In a desperate attempt to salvage its plummeting cable news ratings, CNN CEO Chris Licht is implementing major changes to the network’s lineup. CNN, which consistently ranks third behind Fox News and other competitors, recently reassigned Don Lemon from his poorly-rated primetime evening slot to co-host the network’s struggling morning show. However, it appears another surprising move is in the works that could rattle one of the network’s longstanding personalities.
The New York Post reports that CNN is considering replacing “Inside Politics” anchor John King with his ex-wife and veteran anchor, Dana Bash. According to the Daily Beast’s Confider media newsletter, this potential change would be “doubly notable” due to the previous marriage between King and Bash. The two separated in 2012 after four years of marriage and share a child.
King has been hosting the weekday edition of “Inside Politics” since 2014, while Bash is both the co-anchor of CNN’s “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper and the network’s chief political correspondent. Despite these shifts, CNN’s credibility remains under fire due to Don Lemon’s continued presence on the network. Insiders question why Lemon, who has been involved in a series of scandals and allegations of bad behavior, still has a job at CNN.
His morning show, “CNN This Morning,” which he co-hosts with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, recently hit an all-time low in ratings. Additionally, a Variety story claimed that Lemon displayed misogynistic and “diva-like” behavior when he first joined CNN, including sending threatening text messages to a colleague from a burner phone. Both CNN and Lemon have denied these allegations.
A longtime media industry executive, who previously worked at CNN, expressed disbelief at the network’s ongoing support for Lemon.
“Well before the Variety article appeared, it’s been one of the biggest mysteries in TV news why CNN keeps Don Lemon around. He rates poorly, he is a source of constant embarrassment, and his new morning show is an unqualified disaster,” the media insider told Fox News.
CNN could replace John King with ex-wife Dana Bash on ‘Inside Politics’: report https://t.co/UPep2VitvW pic.twitter.com/ZxNufU2nDS
— New York Post (@nypost) April 11, 2023
Lemon has also faced backlash for making sexist comments about GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley. After she announced her candidacy and suggested President Joe Biden might be too old to run for re-election, Lemon attacked Haley for endorsing “mandatory mental competency tests” for politicians over 75 years old, claiming she was past her “prime.”
With such a track record of unprofessional conduct, it is difficult to understand why CNN continues to support Lemon. This pattern of behavior serves to reinforce the perception that CNN has become a partisan mouthpiece for the Democratic Party. Instead of focusing on objective journalism, the network appears more interested in promoting a narrow and divisive political agenda.
We must demand greater accountability and transparency from media outlets like CNN. The network should prioritize providing unbiased news coverage to all Americans, rather than catering to the interests of a single political party. By continuing to highlight and challenge the shortcomings of networks like CNN, we can advocate for a more honest and balanced media landscape.
Sources: ConservativeBrief, Fox News, New York Post
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