Another reason behind Keith Olbermann's suspension: The Countdown anchor refused to apologize for his actions on-air, insisting that he didn't know any prohibitions on campaign donations existed, Mike Allen over at Politico posits. Olbermann is presently paid $7 million annually and holds a primetime MSNBC spot, but he may have overestimated his clout since ratings have not substantially declined in his absence and commentators including Rachel Maddow and Laurence O'Donnell remain popular.
Apologizing would likely have reduced his suspension, as it did for David Shuster in 2008, when he apologized for using the term "pimped out" in reference to Chelsea Clinton.
(More Keith Olbermann stories.)