The turmoil at ABC News continues as staffers began packing their desks Wednesday amid major layoffs and an embarrassing shake-up of the embattled network’s programming. With failing ratings, declining viewership, and financial struggles at parent company Disney, ABC is slashing jobs, consolidating its shows, and scrambling to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting media landscape.
Hundreds of Layoffs as ABC Restructures
Disney, which owns ABC, is reportedly cutting 200 jobs across its ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, amounting to roughly 6% of their combined workforce. These layoffs will hit flagship programs such as “20/20,” “Nightline,” and “World News Tonight,” as well as the network’s prized morning show “Good Morning America” (GMA).
ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic attempted to soften the blow in a memo to employees, calling the cuts a part of a “future-proofing” strategy and praising the “extraordinary” staff. But behind the corporate-speak, the reality is clear: ABC is hemorrhaging money and desperately trying to stay afloat.
Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight Completely Axed
One major casualty of ABC’s downsizing is the complete shutdown of FiveThirtyEight, the once-popular data journalism site founded by Nate Silver. The outlet rose to fame for its election predictions in 2008 and 2012, but in recent years, its credibility has crumbled—especially after botching key forecasts in multiple election cycles. Now, all 15 of its employees are out of a job as ABC shutters the site for good.
George Stephanopoulos’ Trump Lawsuit Humiliation
The chaos at ABC isn’t just about money—its credibility has been shattered by the fallout from a defamation lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump.
The network quietly settled the lawsuit last month after longtime “GMA” host George Stephanopoulos falsely claimed on air that Trump had been “found liable for rape” in the E. Jean Carroll case. The reality? Trump was found liable for sexual abuse, not rape.
As part of the settlement, Stephanopoulos was forced to issue a public apology, a humiliating moment for the former Clinton advisor. According to sources inside ABC, he has been “miserable” ever since, fueling speculation that he may soon leave the network entirely.
Failing Ratings and a Desperate Gamble on “GMA”
Meanwhile, ABC’s flagship morning show “Good Morning America” has been losing ground to NBC’s “Today” show, prompting yet another desperate attempt at a restructuring. The network is merging “GMA” and its third-hour segment, “GMA3,” into one production unit—yet another sign that ABC is scrambling to cut costs and consolidate resources.
A Sinking Ship with No Clear Direction
ABC News is just one of many left-wing media outlets struggling to survive in a rapidly changing media environment. As traditional television continues its decline, audiences are abandoning legacy networks in favor of independent, digital, and conservative media platforms that actually report the truth.
With layoffs, lawsuits, and dismal ratings, ABC News looks less like a serious journalistic operation and more like a sinking ship. The real question now is who will jump overboard next?
