Writing at Alternet, Robert Reich explains why CNN gave Trump an hour to peddle his vainglorious lies and narcissism. CNN has a new owner. He wants the network to be “centrist,” to bring on equal numbers of Democrats and MAGAnuts. And behind the new owner is an investor and board member who has given significant money to Trump.
Why did CNN give Trump this gift?
Reich writes:
The germ of an answer could be found last August, when Chris Licht, CNN’s new chairman and CEO, canceled Brian Stelter’s Sunday show, “Reliable Sources,” which had been a reliable source of intelligent criticism of Fox News, right-wing media in general, Trumpism, and the increasingly authoritarian lurch of the Republican party.
Licht also fired Stelter and his staff.
The show had been commercially successful. It was doing better than several of CNN’s prime-time shows.
Around the same time, Licht told CNN staff they should stop referring to Donald Trump’s “big lie” because the phrase sounded like a Democratic party talking point. Licht also told the staff he wanted more “straight news reporting,” along with more conservative guests.
This explains to me why CNN invited a female Trump lawyer on the air on the day that E. Jean Carroll won a civil judgment against Trump for $5 million for sexual abuse and defamation. I suppose I expected to hear from an impartial legal expert, but instead there was a beautiful angry Trump lawyer, speaking through clenched teeth. Her unconcealed rage undermined her credibility, but I was nonetheless surprised to see the network turn to someone so partisan.
Reich continues:
Follow the money. CNN’s new corporate overseer is Warner Bros. Discovery Inc, whose CEO is David Zaslav.
Zaslav has been pushing Licht to reposition CNN to be a network preferred by “everybody … Republicans, Democrats….”
How is it possible to report on Trump and not speak of the big lie, or say they’ve broken norms if not laws?
So, what’s motivating Zaslav? Keep following the money.
The leading shareholder in Warner Bros. Discovery is John Malone, a multibillionaire cable magnate. (Malone was a chief architect in the merger of Discovery and CNN.)
Malone describes himself as a “libertarian” although he travels in right-wing Republican circles. In 2005, he held 32% of the shares of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. He is on the board of directors of the Cato Institute. In 2017, he donated $250,000 to Trump’s inauguration.
Malone has said he wants CNN to be more like Fox News because, in his view, Fox News has “actual journalism.” Malone also wants the “news” portion of CNN to be “more centrist…”
When you follow the money behind deeply irresponsible decisions at the power centers of America today, the road often leads to right-wing billionaires.
We have known a long time. You never go wrong following the money.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Even Anderson Cooper, who is rich enough not to have to do this, kow towed to the new boss, did his public boot licking.
This did not age well:
Her unconcealed rage undermined her credibility, but I was nonetheless surprised to see the network turn to someone so partisan.
Thus CNN becomes part of the camp that holds and instantiates the principles that “there is no truth for journalists to strive for but, instead, only the positions taken by people with differing views.” It DOESN’T MATTER that a jury found that Trump sexually assaulted and then defamed E. Jean Carroll. There are “good people on both sides” of that issue.
Think of the ratings that are possible in a new “there is no truth, only cat fights and cock fights” world where the job of the broadcaster is simply to run the fights 24/7.
Perhaps CNN could change its motto: “Journalism in a Post Truth World.”
There is no truth of the matter for journalists to get to. There are only equally credible partisan positions. Facts and Alternative Facts.
Journalism in a post-truth world: He said-she said-he-said-she said.
Who’s to say what is factual and what is not?
exactly. no truth. Give the sexual predator an hour of free primetime.
I know it’s considered bad taste to invoke Hitler, but imagine giving him an hour of air time to rant about the Jews, just because he’s newsworthy. Imagine an hour with Charles Manson. That would draw a lot of viewers.
Exactly
Godwin’s Law applies only when one is NOT dealing with actual Fascists like Trump and Putin. In other words, when one is dealing simply with anything one doesn’t like.
https://bobshepherdonline.wordpress.com/2022/08/29/are-trump-and-his-supporters-in-fact-fascists/
One should not apologize for calling out Fascists. It’s important to do so.
Why is it extraordinarily important to call Fascism out whenever it rears its monstrous head? Because silence is complicity. It’s letting it happen again. It’s making the same mistake that Germans made back in 1932-33, expecting that it’s not going to be all that bad. That experience is behind us all now. We are supposed to know better. It CAN get that bad, that quickly. Been there, done that. In the middle of the last century, we fought a war to end this shit. Here we are seeing it again, right here, on our soil. Who would have imagined that we would have slid so far backward? These must be more than just words: Never again.
See Niwdog’s Law …
Follow the money
And you can bet
It flows in circles
Pocket to pocket
And down the toilet.
