The liberal hosts of the ABC Daytime talk show “The View” are said to be in a panic, with morale at an all-time low, as a series of layoffs and a directive to temper criticism of President Donald Trump has rocked the set, according to a Friday report.
A source close to the hosts of the show said that part of the anxiety came after executive producer Brian Teta asked the panel to take it easy on the anti-Trump rhetoric, The New York Post reported.
It also comes after several cost-cutting layoffs on the set, including longtime female producers Jamie Hammer and Audrey Jones.
“People were shocked that he’d fire such experienced, well-respected producers,” one source told the outlet. “Morale is low.”
The source said that “everybody is waiting for the other shoe to drop” and that “there’s a lot of anxiety even though they just went through layoffs.”
But another source denied the claims that the hosts have been asked to temper their fiery rhetoric.
“No one holds back their opinions on ‘The View,’” the source said to The Post. “It’s a place for dynamic conversations from diverse points of view. That’s what makes it so popular.”
Another issue is that the show moved to a new headquarters and has to share its space with the “Tamron Hall” show.
“Tamron Hall thinks she’s Oprah. She is very demanding,” one source added. “She doesn’t realize she’s playing second fiddle to ‘The View.’”
Still another source denied the allegations and said, “Kudos to both productions for seamlessly working together to bring our viewers several hours of television each week.”
One source close to the show told The Post, however, that the hosts and staff do not like the cramped space and have complained that there are not enough offices and no executive suites.
“There are not a lot of desks. People just get drawers, and they are assigned lockers,” the source said. “The new office is very basic. There isn’t enough space or offices. There are no executive suites, just regular-sized offices.”
However, another source disputed that complaint and said, “There are plenty of desks and space to accommodate everyone. The building is gorgeous.”
“Everyone at ABC News hates the studio downtown,” the first responded.
Earlier this month, it was reported that for the first time, the Fox News show, “The Faulkner Focus,” drew more viewers than the ABC daytime left-wing gabfest.
“Heartfelt gratitude to the beloved viewers of FOX and Faulkner Focus. And big thanks to Forbes for showing our 11 am ET daytime team some love,” Fox News host Harris Faulkner said on X.
It is more impressive when you consider that “The View” is available to a much wider audience since it is on broadcast TV, but Faulkner’s program is only available to cable subscribers, and as more and more people “cut the cord,” the potential audience is getting smaller.
“I could not grab this big win without my wonderful team,” Faulkner told Forbes. “It’s a testament to the hard work and passion we put into bringing Americans the latest news and analysis on what matters most to them. The Faulkner Focus is a place where audiences can tune in and know their questions about the day’s headlines will be answered with respect for all sides, and we are proud viewers continue to choose us at 11 a.m.”
Fox News also had its best month ever as its primetime shows averaged an audience of 2.8 million with an average of 353,000 viewers in the key demographic of adults 25-54 that is most coveted by advertisers.
“As we mark 23 years as America’s most-watched cable news network, I would like to thank our incredible team both on and off the camera for their dedication to delivering the best product in news,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said. “Each year, we surpass new milestones, continue to innovate, and outperform the competition due to their tireless efforts and I could not be prouder.”
