There’s growing tension brewing behind the scenes of ABC’s daytime juggernaut The View and at the center of it is a clash between Disney executives and the show’s famously outspoken hosts.
According to a new report by The Daily Beast, Disney CEO Bob Iger has personally urged the talk show’s panel to rein in its relentless political commentary. But the stars of The View, who have long worn their progressive politics like a badge, aren’t so quick to comply.
‘Cool It on Politics’
The report details a behind-the-scenes meeting led by ABC News president Kim Godwin Karamehmedovic, who met with executive producer Brian Teta and all six hosts: Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Ana Navarro.
The message? Dial down the political noise.
Karamehmedovic reportedly highlighted the success of lighter, celebrity-driven episodes and urged the hosts to consider broadening their range of topics. Viewers, he suggested, are increasingly drawn to segments that go beyond presidential politics and partisan breakdowns.
A Political Divide On and Off Camera
However, not everyone was on board with the shift. According to The Daily Beast, Ana Navarro pushed back hard, arguing that politics is central to the show’s identity and exactly what their audience tunes in for. She allegedly brought her case straight to Iger—who, while thanking the hosts for their dedication, reaffirmed his request to tone down the rhetoric.
Still, the response from some of the women was reportedly dismissive. “They were just going to keep doing their thing,” one insider told the outlet, describing their reaction to Iger’s guidance as “silly.”
Not All Hosts Aligned
But not everyone at the table shares Navarro’s resistance. A source familiar with the situation told that some co-hosts quietly support the call for change.
“Most hosts agree with the ABC top brass,” the source said.
“‘The View is a daytime network talk show and needs to do more than just politics and Trump bashing. This was a welcome direction for many of us.'”
Asked whether The View will eventually shift course, the source replied cautiously: “It’s hard to say,” but added pointedly, “Ignoring Bob Iger seems like a terrible decision.”
Context Behind the Clampdown
The internal calls for moderation are not occurring in isolation. Iger’s firm but diplomatic guidance comes amid heightened media scrutiny during the second Trump presidency and a wave of high-profile litigation involving the former president.
Trump is currently in arbitration with Paramount Global over his contentious $20 billion lawsuit stemming from CBS’s handling of a 2024 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. Meanwhile, ABC News recently settled a separate lawsuit filed by Trump after anchor George Stephanopoulos incorrectly claimed he was “liable for rape”, a statement that misrepresented the verdict in the E. Jean Carroll civil case. The jury had actually found Trump liable for “sexual abuse,” not rape. The network paid $15 million to Trump’s presidential library and issued a rare apology. That settlement, sources confirm, was approved by Iger himself.
Resistance to Change?
Despite this backdrop, The View has shown little sign of backing off its political focus. Recent episodes have remained sharply critical of Trump and his administration. In fact, during one recent discussion of a new book on Biden, the panel erupted into a fiery exchange, underscoring the show’s increasingly contentious tone.
Even so, a second source close to the show said that such internal conversations are common, especially when networks analyze viewer feedback. This push, the source explained, isn’t just about Trump, it’s about balance.
Can ‘The View’ Find a Middle Ground?
So far, The View seems caught between two identities: one as a powerhouse platform for liberal voices, the other as a flagship daytime show with mass appeal. As ABC and Disney strategize their way through a politically volatile era and a media landscape reshaped by lawsuits, streaming wars, and cultural fatigue, one question looms large:
Can “The View” really keep doing its thing… without pushing the audience away?