BURMA SHAVE
Diane From the article: “‘Malone has said he wants CNN to be more like Fox News because, in his view, Fox News has ‘actual journalism.’ Malone also wants the ‘news’ portion of CNN to be ‘more centrist…’”
This view is yet another example of scientism masquerading as journalism.
It’s “centrist,” that is “horizontally rather than vertically oriented journalism because, as with the standards, methods, and principles governing the physical sciences, it portrays all data in the same light while trying to leave the scientist’s viewpoint out of the picture. Scientists in a physical science context can do that because the data are not human.
However, in the case of journalistic standards, the data are not only physical but also fully human, as is the journalist; and so, instead of scientism, we have professional journalists adhering to journalistic rather than natural science principles, based on human data and concerns, e.g., sometimes nefarious; and where recognizing and weeding out sophistry is an essential skill.
This means journalists not only want to “report on and give equal weight to what everyone is saying regardless” (so-called centrist or merely horizontal orientation), but also to know BEFOREHAND whether the saying can pass through a professional level of critical/journalistic standards and expectations (applied to both writers/speakers and journalists).
This means that, regardless of legitimate disagreements, those sayers/ writers are FIRST “on the same page” with regard to those discerning principles . . . people who are thought or even known to be authentically committed to reasonable discourse and the search for truth . . . aka: vertically rather than horizontally oriented.
With that context in mind, the upshot of the viewpoint from scientism as applied to the news still needs to be run through human-based standards, otherwise they are defunct on principle. And so:
We can ask whether Malone’s et al views of “actual journalism” hold or if they have ANY training in journalism at all, or just rest in a neanderthal kind of scientism:
“‘Malone has said he wants CNN to be more like Fox News because, in his view, Fox News has “actual journalism.” Malone also wants the ‘news’ portion of CNN to be ‘more centrist…’”
With that view, human/standards-based journalists are forced to look to and consider not only authenticity and the search for truth in the writers/speakers they give voice to, but to consider the dark backgrounds and nefarious motivations of those people. The search for truth goes forward, but now it’s about a completely different question, object, and situation.
Now it becomes WHOSE voice rather than discerning a general authentic forum for WHAT is being said. The fascist or murderer gets the same platform as those involved in civil/reasonable discourse; and their arguments get the tacit endorsement of NEWS people we thought we could trust. What exactly are we trusting journalists for . . . providing the technical wherewithal and so a megaphone for anyone who can buy one?
The upshot is that merely reporting what everyone has to say (horizontally oriented) masquerades as the nice sounding “centrist” . . . but in fact is a mouthpiece and megaphone for those involved in prescribed propaganda . . . on what principle do they choose who talks? . . . rather than using the power of the press and its authentic professional journalists to report the news with an effort to air authentic argumentation with the intent of truth-telling (vertically oriented).
Yes. “Follow the money.” And so, even authentic journalists, not to mention “the people,” find themselves (ourselves) drawn into the dark underlife of sophistry, and ultimately to oligarchy, authoritarianism, and of course, fascism. Are the cows already out of the barn here, like with climate change?CBK
NIWDOG’s LAW —
As the percentage of Nazis in a population increases,
the probability someone will mention it approaches 1.00.
Thanks, Jon. Yes.
What I most worry about is the probably of someones being thrown out a window or herded into camps because they mentioned it. If people think that this cannot happen again, they are clueless.
cx: probability
cx: thrown out of windows
John Aubrey and Bob I think there is another kind of window . . . an historical one . . . that is small, but still open . . . and we’re in it. CBK
So, what happens the same week that Trump is found by a court to be guilty of sexual assault and defamation?
Polls show him beating or tied with Biden for president in 2024. AND the new CNN gives him an hour of free prime time.
I guess the new leadership of CNN hasn’t considered the meaning of “Never Again.”
Many of us know, of course, that Trump is a Fascist, a seditionist, a serial sexual predator, a supporter of dictators, a pathological liar and malignant narcissist, Putin’s dog, a racist, a plunderer and poisoner of the environment, an enricher of the rich, an impoverisher of the poor, a cheat, a kidnapper of the children of asylum seekers, a fomenter of violence, a science denier, an angry toddler man, and a crude, moronic, PROFOUNDLY ignorant criminal and con artist and Covid denialist with lots and lots of blood on his tiny hands.
And half or better of the voters in America want this guy in the White House again. And CNN’s new leadership thought it a good idea to give this vile creep a platform from which to do a 2016 repeat.
