Posted on 05/11/2023 10:50:00 AM PDT by Red Badger
CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy revealed Wednesday evening that CNN was “facing a fury of criticism” within the company following its controversial town hall with former President Donald Trump.
“It’s hard to see how America was served by the spectacle of lies that aired on CNN Wednesday evening,” wrote Darcy in CNN’s Reliable Sources newsletter.
While he praised the “tough and knowledgable” CNN host Kaitlan Collins for her attempts at fact-checking Trump’s remarks, Darcy said Collins was given “an impossible task” and “put in an uncomfortable position,” given that the audience was comprised of Republicans who mostly applauded the former president and laughed at his comments.
“And CNN aired it all. On and on it went. It felt like 2016 all over again. It was Trump’s unhinged social media feed brought to life on stage,” Darcy wrote, noting that Trump’s staffers were reportedly “delighted” with the event.
Darcy wrote that “CNN and new network boss Chris Licht are facing a fury of criticism — both internally and externally over the event,” before adding, “How Licht and other CNN executives address the criticism in the coming days and weeks will be crucial.”
“Will they defend what transpired at Saint Anselm College? Or will they express some regret? For now, CNN is defending itself,” he wrote.
In a statement on Wednesday, a CNN spokesperson praised Collins for her role in the town hall:
“Tonight, Kaitlan Collins exemplified what it means to be a world-class journalist. She asked tough, fair and revealing questions. And she followed up and fact-checked President Trump in real time to arm voters with crucial information about his positions as he enters the 2024 election as the Republican frontrunner. That is CNN’s role and responsibility: to get answers and hold the powerful to account.”
However, many politicos, journalists and observers have criticized CNN for hosting Trump live on-air and accused the network of losing control over the interview.
“It was an interesting night. Mr. Trump’s first lie was told just seconds into the night with his false, familiar claim that the 2020 election was, quote, ‘a rigged election,'” said CNN anchor Jake Tapper following the town hall. “And the falsehoods kept coming, fast and furious, about the January 6 insurrection, about the threat to Vice President Pence, about Pence’s ability to overturn the election, about Covid, about the economy, and more.”
Trump concluded his appearance in the town hall by praising Collins and regaling the audience for over a minute.
“I like you guys. We love New Hampshire!” he said as the audience stood in applause.
The entire liberal world is in an uproar because they wanted to set Trump up at this town hall and instead Trump hit a grand slam AND made the moderator look as stupid as she is.
They trying to out budlight faux nooze as biggest losers?
And doing a marvelous job!................
The crying over at Dailey Kos is just splendid.
I haven’t had this much fun since the Trump Presidency.
Deeelicious!
These are very sick people indeed. How can America benefit from hearing anything that a bunch of elites at CNN don’t agree with? They should all go straight to h***.
And that’s called an “Echo Chamber”. That’s how you step on your own &ick like Anhauser Bush. But if you insist folks at CNN, just go ahead and keep listening to your insular world echoes.
CNN openly admits they are commies who don’t want anyone on their network that does NOT agree with their communist agenda
I thought it was a mistake for Trump to go on the Crooked Media. He outdid himself and of course they are crying foul all over the internet. Sorry CNN, you set yourself up. We got another chance to make them look like idiots. The moderator turned white within minutes. How did Trump manage to get the audience all MAGA.
“And hear the lamentations of their women...”
this feels oddly familiar
is cnn pulling a bud lite?
Just bear in mind that a lot of folks wish this site, Fox News, and other platforms were echo chambers as well.
Hearts and minds are changed when there can be an open and respectful discussion of all sides of issues.
It’s simply not the media’s job or purpose to filter political discussion. Whatever anyone has to say politically it’s the media’s job to let the public hear it, see it or read it straight from the candidate’s mouth.
CNN to FOX News: Hold my Bud Light and watch this!.................
Yes, those Liberals/Progressives/Leftists working for CNN think they and their political views, not objective journalism, should be running CNN. They don’t want a free press, and independent press. They want a Liberal/Progressive/Leftist press. They don’t want journalism, they want their political agendas.
We are now starting to hear from a few prominent GOP sources, what I have been saying since the GWBush administration. Every minute of ABC/CBS/CNN/MSNBC/NBC/NPR “news” coverage should be considered an in-kind campaign contribution to Democrats. The Federal Election Commision should fine them all the equivalent of their ad revenue during every inute of “news” they report.
CNN has been saying for most of a year now that they want to move away from editorial-based coverage and back to breaking news coverage. To that end, they fired their director of news (Jeff Zucker) and several high-profile anchors.
Now that they're actually executing on breaking news coverage, the staff is in turmoil? I guess CNN still has a long way to go to root out the deep rot within their ranks.
-PJ
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.