What a start to the week. First, it was Fox News and Tucker Carlson parting ways. Then, while absorbing that surprise announcement, a tweet showed up on my Twitter feed that Don Lemon is out at CNN. That one wasn’t as big of a surprise as the news on Tucker, but still. I didn’t have either on my Bingo card for today.

“CNN and Don have parted ways,” the network said in a statement on Monday. “Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”

The network said Mr. Lemon’s morning show, which he hosted with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, would continue. “‘CNN This Morning’ has been on the air for nearly six months, and we are committed to its success,” CNN said.

Tucker won’t be back in his regular time slot. Friday’s show was his last. Lemon was on the air this morning.

pic.twitter.com/8PyLqvS0d7

— Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023

“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,” Mr. Lemon said in a statement that he posted to Twitter. “I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network.”

As I said, the news on Lemon was a long time coming. There have been stories circulating for a while now about how tense and unpleasant the work environment is on the early morning show’s set. He was outspoken in his political opinions both while hosting a primetime show on CNN and he continued to express his political opinions when he was moved to co-hosting the morning show with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. The move came after CNN’s new chairman, Chris Licht, took over. He wants to make a course correction to the cable network’s lefty agenda. When Licht took over he said he wants to bring back real journalism and get rid of so much opinion journalism. He has his work cut out for him.

Don Lemon really stepped in it in February when he made a random remark about Nikki Haley being past her prime. The Republican presidential candidate stood up to his lame, sexist dribble and Chris Licht rebuked Lemon. When Lemon told his co-host Poppy Harlow to Google the fact that a woman in her 50s is past her prime, as he contended, the viewers got an awkward look at how the female co-hosts struggled to counter Lemon’s rambles. He rudely talked over them and it is reported that he once so sharply criticized Kaitlan Collins in front of the crew that she left the set in tears. He later apologized to the newsroom and he agreed to a corporate training program to address his on-air behavior.

The few times I tuned into the morning show after the change to a three-host show, the co-hosts never looked to me to be a good fit.

CNN’s public relations department posted a tweet about Lemon’s departure.

CNN and Don have parted ways. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) April 24, 2023

Then they posted a tweet about Lemon’s tweet. The company doesn’t want viewers to think they didn’t reach out to Lemon before he got the axe. The network is saying Lemon lied.

Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) April 24, 2023

So much drama for a Monday morning.

Was this what finally broke the camel’s back?

according to the NYT this interview that Don Lemon conducted last week with Vivek Ramaswamy played a role in his firing. Note co-host Poppy Harlow sitting silently while Lemon goes after Vivek. pic.twitter.com/Fjx5eX30wU

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 24, 2023

Other changes are being made to bring in more viewers to CNN, taking aim at attracting conservative viewers. CBS morning show co-host Gayle King and NBA legend Charles Barkley are co-hosting a new weekly primetime show. King is liberal and Barkley is often conservative in his opinions.

Starting in the fall, our very own @GayleKing will be co-hosting a new weekly primetime show on CNN with Charles Barkley.

“We have to figure out a way to have a good conversation without tearing each other down, and I think that we can do that.” pic.twitter.com/vvDUiRLKSQ

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) April 24, 2023