All posts tagged "cnn"

'Enthralled' Bari Weiss courts fired CNN star as struggling CBS News eyes massive shakeup

CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss has been quietly courting fired CNN anchor Chris Cuomo to join her fledgling network.

In a Friday episode of Power Lines, media reporters Oliver Darcy and Jon Passantino revealed that Weiss has her sights set on Cuomo as a big-name acquisition for CBS News, whose ratings have been plummeting.

Cuomo is currently working for NewsNation, where he hosts his own prime-time show. He was fired by CNN in December 2021 after an investigation by the New York Attorney General revealed that he used his media sources to help his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, amid sexual harassment allegations.

"This is kind of a curious one," Passantino said about the move. "Bari Weiss has been just enthralled with him, thinking apparently out loud that he's a very skilled broadcaster and somebody that she would like to have join the team."

Passantino noted that Weiss has been "shuffling a lot of desk chairs on that Titanic over there" at CBS News. Correspondents and producers at '60 Minutes,' the flagship program at CBS News, have been leaving or getting axed, and Weiss recently brought on former New York Times conservative columnist Ross Douthat.

"Apparently Weiss and Cuomo have even met in person about this," Passantino said, noting the meeting may have been "just another general conversation." However, the two have "even exchanged some texts," Passantino said.

Darcy confirmed, "Bari is definitely interested in bringing Chris Cuomo over to CBS News. There's no doubt about that...they did have a meal together," and "They exchanged texts, I'm told, fairly often with each other."

However, Darcy also noted that Cuomo is in a multi-year contract with NewsNation to stay on until 2028. On top of that, Cuomo is suing CNN for $125 million because of his firing, and Paramount-Skydance, the company that owns CBS News, is trying to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. The merger has been held up by a judge after a dozen state attorneys general sued, though.

"It would be super uncomfortable," Darcy said about Cuomo coming on while suing CNN. "Just think about how totally wild that would be that she brings on somebody who is actively suing CNN."

'Exactly why the world hates lawyers': Todd Blanche sparks scorched-earth tirade on CNN

CNN legal analyst Elliot Williams on Monday had a sharp critique for Attorney General Todd Blanche after President Donald Trump's former personal attorney's interview with NBC News.

Blanche said on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that he would not pledge the Department of Justice will always act independently — and Williams called out why that was troubling during a segment with CNN anchor Kasie Hunt.

"That statement there is exactly why the world hates lawyers," Williams said. "We hate ourselves because of things like that."

Williams offered a better, more direct question for Blanche.

"Would you take a directive from the president to violate standing Justice Department procedures or policies? Would you follow an illegal order from the president?" Williams suggested. "And I don't think he could wiggle out of a question like that. But he gave a statement there that was vague enough and open-ended enough that a lawyer could wink and nod and say that it was accurate."

"But come on, given the history of everything we know about the president, everything we know he's asked of his attorneys general and, quite frankly, everything Todd Blanche has done in the job, much of what he's done in the job up to this point, we don't have any reason to believe that there's any space between the AG and the president."

'Be quiet!' Trump attacks 'fake' reporter in Oval Office melt down

President Donald Trump exploded at a reporter in the Oval Office on Monday.

Trump was greeting lifeguard Ryder Williams when he started taking questions from reporters, commenting on his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and then began yelling at one of the members of the press corps.

"Quiet! Quiet! You're very disrespectful," Trump snapped. "Who are you with?"

CNN reporter Kristen Holmes responded, saying she was with the network.

"You're a loud boisterous person," Trump said.

"Be quiet! Be quiet!" Trump said. "You're a fake reporter and you report fake news."

CNN issued a statement to Raw Story about Holmes and the interaction with Trump.

"Kristen Holmes is one of the most respected and accomplished journalists covering the White House," a CNN spokesperson told Raw Story. "This afternoon, she did her job and asked the President of the United States a tough, relevant, and newsworthy question on behalf of the American people. Public officials are free to challenge reporting they disagree with, but personal attacks on journalists for asking questions are beneath the office and inconsistent with the principles of a free press. We stand firmly behind Kristen and reject these attacks in the strongest possible terms."

Trump says he has a good relationship with Kim Jong Un, asks the lifeguard he's honoring to co-sign his attacks on the press, and then snaps at a woman reporter: "Be quiet! Be quiet!" pic.twitter.com/ochuWHYgsp
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 17, 2026

Senator reveals the comfort 'worth its weight in gold' trapped sailors are being denied

CNN anchor Erin Burnett called the conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln "shocking" during a live broadcast on Thursday as new details emerged about dire troop morale.

Burnett spoke with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who sits on the Armed Services Committee. The lawmaker wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asking for information about the troops on naval ships and pushed back on Hegseth's claims.

"Hegseth trying to characterize these powerful, credible reports as fake news is really a disservice and profoundly disrespectful to the sailors who are on the USS Abraham Lincoln and enduring these hardships," Blumenthal said.

