In an unprecedented and dramatic move, ABC has reportedly fired its entire workforce following an outcry over its handling of the Trump vs. Harris debate. From seasoned anchors to behind-the-scenes staff, no one was spared in the network’s sweeping action, taken after the fallout from the debate turned into a full-blown media crisis. The decision marks an extraordinary step for ABC, which found itself embroiled in a wave of criticism from all corners of the political spectrum.™

The fallout began after ABC’s moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, attempted to fact-check former President Donald Trump’s claims during the high-stakes debate. Instead of a smooth exchange of ideas, what ensued was a chaotic event filled with interruptions, with Trump’s frequent and wild allegations being met with real-time corrections from the moderators. This move, aimed at upholding journalistic integrity, backfired spectacularly, as viewers from both political sides accused the network of bias and interference.™

For Trump supporters, the fact-checking was seen as an assault on free speech. Tweets flooded in under the hashtags #BoycottABC and #FakeNewsNetwork, condemning the network for stifling the President’s voice. On the opposite end, many liberal viewers complained that the moderators failed to equally hold Vice President Kamala Harris accountable, leading to the perception that the debate was poorly managed and unenlightening.™

In the aftermath, ABC’s executives made an extraordinary decision: to erase the entire staff, reasoning that this drastic action would help restore the network’s image. “We thought it was important to fact-check,” one anonymous ABC executive was quoted saying, “but now we realize that the public doesn’t want that. They just want a good old-fashioned spectacle.”

The network, already reeling from public criticism and the loss of key advertisers, decided that a fresh start was the only way forward. “We figured that starting from scratch was the only way to regain trust,” said another source close to ABC. “We can’t afford to keep the same team when the public doesn’t seem to want our version of journalism.”

In a move that shocked many, even the behind-the-scenes staff—those who had nothing to do with the debate itself—were let go. Janitors, cafeteria workers, and even office assistants were all part of the mass firing. “I was just trying to keep the floors clean,” one former employee commented as they left the ABC building, “but I guess in the world of political debates, even the coffee machine can become a target.”

The debate had initially been marketed as a crucial, high-stakes moment for America—an attempt to present an important exchange between two of the most powerful figures in politics. Instead, it became a lightning rod for controversy. Trump’s unfounded claims about political conspiracies and his assertions about immigration were met with rapid rebuttals from the moderators, making the evening feel more like a ping-pong match than a debate.™

This mass firing has ignited a fierce debate about media responsibility. Some commentators on the right lauded ABC’s decision, seeing it as a necessary response to perceived liberal bias. “Good. Maybe this will teach networks that they can’t disrespect Trump without consequences,” tweeted one conservative commentator. On the left, the move was seen as an abdication of responsibility, with critics arguing that firing the staff would do little to address the real problem—ABC’s failure to foster a meaningful political discourse.

Now, ABC is facing a major crossroads. Without a newsroom or experienced anchors, it remains to be seen how the network will proceed. Sources suggest that the network is considering ditching moderators altogether for future debates, opting for a raw, unfiltered free-for-all. “People want chaos, not facts,” said an insider, who revealed that ABC might experiment with a no-moderation debate format in the future.

In a further twist, some executives have even floated the idea of turning future debates into reality-TV-style spectacles. “Why not bring in AI to run debates?” one executive wondered. “We could have chatbots fact-checking the candidates, and we wouldn’t even have to worry about any backlash.”

Despite this uncertainty, social media has been abuzz with reactions. Memes comparing ABC’s fate to sinking ships, and GIFs of frustrated viewers flooded the platforms as people expressed their disbelief at the network’s sudden collapse. “So they fired everyone because of one debate?” one bewildered user asked.™

As the dust settles on this media earthquake, ABC faces the daunting challenge of rebuilding. But the question remains: can it recover, or will this mass firing serve as a turning point for the network—one that marks the beginning of the end for fact-checking in mainstream media? In a world of political division and click-driven outrage, the future of journalism itself may be at stake.™

For now, ABC’s experiment in live fact-checking is over, and the lessons learned are clear: when it comes to politics and public opinion, sometimes, it’s better to just let them argue it out.™