NBC News has laid off about 150 employees – roughly seven percent of its workforce – in what looks like the latest sign that corporate “diversity” projects are losing their shine.
The cuts hit hardest in the network’s special news divisions focused on race, ethnicity, and sexuality, including NBC BLK, NBC Latino, NBC Asian America, and NBC Out, which covered LGBTQ+ issues.
BREAKING: Fake news NBC has FIRED ~150 employees (7% of its staff) as ratings continue to plummet.
Reports also indicated that diversity teams dedicated to black, latino, asian American, and LGBTQ news were among the cuts.
WINNING pic.twitter.com/gaCFKUnOKs
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 15, 2025
According to TheWrap, those teams were “gutted” in the layoffs, though NBC says the branded sections will technically remain online.
Translation: the websites may still exist, but the people running them are gone.
NBC’s parent company, Comcast, recently announced a major corporate shake-up and a new spin-off called Versant Media, combining NBC’s cable channels like MSNBC and CNBC.
The move was sold as a “business restructuring,” but to many, it looks like a quiet retreat from the network’s aggressive DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) push that became standard after 2020.
The DEI Bubble Is Bursting
For years, news organizations have poured millions into diversity teams and “equity initiatives,” hiring staff based on identity rather than journalistic experience or audience demand.
Those programs exploded after the George Floyd protests and the rise of Black Lives Matter.
But today, many of those efforts are shrinking or vanishing altogether.
NBC’s layoffs mirror a national trend.
Axios reports that other big media companies – including The Washington Post and Gannett – have scaled back their DEI departments in recent months.
Even corporate giants like Disney, Google, and Meta have cut DEI staff as profits dip and shareholders push back.
Conservatives say this is common sense finally catching up to the newsroom.
Viewers Are Tuning Out
NBC’s problems go beyond payroll. Ratings are in freefall.
In 2024, NBC Nightly News saw one of its lowest viewership averages in decades, while digital platforms like NBC News Now continue to struggle for audience share.
Meanwhile, Americans are increasingly turning to independent outlets, podcasts, and platforms like Rumble and X for news and commentary.
That’s especially true in swing states like Nevada, where distrust of the national media runs high.
A 2024 Gallup poll found that only 29% of Americans trust the media to report news “fully, accurately, and fairly.”
Among Republicans, that number drops to just 11%.
A Shift Away from “Woke” News
NBC insists this isn’t about ideology.
In a statement, the company said it’s “refocusing resources to strengthen its core news operation.”
But that explanation didn’t stop critics from noticing the timing.
The cuts come months after the FCC reportedly raised questions about Comcast’s DEI programs, and after investors complained that progressive political messaging was turning off mainstream audiences.
In short, NBC may be realizing that identity-driven journalism doesn’t sell.
People don’t tune in to be lectured – they tune in for facts.
What This Means for Nevada
Nevada’s changing demographics have long made it a testing ground for national media trends.
The state’s growing Latino and Asian populations have often been key targets for “diversity” reporting.
But many Nevada voters say they care less about racial labels and more about issues that affect everyone – like inflation, schools, and public safety.
Even local politicians have noticed the shift.
During the last election cycle, Gov. Joe Lombardo and Attorney General Aaron Ford both drew headlines for how they spoke about “representation” versus “results.”
Lombardo focused on restoring law enforcement funding and improving education outcomes – issues that cross racial and gender lines.
The Bottom Line
NBC’s layoffs are part of a much bigger story: Americans are tuning out media that treats news as a social experiment.
As networks like NBC cut back their diversity desks, it’s not just about budgets – it’s about credibility.
When a company that spent years preaching “inclusion” suddenly drops its diversity staff to save itself, that tells you all you need to know.
It’s one more sign that the DEI bubble is bursting – and that the public is ready for real journalism again.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
