Paula Reid is expected to leave CNN, where she has served as the network’s chief legal affairs correspondent, according to people familiar with the matter.
Reid is also expected to join left-wing MS NOW, which has been
expanding its newsroom following its separation from Comcast, according to a source familiar with the plan, reports said on Thursday.
Per a spokesperson from MS NOW: “As a general matter of practice, we don’t comment on personnel matters.
“As everyone in Washington knows, Paula Reid is an exceptional reporter, and any news organization would be fortunate to showcase her journalism,” the spokesperson added.
Reid’s expected departure comes ahead of Paramount’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that has fueled uncertainty within CNN about the network’s future under new ownership.
Her exit also coincides with the expiration of her current contract. Status first reported that Reid was preparing to leave CNN, while Variety first reported that she was expected to join MS NOW.
Reid joined CNN from CBS News in 2021 as a senior legal affairs correspondent and was promoted to chief legal affairs correspondent in 2023.
Before joining CNN, she covered the White House and the Justice Department for CBS News.
During her tenure there, Reid reported extensively on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, among other major legal and political stories.
CNN’s Paula Reid to exit network during uncertainty over David Ellison takeover: report https://t.co/pYwI4PJWex pic.twitter.com/kk6rTcDc2D
— New York Post (@nypost) July 1, 2026
Subsequent reporting revealed that the so-called ‘Russian collusion’ narrative was false and was perpetuated by President Barack Obama’s administration, in conjunction with then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
The narrative was created to derail then-GOP nominee Donald Trump. Mueller was appointed by Trump’s first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who was later fired by the president.
Paramount CEO David Ellison has said he supports maintaining CNN’s editorial independence, but uncertainty remains within the network about its future leadership and the changes that could follow once the acquisition is completed.
At CBS News, Ellison appointed Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press,
as editor in chief.
Since taking on that role, Weiss has overseen significant changes, including a revamp of the CBS Evening News and the departures of the top leadership at 60 Minutes as well as correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega and Scott Pelley.
Weiss has been tasked with revitalizing the legacy broadcast network by making it much less left-wing and much more balanced in its content and reporting.
CNN anchor Rahel Solomon announced in April on the air that she is leaving the network.
The surprise announcement came during the closing moments of her 5 a.m. show, “Early Start.”
“I have decided that this will be my last week at CNN. More to come on what’s next for me, but I’m really excited about this next chapter,” Solomon said during the sign-off.
Moments later, the program’s official X account posted a clip of her announcement.
“Thank you to the team at Early Start,” Solomon said. “To the larger team here at CNN – I’m going to be cheering you on. I look forward to watching.”
“So this is truly not goodbye, but see you soon,” she said.
Solomon, 37, had recently returned from a six-month maternity leave in December. She stepped away from the desk last June and resumed her role late last year.
She took over as host of “Early Start” in March 2025 after joining CNN in 2022 from CNBC. Before that, she worked at CBS affiliates in Colorado and Philadelphia.
Solomon married Philadelphia attorney Marcel S. Pratt in July 2024, and the couple welcomed a daughter in 2025.
Her departure came just months after returning to the anchor chair.
Colleagues are said to be “supportive” of her decision to leave, according to a report. CNN has not publicly commented further on the circumstances surrounding her exit.
