CNN hosting a Trump town hall

[Marius25]

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3982030-trump-to-sit-for-cnn-town-hall/

They're also adding more Trump surrogates to their network. They're doing the exact same thing they did in 2016 to get Trump elected.

And we had people on this forum claim CNN isn't going right wing. They already are right wing.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

1. They absolutely aren't right wing. Just stop.

And Fox should hold a fair Biden town hall, too. Just because they don't doesn't mean that CNN shouldn't.

[Marius25]

6. They are right wing. Trump is a traitor and doesn't deserve a town hall

[Cuthbert Allgood]

13. Can you please show me one credible media bias tracker that puts them right?

I'll wait. Spoilers: all the major ones have them as "leans left" or "left."

[FoxNewsSucks]

16. we can see it for ourselves.

CNN also held the teabag town halls and let the likes of batshit-crazy Michell Bachmann give the trabag rebuttal to Obama's SOTU

The are not giving "fair" coverage, or giving honest reporting. They are being dutiful shills. Then, and now

[Cuthbert Allgood]

73. And you account for confirmation bias

and other problems how?

Those that actually look at media from a removed, statistical perspective don't agree with you. But I'm sure you're right.

[FoxNewsSucks]

79. Thanks for acknowledging my correctness

There is more to it than statistics.

Presentation and style of coverage. The same story can be covered in more than one way, the same fact presented differently and it will result in a different impression on the viewers.

Statistically it may be the same fact, but it's the viewer's takeaway which is being influenced. When Fox "news" started up, they studied MTV to learn how to use color, sound, camera angle etc. Everything designed to keep the eyeballs and influence the subconscious.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

89. Sites that do an aggregate study of bias put CNN on the left (to varying degrees).

They take into account presentation and style of coverage. Your particular opinions about it are, really, no different than the right-winger who, today, would tell you that CNN is far left (which it also isn't).

[Marius25]

19. And have any of those trackers based their ratings on CNN after Licht took over?

CNN is consistently going more right wing. That's been blatantly obvious. The owners are MAGA conservatives.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

74. Most are very up-to-date with what they look at.

But, please, do let me know what is wrong with their methodology. I'll wait.

[NotVeryImportant]

15. Why do you seem so offended by this prospect?

How do you define "left leaning?"

[ShazzieB]

34. I don't necessarily see CNN as either right wing or left leaning.

I don't really have an opinion on whether CNN is going right wing, because I quit watching them a long time ago. (I'm Team MSNBC all the way, have been for years.) But there is quite a bit of middle ground between right wing and left leaning, you know. It's quite possible - extremely possible - to be somewhere in between.

If you want to know why some website sees CNN as left leaning, I think you need to ask them what their criteria are and how they arrived at that conclusion.

[NotVeryImportant]

45. If you're economically on the right, you're right wing.

All the media corporations are economically on the right.

Some are more rightwing than others.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

72. Because we don't need to be like the other side

that just says that the media is horrible and biased when they do something we don't like.

And CNN isn't right wing.

[LymphocyteLover]

59. I honestly haven't seen much rightwing bias in their coverage, when I've watched them.

they honestly seem relatively fair and balanced to me,

[kimbutgar]

2. That is why I never watch CNN and that Chris Licht guy is trying to make it Fox lite.

[Meadowoak]

37. I don't know how they're rated, but I don't watch CNN because they are too right wing for my taste.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Chris Licht is converting CCN into a political and journalistic whorehouse

Link to tweet

[mountain grammy]

61. Oh how I love this

Right or wrong, agree or disagree, Keith has a way with words.

[Kid Berwyn]

64. Good journalism!

Really appreciate the facts — and the point.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

66. A board member and the president of one of the larger CNN shareholders is a RWNJ

Link to tweet

A reminder that CNN is now heavily influenced by key Warner Bros. Discovery board member and Trump supporter, John Malone.

Malone is chairman of Liberty Media, Discovery's largest shareholder.

He previously donated $250,000 to Trump's inauguration, and gushed over Fox News' style of 'journalism,' saying, the U.S. "needs Fox News or something like it. Because otherwise, everything’s leftist."

The use of his term "leftist" here really says it all.

Malone has also compared himself to Rupert Murdoch: "Rupert is sort of like I am. He’s a libertarian, but he thinks we should have a strong military," he told the Financial Times in 2017.