What this reveals about our fellow citizens is truly horrifying. And the media were are supposed to be able to depend upon to guide us through this dangerous pass? Well, here we are. . . .
cx: And the media that we are supposed to be able to depend upon
Bob writes: “What this reveals about our fellow citizens is truly horrifying. And the media were/are supposed to be able to depend upon to guide us through this dangerous pass? Well, here we are. . . .**
. . . In spades. See my note above about scientism as background for “actual journalism.” CBK
Well, here we are, CBK, you and I, entirely agreed about Scientism.
How lovely is that!?!
Bob Whether or not these ignoramuses are morally sound or even well-meaning, their quotables suggest that they are espousing Neanderthal views of science which, in their tacit philosophical meaning, place humans as well as human principles OUTSIDE of reality. Remember relativism and “value free”?
My view is that the leftovers of scientism are part of the still-credited rot that we are experiencing now in education . . . that informs a predatory capitalism, and that still rests at the center of American life, along with all the other good stuff.
But the main point here is that those birds (foul) now at CNN and at Fox are the know-nothings of something called journalism. News? Hah. CBK
“What this reveals about our fellow citizens”
Jen Psaki asked NH Governor Sununu about the town hall attendees laughing at DJT’s remarks.
Instead of “actual journalism,” whatever that is to a fascist like John Malone (an autocratic loving fascist by any other name is still a fascist), let’s talk about the ethics of journalism.
“‘Truth’, ‘accuracy’, and ‘objectivity’ are cornerstones of journalism ethics. Journalists should strive to detach themselves from regions, groups and even countries they reside from or in to an extent. Allowing for that separation to prevent influenced bias play a part in their journalistic writing.
To combat those who claim they are not fascists because they are not like Hitler and his Nazis, bla, bla, bla… let’s stick to the meaning/definition of fascism, because it fits who monsters like John Malone and Traitor Trump are.
“Many experts agree that fascism is a mass political movement that emphasizes extreme nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of both the nation and the single, powerful leader over the individual citizen.”
Let’s not forget what Traitor Trump recently said on his Truth Social liars bully-troll pulpit, even though he later lied and said he didn’t say it.
“A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution,” he wrote. “Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!”
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-rebuked-for-call-to-terminate-constitution-over-2020-election-results
And do not forget who supports the Traitor.
There you go, Lloyd, being all truthy.
Centrist does not imply truth. When a nation has gone so far to one side as ours has, centrist looks like radicalism.
I agree with the criticisms of Trump: he is unfit to be President, morally bankrupt, anti-democratic, intellectually lazy and willfully ignorant. He deserves no benefit of the doubt based on his lifetime of constant lying. If he says the sun is shining look outside for yourself just to be sure.
But journalists have a responsibility to cover unsavory aspects of politicians they personally favor, otherwise they are blatant partisans. I regret to conclude that these days almost all political journalists in the national and big city media fit that description. Case in point: why is there a news blackout in all but conservative news and opinion outlets about the corruption of the Biden family? Foreign entities were obviously making payments to Biden family members in an attempt to influence Joe Biden. If the Trump family had done this the media would have covered it wall-to-wall endlessly.
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/4003066-americas-state-media-the-blackout-on-biden-corruption-is-truly-pulitzer-level-stuff/
Republicans reported that members of the Biden family collected millions of dollars, but that Joe Biden never engaged in any corrupt dealings.
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/house-oversight-republican-report-biden-family-accusations/
Are you equally concerned about the $2 billion that Jared Kushner received from the Saudis as soon as Trump left office?
$2 billion is lots more than $10 million. Right? Why did Jared get this payoff? Any ideas?
Ted, how about those Kushners? Is anyone investigating them? Their wealth grew by $640 million while Trump was in office? The Saudis gave Jared $2 billion after he left office.
https://www.rawstory.com/fox-news-tim-burchett/
It’s not surprising, but you’re rationalizing the Biden family corruption by pointing to the Trump family. Both should be fully investigated. I support doing that, you don’t.
Ted Clay Yes, about investigating any corrupt and criminal activities by anyone, on principle, including Biden’s family. (BTW, even Joe Scarborough said the same thing on Morning Joe this morning.)
The question that fuzzies up the works, however, is about discerning who gets investigated and for what? One party is politically motivated while the other is not. Whatever happens always has political fallout, but that’s not the same thing as constantly creating the earthquake.
It seems the Republican investigators investigate anything and anyone with a “d” in front of it, all of the time. It doesn’t matter what democrats do or don’t do. The opposition finds a way to obstruct and smear.
Nothing good can come from it–unless you like to see people laughing-it-up with our National Moron on similarly moronic news programs (CNN). CBK
The GOP House report said that Hunter Biden had collected $10 million from foreign sources. The same report said that it could find nothing to tie President Biden to Hunter’s deals.
