CNN to cancel 'Crossfire' following Tucker Carlson's departure

CNN is planning to cross off "Crossfire," the smash-mouth political slugfest, from its U.S. lineup, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

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The network signaled its decision within hours of conservative co-host Tucker Carlson's announced move to MSNBC. Carlson told CNN last April he wanted out of the high-decibel, low-data broadcast begun 22 years ago.

CNN/U.S. President Jonathan Klein sided Wednesday with comedian Jon Stewart, who used a "Crossfire" appearance last fall to rip the program as so much hackery.

"I think he made a good point about the noise level of these types of shows, which does nothing to illuminate the issues of the day," Klein said. Viewers need useful information in a dangerous world, he said, "and a bunch of guys screaming at each other simply doesn't accomplish that."

Carlson praised the show but said that he felt constrained by its partisan format.

"When my opinions diverged from those of the White House it was difficult" to conduct the expected debate, "particularly when I opposed the Iraq war," he said.