-up on the now-infamous Signal chat leak — a bombshell story involving leaked internal war strategy messages between Trump-era national security officials.
“Kaitlan was doing her job. She asked the right questions,” says one former colleague. “But the problem is, every time she makes headlines, it becomes about her. And CNN execs hate that.”
And while CNN was once eager to paint Collins as their tough, fearless White House correspondent turned anchor, insiders now say they’re exhausted by the nonstop noise surrounding her — from on-air clashes to social media spats and frequent conservative pile-ons.
“It’s never good when a media host becomes the story,” a senior producer told Rob Shuter’s Substack. “Executives don’t want to manage that kind of heat. They want the news to be the focus — not their anchor’s next trending clip.”
One well-placed source went further:
“They’re quietly discussing off-ramps. Not because she’s not talented — she is — but because they’re tired of playing defense. Right now, cutting their losses is on the table.”
And while CNN has made no public move against Collins (yet), those inside the building say the silence is getting louder.
“At the beginning, they’d rally behind her with statements, press memos, full-throated support,” the source said. “Now? Crickets. That tells you everything.”
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