According to Vox, Malone has repeatedly wished, in public, for CNN to remake itself.

[Kid Berwyn]

69. Thank you for the details on CNN's rightwad lurch.

So THAT’s what happened to Brian Stelter.



“There is even a new browser extension tool that shows how the Big Tech giants are invading your privacy by tracking your every move online.”

Source: https://techstartups.com/2020/09/18/6-corporations-control-90-media-america-illusion-choice-objectivity-2020/

[Just A Box Of Rain]

83. The CEO and President of Warner discovery, David Zaslav, is a Democrat.

The claims that CNN is controlled by a right-winger are utterly baseless.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

86. Corporate officers report to and take directions from the board of directors

Hint. It is basic corporate law that the officers of a corporation answer to the board of directors which in this case is controlled by a RWNJ and the shareholders and the largest shareholder is controlled by a RWNJ who loves TFG.

Here actions speak louder than words

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Just A Box Of Rain]

88. Not ture. And Mallone is one Director out of a dozen (or so).

The President and CEO of Warner Discovery runs the show and he is a Democrat.

This is getting very tiresome.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

92. Do you tire of being wrong?

LOL Are you a member of the bar? Controlling shareholders and members of the bar control corporations in the real world. John Malone is a RWNJ and Malone is busy turning CNN is to a copy of Fox.

CNN has turn to the dark side which is why CNN fired Harwood, cancelled Reliable Sources and is now doing a bogus town hall for TFG.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

93. I'm not wrong. Being a member of the bar doesn't make one infallable.

John Malone doesn't run CNN. What you are suggesting simply isn't true.

The President & CEO of Warner/Discovery is a Democrat. David Zaslav calls the shots at CNN.

You have this entirely wrong.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

94. I am glad that you are not a member of bar

Again, you are WRONG yet again,

Law schools require courses in basic corporate law. Again, under basic corporate law, officers report to the board of directors and the board reports to the shareholders. Here the owner of a major shareholder of the company owning CNN who is also a member of the board is calling the shots.

CNN is trying to become a clone of Fox News which is why CNN is happy to give TFG free airtime.

[dalton99a]

68. +1

[tinrobot]

4. Or, they could shine a light on the cockroach

A fair town hall with tough questions could reveal a lot about this creep.

[senseandsensibility]

7. Kaitlin Collins is the moderator

Make of that what you will. Also, is TFG the only participant? CNN has already hosted a similar free ad under the guise of "town hall" for Glen Younkin. It was hosted by Jake Tapper and to say that it was not challenging for him is an understatement.

[progressoid]

23. Hmm...I wonder if trump will remember that his administration once barred her from the WH press conf

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44963659

Ms Collins attended a photo opportunity with Mr Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday.

She was acting as the White House pool reporter - one of a rotating group of journalists, who will attend an event and write a report which all other networks can use.

This system allows networks to share the burden of covering the president.

Ms Collins said she had tried to ask Mr Trump questions about Russian President Vladimir Putin's postponed visit and recently released tapes documenting a conversation with lawyer Michael Cohen.

The president reportedly ignored the questions. Shortly afterwards, Ms Collins was barred from a Rose Garden press event with Mr Trump and Mr Juncker.

[JanLip]

26. Knowing the cockroach

He will control the questions. All the questions will be made to make him look good. Audience will be hand picked too. We did away with cable news and I don’t regret it one bit.

[Scrivener7]

35. When has any media outlet ever done that about tfg?

[FoxNewsSucks]

71. Never, AFIK, they just keep propping the fascists and scumbags up.

[Blue Owl]

5. The bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral, and the idiot of every village

[Chakaconcarne]

8. Excellent! This will be good....

[Marius25]

9. Why is it good?

It will just give him more air time like in 2016.

[LymphocyteLover]

58. because he's an incoherent loonball

[yaesu]

10. Another reason I'm glad I never watch them. nt

[onecaliberal]

11. When are they hosting the Biden town hall?

FUCK THE FASCIST MEDIA.

[Beautiful Disaster]

20. When Biden wants one?

They've held Biden townhalls in the past. I'm sure they would totally be down if Biden showed interest but he rarely does interviews, press conferences or townhalls.