He explained how the lack of supplies, access to food, hot water, toothpaste and soap affects morale and increases stress, which he said contributed to a sailor reportedly going overboard.

"Anyone who's familiar with how an aircraft carrier operates knows that these jobs are highly stressful, requiring stamina as these fighter jets land on an area that looks like a postage stamp as they begin their descent," Blumenthal said. "And these sailors, whether they are on the deck or below, doing mechanics or at the surveillance systems, fending off possible attacks, are all under tremendous stress and doing work that can be highly dangerous if they are either distracted or demoralized. So it's a real strategic issue."

Reports indicated Thursday that the USS Washington was on its way to replace or relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at sea for a record 200-plus days without a port call — they haven't touched ground since the ship deployed from San Diego in November 2025.

But that still doesn't solve the problem, Blumenthal explained.

"The USS Washington is being taken away from its forward position in the far east. So the endless war of impulse without strategy and exit plan is having a toll on our military readiness," he added.

Burnett pointed out why this was problematic.

"When you hear this as an American and Americans rightly have pride in the greatest military in the world, but to hear that you have a premier military ship like this, right, a carrier where people aren't getting enough food, I think it's stunning," Burnett said. "It's hard to hear. And it's frankly shocking. And the conditions on the Lincoln appear to be in no small part because of the war with Iran."

Blumenthal described another disturbing report: sailors have not been receiving their care packages.

"Anybody who's had sons or daughters in the military, I've had two, knows that a stale cookie can be worth its weight in gold," he said. "That kind of destructive impact to morale can have a ripple effect in the crew."

Scott Jennings faces wrath of skeptical CNN panel over McConnell claims: 'Is he aware?'

Conservative CNN pundit Scott Jennings was grilled during a live broadcast after claiming he spoke with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)— again — and that the longtime Republican told him Tuesday that he was planning to return to Congress.

Jennings told the group of commentators that he spoke with the GOP senator on the phone, describing his condition as "improving position." He indicated that McConnell had said he's continuing his recovery and will return to Washington, D.C. after the recess to complete his final term in Congress, which ends in January 2027.

CNN anchor Pamela Brown asked Jennings to clarify how he was communicating with McConnell, whether he called the senator or an aide.

"He called me directly from his phone today," Jennings said. "We've had a relationship for a long time. I worked on a lot of his campaigns over the years, so it's not unusual for us to chat. But in today's case, he was really up on the campaigns. You know, he's a political operative at heart. We talked a lot about the Michigan Senate race. We talked about Maine a little bit, talked about just the map in general."

New York Times journalist and CNN contributor Lulu Garcia-Navarro expressed skepticism and asked why the public hadn't heard from McConnell.

"Scott, why isn't he calling in to a credible news organization? I mean, why is he talking to you and not talking to—" Garcia-Navarro asked.

"You saying it's not credible to call me, Lulu?" Jennings joked.

"I'm saying it's totally credible," Garcia-Navarro responded. "But as you said, you're calling your friend ... I'm just wondering how you view that. Why isn't he calling in to even one that he would consider friendly, like Fox News? That's the prevailing question."

Jennings suggested that McConnell might not be comfortable talking about his health, especially as a polio survivor.

The panel asked Jennings multiple questions to gather more information.

"Does he know about all of the brouhaha around this?" Garcia-Navarro asked.

David Chalian, senior vice President, Washington Bureau chief and political director for CNN, had a similar thought.

"Is he aware of the whole swirl?" Chalian asked.

Brown pointed out that McConnell hasn't voted since June, asking if he has spoken with any constituents since he was hospitalized.

"He told me today, he said, 'I know this is an unusual circumstance. I'm sitting here. The doctors tell me I don't have any life-threatening issues. It must seem rather strange,'" Jennings said. "I got the feeling he's somewhat aware of it and, frankly, somewhat frustrated by it."

CNN insiders shred MAGA billionaire's plea: 'We do not want it here'

CNN insiders shredded an op-ed by a MAGA billionaire who's trying to take over their parent company, according to a media reporter.

During an episode of the Status podcast Power Lines, Oliver Darcy, who reports on media, said that CNN staffers and journalists panned a New York Times op-ed by Paramount Skydance owner David Ellison, who is trying to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Ellison controls CBS, which has seen a MAGA makeover of its news programs under Bari Weiss and cut the Trump-critical The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The Paramount chief's guest essay marked his first public defense of the deal, which a dozen states sued to block. A judge halted it until a trial set for March, but if it's greenlit, Ellison would take control of CNN. Darcy said that he spoke with more than a dozen people inside CNN about whether the essay swayed them, and they responded with a "resounding no."

"We all have eyes and ears and see what's happening at CBS," one employee told Darcy. "You can't just write an op-ed and erase that."

