New report on Howard Stern’s future throws rumors into turmoil: Was there a ‘secret deal’?

Howard Stern — the “shock jock” whose controversial and often suggestive style of radio broadcasting earned him the moniker that stuck — is keeping everyone guessing as rumors fly about his future, whether The Howard Stern Show has been canceled by Sirius/XM and if he has decided it’s time to retire.

Some version of these rumors has appeared in dozens of media reports in the past week, from the New York Post ( who says staffers of the radio show have decided to keep their best jokes for their post-Stern future ) to the New York Daily News, who reports that Stern is looking at retirement because he wants to go out on a high note.

It’s worth noting that all of these reports have been attributed to anonymous sources; and, now, there’s one more, which promises to upend all of the reportin