House of Laz

SpinCo boss Mark Lazarus has indicated in private conversations that he believes the public perception of MSNBC is that Republicans cannot get a fair shake from the network — and he wants to change that.

Author

Oliver Darcy
December 18, 2024

SpinCo boss Mark Lazarus. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for Leaders)

Mark Lazarus would like MSNBC to be on better terms with Republicans.

The SpinCo boss, who will mark one month into his new job on Friday, has indicated to people in private conversations over the past month that he would like the Rashida Jones-led cable news network to work to incorporate more GOP voices on its air, according to people familiar with the matter.

To be clear, Lazarus has signaled that he wants the channel to retain its core progressive identity. There is no indication that top prime time talent, like Rachel Maddow or Lawrence O'Donnell, will be asked to change the editorial makeup of their programs. In fact, Lazarus has conveyed his commitment to the type of perspective and analytical programming that such hosts offer.

At the moment, no formal directive or editorial guidance has been given to MSNBC anchors or producers, I'm told. Lazarus is still holding meetings and familiarizing himself with key personnel at the network.

But Lazarus has nevertheless told people that…

The rest of this article is for paid subscribers only.

Scoop-driven reporting and unflinching analysis. Don’t be left in the dark! Upgrade to a paid subscription for full access to Status.

The Fourth Estate

George Stephanopoulos. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Signing Stephanopoulos: It’s official: ABC News has inked a multi-year deal to retain “Good Morning America” anchor George Stephanopoulos, The LAT’s Stephen Battaglio reported. As we first reported in late-November, the two sides had been hammering out a deal for some time. While the specific terms of the agreement were not released on Wednesday, I had been told that the deal proffered to Stephanopoulos would have seen his $20 million+ salary get a haircut. It’s unclear if, as a result, Stephanopoulos will carry less duties at the Disney-owned network.

An ABC News spokesperson did not respond Wednesday night when I asked…

The remainder of this newsletter is for paid subscribers only.

Don’t miss out! Become a member today.

A subscription gets you full access to our nightly newsletter, which includes:

✅ Essential reporting on and analysis of the Fourth Estate, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, the Information Wars, and more.

✅ Hand-curated links to the most consequential stories moving the needle in the key corridors of the industry.

✅ Unlimited access to our online archive where you can read previous editions of the newsletter.