Former ABC News Reporter Terry Moran Launches Independent Venture on Substack Following Dismissal Over Trump Remarks
Terry Moran, a longtime reporter and anchor for ABC News, has announced his next career move after being let go from the network following a controversial social media post criticizing former President Donald Trump and his former deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller.
On Wednesday, June 11, Moran shared via a video post that he had joined Substack, a popular platform for independent journalism and newsletters. “Hello everyone. I’m Terry Moran, and for almost 28 years I was a reporter and anchor for ABC News. As you may have heard, I’m not there anymore,” he said. “I’m here, with you, on Substack, this amazing space.”
Moran expressed enthusiasm about the new chapter in his career. “I can’t wait to get at it and do the important work that we all have to do in this time of such trouble for our country,” he said, promising reporting, interviews, and open dialogue with readers. He noted that while it may take a few days to set things up, he’s eager to begin.
Moran’s departure from ABC came shortly after he was suspended over a now-deleted social media post on June 8. In the post, Moran criticized Stephen Miller as a “world-class hater,” stating, “His hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.” He went on to describe Trump similarly, saying the former president’s hatred was “a means to an end” — namely, “his own glorification.”
ABC News confirmed Moran’s exit in a June 10 statement to USA TODAY, citing the post as a “clear violation” of the network’s editorial standards. “We are at the end of our agreement with Terry Moran, and based on his recent post – which was a clear violation of ABC News policies – we have made the decision to not renew,” a spokesperson said. “At ABC News, we hold all of our reporters to the highest standards of objectivity, fairness and professionalism.”
During his nearly three-decade tenure at ABC, Moran co-anchored Nightline, covered eight presidential campaigns, and conducted high-profile interviews, including with Donald Trump during his first 100 days in office.
Moran is not alone in turning to Substack following a network departure. Other prominent journalists such as CNN’s Jim Acosta, Don Lemon, NBC’s Chuck Todd, and MSNBC’s Joy Reid have launched independent projects in the wake of similar career shifts. Acosta even welcomed Moran to the platform earlier this week, saying, “Come on in, Terry. The water is warm.”
