Brian Stelter Returns to CNN

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Former CNN host Brian Stelter announced his return to the network and the Reliable Sources newsletter on Tuesday.

In a surprise edition of the newsletter on Tuesday evening, Stelter wrote, “Hello again, it’s Brian Stelter — yes, really. I am thrilled to share that I am returning as the lead author of CNN’s Reliable Sources newsletter, the digest I founded in 2015.”

He continued:

But this is not going to be a “Back to the Future” remake. The media industry has matured, CNN has evolved, and I have changed a lot since I signed off two years ago. I loved my old life as the anchor of a Sunday morning show but, to borrow some lingo from my video game blogger days, I finished that level of the game. Time for new levels, new challenges.

I’m returning to CNN in a brand new role as Chief Media Analyst, which means I’ll be appearing on air, developing digital content, and helming this newsletter. It will be different, because I am different.

I always scoffed at people who said “getting fired was the best thing that’s ever happened to me” — until, well, it happened to me.

Stelter praised Oliver Darcy , who took over Reliable Sources following Stelter’s 2022 exit from the network, before leaving to launch his own independent newsletter last month. Stelter then announced that Reliable Sources would relaunch officially on Monday, Sept. 9.

“I’m going to spend the next few days getting my kids ready for a new school year and obtaining a brand new CNN badge,” he concluded. “See you in your inbox or on your screen(s) soon.”

In a statement, CNN CEO Mark Thompson said, “I’m very happy to welcome Brian back to CNN in this new role. Brian is one of the best global experts in media commentary, and as the founder of the Reliable Sources newsletter, he is the perfect choice to lead Reliable Sources into its next chapter.”

Thompson’s predecessor, Chris Licht , cancelled Stelter’s show in 2022 as part of a short-lived shakeup at the network, which eventually led to Licht’s own dismissal as CEO in 2023.