While many are speculating that Mark Plotkin’s exit from WTOP has something to do with the new all-news station in town, 99.1 WNEW, we are hearing a much different story. We have heard from inside WTOP that the station’s “hand was forced” to terminate Plotkin. WaPo’s Erik Wemple confirmed with WTOP head boss, Jim Farley, that Plotkin was let go by the radio station.

Earlier this month, WTOP ran a story on it’s website reporting on a “screaming match” between D.C. Councilman Kwame Brown and Plotkin. A former colleague of Plotkin’s says that the political analyst’s temper was of major concern. We were told, “the worst kept secret in the building is that Mark has severe anger issues.” Another veteran of Washington D.C. radio reports that Plotkin “has a reputation of being a total motherfucker.” We have heard that Plotkin’s legendary temper dates way back to his days at WAMU where he displayed “major temper issues” and was considered “a loose cannon.”

We wrote Plotkin for comment.