[onecaliberal]

22. I doubt it very seriously. Why would Biden go on a fascist network anyway.

[Beautiful Disaster]

29. lol wait. Is it Biden who's deciding not to or CNN?

You're confusing yourself here lmao

The first post asked WHY ISN'T BIDEN GETTING AN INVITE

This post is saying WHY WOULD BIDEN GO ON THAT FASCIST NETWORK

You understand you're arguing two points here, right?

No matter. Even if MSNBC offered, he'd refuse. It seems Biden doesn't do events anymore where he's asked questions - or he's very limited on those events.

[onecaliberal]

40. Yes, the original question addressing why any network would favor one candidate

Over another and pretend to be partisan. You said he didn’t ask. That’s what I commented on. I know nuance is difficult.

[Beautiful Disaster]

56. I think you're confused.

It's okay. Sometimes the internet can be difficult.

You literally said:

When are they hosting the Biden town hall?

I said as soon as he asks. That's when you said you doubted he would ask.

How is that CNN's problem? Go back to your original post and re-read it (slowly if you have to) and then read your response to mine.

You're working in circular logic.

You're asking when will CNN host Biden's town hall but also saying Biden would never do a CNN townhall because it's a fascist network.

Which is it - is it CNN that isn't inviting Biden or Biden who isn't interested?

CNN is not obligated to cancel their Trump townhall if Biden decided he didn't want to do it. You don't know if they offered him a chance and he turned it out down or maybe he said yes and will do it in a couple weeks.

Either way, your comments contradict each other. Are you mad they didn't offer Biden or mad that they went ahead with Trump even if Biden refused to do it?

[Alexander Of Assyria]

51. CNN is a fascist network...is evidence free conspiracy.

[anciano]

12. Town hall, forum, interview, etc.

Semantics aside, it is essentially free publicity for candidates of their liking.
Thanks for your post.

[onecaliberal]

54. THIS

[liberal_mama]

14. CNN sucks so much now

They are definitely right wing now. Every time I turn it on, there is some republican on spewing their crazy views. Now a Trump town hall? Pretty soon it will be all Trump, all day on CNN.

[Bev54]

17. The difference from 2016 is they have lost their audience.

[Mike Nelson]

18. Ugh...

... if I worked at CNN, I'd decline to moderate.

[senseandsensibility]

25. I think the ones who would have refused

are aleady gone.

[LittleGirl]

21. I am really confused about this step

Licht has ruined CNN. If I want to hear what a right wing a**hole says, I’d change to right wing media. I can see that they are trying to get those former Carlson watchers but the thing is, those watchers already hate CNN. They aren’t going to move over and Licht has ruined a moderate channel. I hope the journalists I like leave so I can watch them elsewhere. Anderson Cooper’s show is the last program I watch on CNN. What a damn shame.

[Marius25]

28. I hope Anderson moves to MSNBC

[LittleGirl]

50. I'll go where he goes. nt

[SouthernDem4ever]

24. I quit watching CNN long ago

[bluestarone]

27. I split between CNN and MSNBC. Now

I spend a hell of a lot more time at MSNBC. CNN has really changed in my view!

[nowforever]

30. CNN current ratings are it's lowest ever

Yeah, let's give a rapist and traitor some prime time coverage. Talk about scrapping the bottom of the barrel...way to go CNN.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

52. NBC and ABC gave loving interviews with two complete morons, it's American media!

[pnwmom]

31. In 2016 I thought the coverage was better on CNN than on MSNBC.

So often, in 2016, Rachel Maddow seemed to just chuckle at Trump, not taking his threat seriously.

At least the liberals who were on CNN took him seriously, and did a good job arguing against the people on the other side.

[JohnSJ]

38. How many of those hosts are still with CNN?

[pnwmom]

44. The OP's point was that CNN was doing "the exact same thing" as in 2016.

I was defending its 2016 coverage, not its coverage now.

[JohnSJ]

46. Thanks for clarifying.

[ZonkerHarris]

32. Just don't watch

[Skittles]

33. this man NEVER CONCEDED AND TRIED TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT

WHAT THE FUCK

[JohnSJ]

36. CNN is hosting a townhall event for a person who tried to overthrow the U.S. government,

and incite people to injure and kill Congress people.

