memeorandum: Keith Olbermann Quits Countdown (Howard Kurtz/The Daily Beast)

12:40 PM ET, January 22, 2011

Top Items:

Bill Carter / Media Decoder:

Olbermann Leaves ‘Countdown’ on MSNBC — Updated Keith Olbermann, the highest-rated host on MSNBC, announced abruptly on the air Friday night that he is leaving “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” immediately. — The host, who has had a stormy relationship with the management of the network for some time …

Howard Kurtz / The Daily Beast:

Keith Olbermann Quits Countdown — MSNBC's liberal crusader abruptly resigned on air tonight, ending a provocative eight-year run. Howard Kurtz on Olbermann's career highlights and his clashes with network brass. — The cable channel confirmed his unexpected departure as Olbermann …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Questions and Observations and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

Glynnis MacNicol / The Wire:

So Why Did MSNBC Just Dump Keith Olbermann? Hint: COMCAST — Okay. Wow. That was shocking. — But now that we've had a few minutes to contemplate a MSNBC world without Olbermann let's indulge in some speculation. — Why now? — Bill Carter reports at the NYT that Olbermann …

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, New York Magazine and First Draft

Mark Joyella / Mediaite:

Why Keith Olbermann Is Out (Update) — Sources tell Mediaite Keith Olbermann and MSNBC were headed for a breakup long before Comcast's rise to power, but clearly something set the divorce into motion quickly today, with network promos set to run touting Olbermann's role in MSNBC's coverage …

Discussion: The Wire, Weasel Zippers and The BRAD BLOG, more at Mediagazer »

Sam Schechner / Wall Street Journal:

MSNBC, Olbermann Call It Quits, Cancel Show — Cable host Keith Olbermann and news channel MSNBC abruptly parted ways on Friday night, as the network announced it had agreed to end his contract and the last installment of his show would air that evening. — The surprise announcement strips MSNBC …

Discussion: No Left Turns, Doug Ross and Speakeasy

David Bauder / Associated Press:

Keith Olbermann gives abrupt goodbye to MSNBC show — NEW YORK - Keith Olbermann was MSNBC's most popular personality and single-handedly led its transformation to an outspoken, left-leaning cable news network in prime time. Despite that, he often seemed to be walking on a tightrope with his job.

Discussion: Moonbattery

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Breaking: Olbermann announces the end of “Countdown”; Update …

Discussion: Mediaite, Political Byline, YID With LID, Da Techguy's Blog, theblogprof, Z on TV, NewsBusters.org blogs, Nice Deb, Michelle Malkin, Pajamas Media, Daily Kos, HotAirPundit, Patterico's Pontifications, Pam's House Blend and Conservatives4Palin

Richard Adams / Guardian:
NBC sacks Keith Olberman

Discussion: Washington Post, Liberty Pundits Blog, Raw Story, Firedoglake and The Daily Caller

The Politico:
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC part ways

Discussion: CNN and Pajamas Media

David Neiwert / Crooks and Liars:
BREAKING: Keith Olbermann out at MSNBC, last broadcast tonight

Discussion: A+E Interactive

Colby Hall / Mediaite:
Coincidence? Keith Olbermann Departs MSNBC Day After FCC Approves Comcast Takeover

Discussion: Taylor Marsh and News Hounds

msnbc.com:
Olbermann signs off msnbc

Discussion: Runnin' Scared, NewsBusters.org blogs, NewsBusters.org and Verum Serum

The Huffington Post:
Final Countdown: Keith Olbermann And MSNBC Announce They Are Parting Ways (VIDEO)

Discussion: The Wire, NewsBusters.org blogs, Firedoglake, Jesus' General and Poynter

Alex Dobuzinskis / Reuters:
MSNBC and anchor Keith Olbermann abruptly part ways

Discussion: TMZ.com and Informed Comment

Mark Joyella / Mediaite:
BREAKING: Keith Olbermann Announces Tonight's Countdown As His Last Show

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit

Bill Gorman / TVbytheNumbers:
Keith Olbermann Out At MSNBC, Final ‘Countdown’ Broadcast Is Tonight

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Egrinberg / This Just In:
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC part ways

Discussion: iOwnTheWorld.com and Atlas Shrugs

Brian Stelter / New York Times:

Spotlight From Glenn Beck Brings a CUNY Professor Threats — On his daily radio and television shows, Glenn Beck has elevated once-obscure conservative thinkers onto best-seller lists. Recently, he has elevated a 78-year-old liberal academic to celebrity of a different sort, in a way that some say is endangering her life.

Discussion: TPMCafe, iOwnTheWorld.com, Balloon Juice, Prairie Weather, Hullabaloo and News Hounds

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

WHEN BECK'S MINIONS GET THE MESSAGE.... Glenn Beck doesn't just rail against perceived enemies, whom he considers dangerous villains who must be stopped; he also chooses obscure enemies he considers worthy of his rage. — It's one of the many oddities of Beck's bizarre message.

Discussion: The Mahablog

Big Journalism:

Washington Post Organizes News Boycott of Sarah Palin; Starts Twitter Campaign Against GOP Star — The Washington Post is engaging in online political activism by encouraging its readers to boycott news coverage of Sarah Palin. — The Post has picked up the call initiated this morning …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Liberty Pundits Blog, Outside the Beltway, Publius Forum, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Guardian, The Huffington Post, Hot Air, The Wire, The Reaction, The Nation, Mediaite and The Daily Dish

Alexander Burns / The Politico:

First in nation, last with Sarah Palin — If Sarah Palin decides to run for president, she could quickly find that it's not Arizona, but New Hampshire that poses the bigger threat to her candidacy. — That's because in all of her travels since the 2008 election - during the midterm campaign …

Discussion: CNN, The Wire and TPMDC

Wall Street Journal:

Obama to Push New Spending — State of Union Speech to Call for Boosting ‘Competitiveness’ While Nodding to Need for Budget Cuts — President Barack Obama and GE's Jeffrey Immelt, left, with plant manager Kevin Sharkey, visited a GE factory Friday to talk about green jobs.

Discussion: FrumForum

Erik Wasson / The Hill:
Obama: Hu meeting showed he's ‘serious’ about fighting for jobs

Discussion: The Politico

Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
House liberals urge Obama to draw hard line: “Hands off Social Security!”

Discussion: AMERICAblog News and Firedoglake

Jordy Yager / The Hill:

Who's your seat buddy? Congress pairs off for State of the Union unity display — Dozens of lawmakers are getting a second dose of high school as they venture across the aisle and ask colleagues to sit with them for President Obama's State of the Union address next week.

Discussion: Michelle Malkin and JammieWearingFool

CNN:

Former U.S. lawmaker assisting Duvalier — Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) — A former U.S. congressman was among a group of American attorneys accompanying former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier as he spoke in the country's capital Friday. — Former Republican Congressman Bob Barr …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway

Jparkercbs / CBS San Francisco:

Oakland 2nd Graders Reportedly Engage In Sex Acts, Teacher Suspended — OAKLAND (CBS 5) — A teacher at Oakland's Markham Elementary School has been suspended indefinitely after school officials said a pair of second-graders performed sex acts on each other in class - with the teacher present.

Discussion: AOL News, The Blast, Fox Nation, Pajamas Media and JammieWearingFool

Gail Collins / New York Times:

The Week of Speaking Pleasantly — Congress really has been looking a little more civil. Not quite Athens in the age of Pericles, but it's very possible that this year we'll get through the State of the Union address without anybody jumping up to scream insults at the president. — Going for baby steps.

Discussion: Daily Kos