Lou Dobbs.Photo: Alex Wong/Getty
Lou Dobbsis off the air.
Lou Dobbs Tonighthas been canceled on theFox Business Network, a company spokesperson confirms to PEOPLE.
The cancellation is part of programming changes announced last fall, the spokesperson says, though they did not give details behind the decision.
Dobbs' final appearance on the show was Thursday, and Jackie DeAngelis and David Asman will take turns hosting the show moving forward under its new name,Fox Business Tonight. A new permanent host for the same time slot will be announced at a later time.
Dobbs, 75, an outspoken supporter ofDonald Trumpand whose show had strong ratings, is not expected to appear on any Fox News or Fox Business programs in the future.According toTheLos Angeles Times, which first broke the news, he remains under contract.
A rep for the veteran host did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. Hedeclinedto comment toThe Washington Post.
“As we said in October, FOX News Media regularly considers programming changes and plans have been in place to launch new formats as appropriate post-election, including on FOX Business – this is part of those planned changes,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “A new 5PM program will be announced in the near future.”
In October, the company said in a statement, “FOX News Media regularly considers programming changes, including to its daytime lineup, and will launch new formats as appropriate after the election. These changes are being made independent of any other ongoing matter.”
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Also named in the defamation case are Fox hosts Jeanine Pirro and Mario Bartiromo, as well as Trump’s attorneys Sydney Powell andRudy Giuliani.
“The election was not stolen, rigged, or fixed,” the lawsuit, which was filed in New York State Supreme Court on Thursday, says,theLos Angeles Timesreported.
“These are facts. They are demonstrable and irrefutable. Defendants have always known these facts,” the suit reportedly continues. “They knew Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the 2020 U.S. election. They knew the election was not stolen. They knew the election was not rigged or fixed. They knew these truths just as they knew the Earth is round and two plus two equals four.”
The London-based company argues in the lawsuit that because of the defendants' spreading of misinformation, Smartmatic’s “reputation for providing transparent, auditable, and secure election technology and software was irreparably harmed.”
The source with knowledge says the cancellation ofLou Dobbs Tonightis unrelated to the lawsuit.
“FOX News Media is committed to providing the full context of every story with in-depth reporting and clear opinion,” the company said in a statement Thursday. “We are proud of our 2020 election coverage and will vigorously defend against this meritless lawsuit in court.”
source: people.com