[Tree Lady]

57. And is on trial for rape

And many other things.

I hope no one watches.

[JohnSJ]

62. +++

[jgmiller]

39. They are media they want ratings

That doesn't mean they are right wing, we need to stop making everything so black and white, we complain about the right doing it so let's not do it.

Just about any media that needs to make money will go where the money is. Of course they want Trump to run, he gets ratings from both sides which means money for them. It's no different than if someone is up by 15 points in the polls they will do everything in their power to make it seem like it's a down to the wire.

Does that mean it's good journalism? Of course not but it's what they do. I'd still watch CNN any day over Fox at least they try to put in some decent content.

[Magoo48]

48. Ratings are profits, hence, All corporate "news" has latent right-leaning in their DNA. All of them.

[ecstatic]

41. They're fucking complicit. If they do this, I am completely done

Do they think this is a fucking game? The future of our country is at stake. They know trump is a dangerous, incompetent sociopath--an aspiring hitler who should be in prison right now.

If they are complicit in getting that man back in the white house, I hope they are the first news organization to be (violently?) shut down under his new reign of terror. Seriously, don't fucking complain then. You did this. You enabled it.

[Bev54]

42. I truly hope nobody on DU provides any link to any part of this charade.

I know I will not open any video at all.

[Mr. Ected]

43. I'm against anything that normalizes Trump

I wish this would come back to bite CNN in the ass, but it won't, it never does. We may have a free press, but everything they do is about the almighty dollar.

[newdayneeded]

47. I guess this officially starts

the "30 minutes of empty podium" season.

[BigmanPigman]

49. Oh God, please, please please

CNN and try to watch YOUR coverage from 2016 and step back a moment. Splash cold water on your face and focus on our Democracy and not your $$$$$ ratings.

I doubt this will happen so I started boycotting CNN several months ago. I will only watch if there is a natural disaster or calamity.

[dlk]

53. More reason not to watch CNN

What kind of a network promotes a known sexual predator for arguably the most powerful job in the world? It’s a slap in the face to self-respecting women and girls everywhere.

[Raven123]

55. CNN should at least have the common sense to wait until after the Carroll trial is over

Not that I would watch anyway, but this is EXACTLY what TFG wants. A diversion

[orangecrush]

60. WELCOME TO DU!!!

Thanks for your concern.

[Hotler]

63. CNN, now a fascist leaning corporation?? Hitler had a few of those here in the USA at the time.

Nah! That can't happen here, or, can it???

[BaronChocula]

65. CNN has historically had problems

One of those problems has been realizing that legitimate news sources are biased in favor of objective truths. CNN has failed that test, like when they hired the odious Rick Santorum as a "contributor." Santorum had a history of denigrating segments of the population including single parents, the LGBT+ community, immigrants, etc. Santorum cloaked his hatred in "teachings of the Bible" or "defense of children." It is an objective truth that Rick Santorum is a hateful right-winger, but CNN gave him some ill-advised benefit of the doubt in hiring him. How did that end up? They had to fire him after he denigrated Native American culture.

Granted, CNN may have some good journalists, but they mitigate any potential quality news by normalizing white nationalists and traitors. And it's all in vain. They won't attract Fox or Newsmax viewers. Very sad.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

67. A board member and the president of one of the larger CNN shareholders is a RWNJ

Link to tweet

A reminder that CNN is now heavily influenced by key Warner Bros. Discovery board member and Trump supporter, John Malone.

Malone is chairman of Liberty Media, Discovery's largest shareholder.

He previously donated $250,000 to Trump's inauguration, and gushed over Fox News' style of 'journalism,' saying, the U.S. "needs Fox News or something like it. Because otherwise, everything’s leftist."

The use of his term "leftist" here really says it all.

Malone has also compared himself to Rupert Murdoch: "Rupert is sort of like I am. He’s a libertarian, but he thinks we should have a strong military," he told the Financial Times in 2017.

According to Vox, Malone has repeatedly wished, in public, for CNN to remake itself.

[FoxNewsSucks]

70. I'm stunned that no one has rained on this particular parade.

Truly stunned.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

77. I'm not stunned. We don't live in a one-party states with a one-party press, as much as some on DU

would seem to embrace such ideal.

I prefer to live in a liberal democracy myself.

