CNN ranked third among cable news channels in 2024, trailing Fox and MSNBC, and here’s the catch. CNN remained third in primetime while increasing its viewership by 18%.
Curtis Houck of Media Research Center says Jim Acosta threw a temper tantrum when he was asked to move from his plum 10 am slot to a two-hour show on the graveyard shift at midnight.
“CNN's carnival barker, Jim Acosta, decided that he was going to rage quit CNN. He has employed and deployed the 'you can't fire me, I quit' excuse.”
Later Tuesday, Acosta announced on social media he’s “going independent.”
The battles in the White House press room were epic.
Here’s one exchange between Acosta and President Trump.
“If I may ask one other question, are you worried…,” said Acosta before being cut off.
Trump: “That's enough. I tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn't be working for CNN.”
Where are the cameras?
It got so bad between Acosta and Trump that the White House turned off the cameras in the press room, figuring Acosta was playing to them rather than engaging honestly with the President. They were right.
“Maybe you should turn the cameras on, Sean. Why don't we turn the cameras on? Why don't we turn the cameras on? I'm sorry that you have to… Jen, "why not turn the cameras on, Sean? They're in the room, the lights are on,” Acosta pleaded.
Acosta may have had a hard time reprising his bad boy role in Trump's second term. Trump has a much less contentious relationship with the press, who may have noticed that the public is behind the president now.
“In the case of a lot of these legacy news outlets, they know that their jobs are literally on the line, so I think they're trying to save face by being more understated in terms of their criticism of the things that Trump has done thus far,” Houck said.