Why aren’t the profitable deals of the Trump family under investigation? Trump owned the hotel across from the White House and foreign leaders booked lavish suites there. Sure sounds like a violation of the Emoluments clause in the Constitution. Ivanka was both a White House Advisor and a private entrepreneur until 2018. Eric and Jr. made deals wherever they could. Jared and Ivanka made hundreds of millions while working in the White Hiuse.
Why did the Saudis invest $2 billion in his start-up six months after Trump left office?
https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/jared-and-ivanka-made-up-to-640-million-in-the-white-house/
I support a full investigation of both families. Since the Republicans are obsessed with Hunter Biden, I have no doubt they will turn up whatever financial transactions that exist.
Will they do the same for the Trump family? James Comer, the House Republican in charge of the Hunter investigation, has said he is not willing to investigate the Trumps.
**Diane” writes: “I support a full investigation of both families. Since the Republicans are obsessed with Hunter Biden, I have no doubt they will turn up whatever financial transactions that exist” . . .
. . . let’s add: and some that they made up on their own. CBK
I agree it was a disturbing spectacle. But it’s a little tricky. I don’t know how audiences are selected for these tv “town halls,” but maybe there should be some effort to limit the number of people in the audience who are rabid fans of the candidate. Although that might be difficult with Trump, who few people have mild opinions about. Alternatively, maybe CNN should have been prepared to stop and warn the audience not to cheer or boo. But of course then CNN would have to use the same rules at town halls for other candidates.
One thing for sure, in my view at least: if CNN is planning to do town halls for all the candidates—which is a reasonable programming decision—it could not simply decide to not do one for Trump on the basis that his politics are awful. He’s the leading candidate for the Republican nomination.
Let’s see who else gets a full hour from CNN.
According to what I read, the town hall audience was warned not to boo. So it was okay to cheer but not to boo.
Looks like they’re going to do it for at least every major candidate.
Why did CNN book Trump? Oh, that’s easy. Dwight Eisenhower wasn’t available, so they had to go with the B list. All the big Republican talent is playing the Heavens nowadays.
So sad and shocking to see so many people being manipulated to follow this disgusting human being.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for explaining this off-the-wall decision by CNN. Very sad! Where will we get some balanced news. Fear what will happen to Anderson Cooper.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for explaining this off-the-wall decision by CNN. Very sad! Where will we get some balanced news? Fear what will happen to Anderson Cooper.
Back in my full-time classroom days I’d often make up Jeopardy games for the students to play on Fridays. And, a frequent category would be “current events.
It became interesting/disturbing in recent years to see how hard it would be to find factual news stories to draw from. So many sites now dwell on opinion, “analysis”, argument and, my favorite (not!), predicting the future.
Infotainment!
Of course, Fox (and apparently many of its stalwart views I can only guess) inhabit some sort of alternate universe.
But it’s been a long slide downward for CNN. Here’s one more very good reason for me to avoid it.
Funny, too, how weather leads so often on the TV network news. (“breaking news” as they love to pronounce.) I guess a tornado is the type of story that might unite a country that so often loves to hate on everything? There’s got to be extreme weather somewhere, any day, any time….
This weekend I heard there was a “threat of showers”. What?
Threats….fear….worry….. America 2023;
“This weekend I heard there was a “threat of showers”. What?
Threats….fear….worry….. America 2023”
I’ve noticed this trend, as well. Sensationalizing the weather! 🥺
“…Foreign entities were obviously making payments to Biden family members in an attempt to influence Joe Biden….”
Nice try Ted – the star “informant” for the Russia RepubliQans just went poof just like all of their other lies, phantoms and insinuations.
Most if not all of their super secret spy network whistleblowers are either missing, in court, or jailed.
Ahh, those radical left Marxists. Always getting in the way of honest government investigations.
Remember the comment–not widely publicized–by NBC mogul–about their around-the-clock coverage of Trump: “It may not be good for the country, but it’s good for our bottom line.” That seems to be the operating motto for all major media. Sadly, it all goes back to letting the Reagan & Clinton administrations deregulate media end the Fairness Doctrine. Under the communications laws written in the 1930’s, all public media were required to broadcast “in the public interest.” But enforcement is done by the Federal Communications Commission, appointed by the President. There have been efforts by members of Congress to pass legislation restoring The Fairness Doctrine, but to no avail. The doctrine was ended at the time cable was emerging. The rationale for “not needing” the doctrine, was that there would be so many channels that everyone’s views would get covered. But not so. It’s all commercial or Christian–from Catholic to Southern Babtist. But there’s no agnostic channel; no Muslim channel–and most of us can’t get Al Jazeera, though we used to; no socialist channel; no labor union channel. If the attacks on public education as a place where young people learn to think and decide issues for themselves, continue, we will not be able to maintain even a semblance of democracy in the US. We have our work cut out for us.