[FoxNewsSucks]

78. Not many. I, for one, would have no problem with media having a bias

in the editorial department. Such as the way newspapers used to be. When there was competition, cities had a morning paper, and an evening paper. Sometimes more. Often one was conservative, one was liberal. As long as they are upfront about it, and honest, it's not a problem.

It becomes a problem when media lies, presenting "alternative facts" as true, and claiming to be a news organization. Like the Fox "news" Sewer. CNN is going down that road.

As with Leslie Stahl's interview, we will clearly see what bias CNN has toward MF45. They'll either give him free publicity along with a nice tongue bath or get him up on stage and surprise him with real questions about his rape, crime, dictators and lying issues. I'll bet money it's the former.

It's really hard to believe someone wants a liberal democracy when that person defends corporations, establishment and so many other rightwing things.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

80. It isn't the "editorial department." Banning members of opposition political parties

from appearing on news stations would be an extreme break from the liberal traditions of broadcast media in this country and would be a major step towards authoritarianism.

Lesley Stahl, who is not on CNN (rather is on CBS) did a great job tasking down MTG.

Your accusations about me supporting "right-wing things" is patently false and deeply offensive.

A liberal society depends on a free press. A news media that only props up one party and deplatforms the rest is incompatible with the norms of a liberal society and is the opposite of the traditions of the Democratic Party.

That's the sort of policy that been embraced by authoritarians and totalitarians exclusively.

I prefer to be on the correct side of the moral and political universe myself.

[FoxNewsSucks]

81. She did NOT do a good job. Which network she's on isn't the point.

No one wants the opposition banned outright, we just want them treated like the scumbags they are. The repeated fawning and favorable coverage is sickening. What we have now is a news media propping up republicons and almost completely deplatforming liberals.

Anyone who's offended that others notice their incessant defense of rightwing media should stop doing so. Otherwise, it's not offense, it's just embarrassment at getting noticed.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

82. Nah, Lesley Stahl did a great job exposing Greene.

That's the role of a free press in a liberal society, shining sunlight on the extremism.

Your claim that "no one wants the opposition banned outright" seems to contradict the opinions expressed across three active threads here on DU.

Having a single party press in a single party state is NOT a model for a liberal society. That's an authoritarian path and as a liberal Democrat I stand in firm opposition.

There is NOTHING right-wing about embracing Democratic values as opposed to authoritarianism.

Some people are clearly on the wrong path.

[FoxNewsSucks]

85. As always, you're ignoring the point to continue making your defensive statements.

Stahl did a crappy job. A few eyerolls and "oh my!"s might be adequate pushback to a sane conservative, but when the interviewee is a criminal or a batshit-crazy loon, it's totally inadequate. It's just fluffing, frankly, and from the posts I've seen defending Licht etc, I know that doesn't need to be explained to you. At a bare minimum, they should get the kind of grilling that Bret Baier gave Barack Obama. Someone competent can handle that, the way Obama did.

But really, crazy people and criminal traitors should not be given time to advance their agenda. Definitely not time and assistance.

Maybe you missed the post right below, but CNN has announced that MF45 will only be getting screened questions from a select republicon audience. Sounds like major fluffing, and if that's not "single party press", I don't know what is.

Good day.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

91. Lesley Stahl did an excellent job handling MTG. She made her look like the loon

that she is in front of the significant 60 Minutes audience.

One doesn't defeat political extremism by ignoring it.

Of course some people prefer political extremism. I'm not among them.

[spanone]

75. Questions only from republicans and undeclared voters.....so, no democrats involved.

Last edited Tue May 2, 2023, 01:19 PM - Edit history (1)

"THE FORMER PRESIDENT WILL TAKE QUESTIONS FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICANS AND UNDECLARED VOTERS WHO DO PLAN TO VOTE IN THE GOP PRIMARY"

Link to tweet

[miyazaki]

76. Oh FFS. Bump.

[tenderfoot]

84. Not partisan at all. Not single party at all. Not moving to the right at all.

[Kennah]

87. At ADX Florence?

[pwb]

90. Good thing for us not many watch the cable talkers anymore.

Too many commercials and after the long wait the talk is just not worth waiting for.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

95. if CNN was around during the Civil War

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

96. CNN is trying to normalize TFG

Link to tweet