Another called out Weiss, whose leadership has seen the gutting of '60 Minutes' and the ratings of CBS Mornings and CBS Evening News plummet.

"The thing David Ellison seems to be missing is the wild mismanagement and disrespect that Bari has displayed at 60 and CBS," the CNN staffer told Darcy. "We see it, and we do not want it here."

A third CNN staffer told Darcy that the changes Ellison directed at CBS News "eroded the newsroom's trust," and concluded, "Free pressifying CNN is not the answer."

In the op-ed, Ellison wrote that he does not wish to bend newsrooms to his views, and said he wants them to reflect "the whole world, not one side of it." Darcy read that line as signaling which side Ellison believes is underrepresented.

"I don't think he believes that liberals are underrepresented," Darcy said. "I think he believes that conservatives are underrepresented in media."

Darcy also noted that Paramount didn't respond to his request for comment.

'Rings hollow': MAGA 'nepo baby' thrashed by analyst after defending media overhaul

Trump-allied executive David Ellison was trying to convince critics that he wouldn't let his company's acquisition of CNN impact the news organization's reporting, an analyst reported on Tuesday.

The Paramount Skydance owner responed to stalled-out purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery and wrote a New York Times op-ed on Tuesday, aiming to reassure critics that he wouldn't let his relationship with President Donald Trump influence his ownership or business decisions, The Daily Beast's Leigh Kimmons wrote.

"The billionaire nepo baby insisted his personal politics will not dictate newsroom decisions, responding directly to an antitrust lawsuit that threatens to torpedo the $111 billion mega-merger," Kimmons explained.

Ellison wrote this in his opinion piece for The Times.

“I believe that news should be based on facts and truth. Great news organizations like CNN and CBS News are here to tell it straight down the middle," Ellison wrote. "That requires newsrooms that reflect the whole world, not one side of it. And it requires independence. Our journalists will continue to answer to the facts and to all the people they serve—not to any party or cause.”

He also spoke about why he remained quiet over the court battle involving the media conglomerates — admitting "that staying quiet had backfired," Kimmons wrote.

"While I was silent, others were happy to write my story for me," Ellison wrote. "No more."

Kimmons called out the comment, given the ongoing disputes at CBS over political influence at the storied broadcasting company.

"The plea rings hollow given the overhaul at CBS, where Weiss caused dismay when she shelved a 60 Minutes episode on El Salvador’s CECOT prison after administration officials declined to be interviewed," Kimmons reported. "Veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi blasted the move in an email to colleagues, calling the administration’s refusal to participate 'a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story.'"

Frustrated MAGA lawmaker squirms when fact-checked to his face on CNN

A Republican lawmaker got frustrated with a CNN anchor who fact-checked him during a live interview on Friday.

CNN's Pamela Brown was asking Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) about whether President Donald Trump should be focusing on the SAVE America Act when the GOP leader made a false claim — and Brown corrected him.

"It's extremely important that we restore trust in America's elections," Baumgartner said. "It shouldn't be that difficult to make the same requirement to get on an airplane as the requirement to vote. You know, we've seen non-citizens voting in places like New Jersey, and we need to restore that trust to make sure the American people have confidence. So we voted for the SAVE America Act, I think at least four times in the House."

Brown clarified after Baumgartner's comments.

"You don't have to show you're a U.S. citizen to get on an airplane," she said.

Baumgartner tried to argue again, but Brown interjected and shut it down.

"You have to show ID that's different from U.S. citizen," she added.

Resigned Fetterman takes long pause when hit with tough question on CNN

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) appeared annoyed Friday when CNN anchor Kasie Hunt asked him if he was still planning to run for re-election.

The question prompted a long pause from Fetterman, who got defensive with Hunt during the live broadcast.

"I've already filed, I'm fundraising for it," Fetterman said.

"If you look at my campaign, I've already, you know, essentially announced that now, but it's like, why do people keep asking? Why aren't you — get other senators on here and ask them too," he said.

Hunt responded, alluding to how the Democratic senator has at times sided with Republicans and been questioned over his party loyalty.

"You're just in a very unique and interesting position," Hunt said, pointing to his recent establishment of Common Ground PA, a rare bipartisan fundraising effort.

"You just opened a PAC with Dave McCormick (R-PA), the Republican fellow senator from Pennsylvania," Hunt pointed out. "But of course, a Republican. It's very unusual in this political climate. What are you planning on using that joint PAC for?"

Fetterman defended the move and pushed back at Hunt's question, citing the lawmakers' shared interest in the agriculture industry.

"Why is it bizarre when there are plenty of donors that have enough shared interest?" Fetterman asked. "There's a lot of things that Dave McCormick and I are going to work together, you know, and then so I'm not sure why that's really an issue."

With midterms looming, Fetterman vowed he will "never" switch parties.

"It's not some sinister thing," Fetterman added. "I'm not changing my party. If I was going to change this party, I would have done that by now."