The final straw, according to sources, was the growing number of walk-offs and on-air meltdowns that seemed to overshadow any substantive discussions. “We reached a point where the show’s biggest moments weren’t about the issues—they were about which co-host stormed off the set that day,” said one executive close to the situation.
One of the most infamous moments came earlier this year when Meghan McCain, former co-host and resident conservative voice, dramatically left the show after a heated argument with her liberal co-hosts. “We wanted real conversations, not WWE Smackdown,” the executive added. “It’s hard to sell that as ‘daytime entertainment.’”