CNN is once again restructuring its leadership and operations, this time focusing on its Washington, D.C. bureau, as the network struggles to recover from a sharp ratings decline in the wake of the 2024 election. The changes reflect broader efforts to stabilize the network after a prolonged period of internal upheaval, strategic misfires, and shifting audience expectations.
Phillip Rucker, formerly a senior editor at The Washington Post and a known quantity within CNN’s D.C. ecosystem, has replaced longtime senior vice president Adam Levine as head of the Washington operations. The move, first reported by the Status newsletter from former CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy, marks a significant change in the network’s power structure.
According to the report, Levine was caught off guard by the announcement and appeared “uncomfortable” when the transition was publicly disclosed by executive editor Virginia Moseley.
Levine’s new role will be limited to overseeing the network’s investigative team and a recently formed “hub desk,” a position widely interpreted within CNN as a demotion. One CNN staffer put it bluntly: “There’s no question, he was demoted.”
Rucker will now be tasked with overseeing some of CNN’s most politically sensitive and high-profile coverage areas, including the White House, Congress, the Justice Department, and national security—critical beats as the Trump administration resumes control of the executive branch.
This leadership shakeup comes amid broader structural changes at CNN. Former director Allison Hoffman quietly exited earlier this month, adding to the growing list of high-level departures since former CEO Jeff Zucker’s resignation in 2022. His successor, Chris Licht, attempted to steer the network toward more centrist reporting but ultimately failed to satisfy either traditional viewers or internal staff, leading to his own departure.
Current CEO Mark Thompson has acknowledged the need for continued transformation. Earlier this year, he announced that CNN would reduce its workforce by approximately six percent as part of a restructuring initiative, though he noted that overall staffing numbers may stabilize due to a $70 million investment in digital expansion.
In a memo obtained by CNBC, Thompson emphasized the human cost of the changes while underscoring the necessity of streamlining operations to ensure future viability.
Cost-cutting measures are already underway. Several production teams may be relocated from Washington and New York to CNN’s Atlanta headquarters, where operational expenses are lower. According to sources familiar with the discussions, this move is designed to consolidate resources and reduce redundancies across regional offices.
