CNN anchor Don Lemon (screen capture)
Oops! CNN Misses Midnight Countdown Into 2023
CNN news anchor Don Lemon (screen capture)
Chris Wallace Left Fox News Because Questioning The Truth Became ‘Unsustainable’
Chris Wallace (screen capture via CNN+)
Andy Cohen Does Have ONE Regret About NYE High Jinks
The aftermath of Andy Cohen’s inebriated performance on CNN’s New Year’s Eve LIVE telecast spilled into Monday as Cohen addressed his antics on his radio show. Continue reading “Andy Cohen Does Have ONE Regret About NYE High Jinks”
Chris Cuomo Terminated By CNN ‘Effective Immediately’
CNN has fired prime-time anchor Chris Cuomo for his less-than-transparent involvement in the defense of his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Continue reading “Chris Cuomo Terminated By CNN ‘Effective Immediately’”
News Round-Up: November 10, 2020
CNN White House correspondent Boris Sanchez (screen capture)
• USA Today: Nine legal experts say Trump’s lawsuit challenging election results in Pennsylvania is dead on arrival for a number of reasons: Courts are wary of invalidating legally cast ballots, and voting by mail, used in many states, is both common and constitutional. • Statista: Following Pfizer’s announcement that its vaccine candidate was found to be 90 percent effective against COVID-19 in phase 3 trials, shares of travel industry stocks like hotels and airlines went soaring across the globe. Interestingly, the news also sent some shares tumbling for such “pandemic winners” as Zoom Video Communications, Peloton, and Netflix. 
(graphic via Statista)
President-elect Biden on President Trump not conceding:
“I just think it’s an embarrassment, quite frankly … At the end of the day, you know, it’s all going to come to fruition on Jan. 20.” pic.twitter.com/65wro0neIf — MSNBC (@MSNBC) November 10, 2020
Robust News Cycle Leads To CNN’s Best Ratings In 40 Year History
Donald Trump
CNN Reporter & Crew Arrested During Live Broadcast In Minneapolis
Minnesota police arrested CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and his crew live on-air early Friday morning after they had clearly identified themselves as press and repeatedly offered to move ‘wherever you want us.’ As you can see in the video below, the officers have Jimenez and his crew surrounded and seem to say nothing for some time until they step in and arrest the reporter. CNN anchors said Jimenez and his crew were arrested for not moving after being told to by police, though the live footage prior to their arrests clearly shows Jimenez talking calmly with police and offering to move wherever necessary. CNN president Jeff Zucker spoke with the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz on Friday morning, following the arrest of CNN’s team in Minneapolis, Walz said he “deeply apologizes” for what happened and is working to have the CNN team released immediately. The Minneapolis State Patrol said this about the incident: “In the course of clearing the streets and restoring order at Lake Street and Snelling Avenue, four people were arrested by State Patrol troopers, including three members of a CNN crew. The three were released once they were confirmed to be members of the media.” CNN disputed the state police characterization in a statement on Twitter. “This is not accurate — our CNN crew identified themselves, on live television, immediately as journalists. We thank Minnesota @GovTimWalz for his swift action this morning to aid in the release of our crew.”
Here's the full video of @CNN's crew being detained and arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol, live on @NewDay.pic.twitter.com/rmq1nutOiR
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 29, 2020
This is not accurate – our CNN crew identified themselves, on live television, immediately as journalists. We thank Minnesota @GovTimWalz for his swift action this morning to aid in the release of our crew. https://t.co/3cvtsqbbWz
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) May 29, 2020
there are two cnn reporters in minneapolis. see if you can guess which one just got arrested. pic.twitter.com/JAsmNT1GDx
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) May 29, 2020
And we’re back pic.twitter.com/dkYHYxe0u7
— Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) May 29, 2020
Out News Anchor Shepard Smith In Talks With MSNBC
Shepard Smith (screen capture)Former Fox News anchor Shepard Smith is reportedly exploring a return to television news.
After months of behind-the-scenes clashes with Fox’s right-wing political personality Tucker Carlson, Smith (who came out in 2017) abruptly announced on October 11 he was leaving the network where he’d worked for 23 years.
In his farewell announcement, he told viewers he was looking to begin a “new chapter,” and it looks like that chapter may take place at Fox News’s competitor, MSNBC.
The Daily Beast reports the 56-year-old out journalist is in talks with MSNBC President Phil Griffin about anchoring a new show at the more liberal-leaning news network once his non-compete clause with Fox expires.
An unnamed insider at MSNBC told The Daily Beast, “it’s unclear what slot he would take, but we’d want him in primetime.”
“We are well aware [Jeff] Zucker [president of CNN] is also pursuing him, as are a number of the networks,” added the source.
One possibility might be the 5 p.m. slot currently held by the lackluster, ratings-challenged MTP Daily currently hosted by Chuck Todd. There are rumors the powers that be might move Todd and his crew to a morning slot.
If Smith does end up at MSNBC he would be joining fellow out journalist Rachel Maddow, who currently hosts the top-rated show on the network.
One wonders, though, if his years at right-leaning Fox News might color how MSNBC’s more liberal audiences connect with the veteran newsman. When Greta Van Susteren left Fox after 14 years for MSNBC, she only lasted six months before the plug was pulled on her new gig, For the Record with Greta.
Wherever he lands, his new network will need to be ready to pony up some heavy-duty duccets as Smith was reportedly earning $15 million a year at Fox News.
You can watch Smith’s goodbye to Fox News below.
CNN Host Explains Ukraine President’s Planned, Then Cancelled, Interview
Apparently, the announcement of an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, by the Ukraine government that Donald Trump sought in exchange for previously promised military aid was to have taken place on Fareed Zakaria’s CNN show, although at the time CNN didn’t know the full backstory. Zakaria told his viewers today he felt he owed them an understanding of what he and his team did and didn’t know as they sought the interview with President Zelensky. It makes sense that Trump’s White House would WANT the announcement on CNN because Democrats watch CNN. Trump wanted as many possible Dem voters to see/hear the allegations to taint support of Biden. It’s worth noting, again, that journalists from across the political spectrum – even Fox News – have repeatedly said there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by Joe or Hunter Biden. Trump just wanted his 2020 version of ‘her emails’ to discourage Democratic voters. Watch below.
The @nytimes has reported that Ukrainian Pres. Zelensky was set to make a public announcement of the investigations sought by Pres. Trump on my @CNN program. So, I think I owe viewers my best understanding of what actually happened.
My take: pic.twitter.com/kTlQGZ7iU0
— Fareed Zakaria (@FareedZakaria) November 17, 2019