George Conway: Let me see if I understand what's happened at CNN over the past eight years

[Dennis Donovan]

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
Let me see if I understand what’s happened at CNN over the past eight years. I’m happy to be wrong. I just want get a better understanding. (0/13)

‪George Conway‬
‪@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
1. So in 2017 CNN ratings are high because Zucker lets the journos be fearless re Trump (1/x)

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
2. CNN management realizes that linear TV is on long-term decline, so makes big investments in streaming (CNN+)

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
3. CNN bought by WBD, whose big shareholder, Malone, seems kinda Trumpy. New owner fires Zucker on pretext

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
4. New manager brought in—guy who wouldn’t know journalism if it fell on his toes like a barbell and whose personal trainer was smarter than he is and he seemingly spends more time seeking attention than talking to his employees

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
5. Guy with smart personal trainer, to cut costs, shuts down and writes off CNN+ even though the rest of WBD is focusing on steaming. Also, he tells Trump to “have fun” abusing Kaitlan Collins before an audience of hooting MAGA yahoos

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
6. Things turn to shit, morale tanks, ratings go down, and WBD forced to fire guy with personal trainer

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
7. New guy comes in. Smart Brit. But doesn’t seem to understand Trump-era US politics or (what’s left of) CNN’s audience.

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
8. He thinks viewers want to have CNN pay Scott Jennings to lie to them, even though there are people *at CNN* who won’t watch CNN because Scott Jennings etc

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
9. Things turn to shit, morale tanks, ratings go down even more

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
10. Brit guy tries to stop hemorrhaging by firing linear TV people and investing in streaming like CNN+ was gonna do 4 yrs ago

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
11. Brit tells journos not to go to heavy on Trump being a criminal etc

‪George Conway‬ ‪
@gtconway.bsky.social‬
1h
So is everyone gonna pay to have that on their phones when the people who don’t want to pretend Trump isn’t a criminal won’t watch and the Trumpers have Fox and Joe Rogan?

George Conway
‪@gtconway.bsky.social‬
Does anyone really believe that?
January 23, 2025 at 8:51 AM

https://bsky.app/profile/gtconway.bsky.social/post/3lgfzngtpjt2f

[Ray Bruns]

1. Sounds about right.

[Jill Hanson]

4. Scott Jennings

Not only did George nail it he made a point of mentioning my personal reason for not watching CNN…SCOTT JENNINGS! He is so vile… the lies he spews are never ending. Like George said, if I want to listen to lies I’d watch Fox! And the better question is why does CNN management think having this dirt bag on will improve their ratings? Dirt bags turn into Fox so they can get the lies 24/7.
It’s just remarkable..
In truth I did stop watching after Bash/Tapper let Trump lie throughput the infamous June Presidential debate. They didn’t need journalists moderating,,,monkeys could have done it. Sad…disappointing…pathetic CNN.

[William Seger]

6. And he does it with "resting bored and condescending smugness face"

[mn9driver]

2. CNN used to be part of my daily headline scan.

I dropped it when they added the subscription requirement for most of their content. They won’t be missed.

[LittleGirl]

3. CNN International is the only way to get American news abroad

The BBC might play some of it, but for the meat of American politics and disasters (like fires hurricanes news), CNN were on it.

I think they need to get Zucker back and some of my favorite hosts like Alisyn Camorota and John Berman opening the day. I still watch Anderson Cooper most days and thankfully, he's appeared to be a permanent entity which I appreciate.

It's 2025, so if it's not on DU or in print from HCR, I am not following it.

[BidenRocks]

9. I miss Elsa Klensch.

Bernie Shaw also.

[tishaLA]

10. When I was a wee tot, I loved watching Else Klensch

It made me feel so sophisticated and cosmopolitan, two things I definitely was not. I loved going backstage at the fashion shows and hearing the designers discuss their inspirations.

[iluvtennis]

5. Haven't watched since they bent to the right wing. Would love for the CNN of 10 years ago to return. n/t

[summer_in_TX]

7. George Conway has it right.

There have been those here who argued that CNN was still essentially the same, if I recall. And that it was just journalism that we were seeing.

It doesn’t look like straight up journalism to me.

[The Wizard]

8. I stopped watching that shit show

when they were frothing at the mouth during the Clinton impeachment for non impeachable offenses. It's Fox lite, but more insidious because their propaganda is more subtle and less offensive than Fox.
It's been mismanaged since the advent of Fox with Fox taking a large chunk of CNN's audience. CNN's response was not well thought out. They lurched right and lost more audience in an attempt to lure back its estranged viewers.
Keith Olbermann stepped into the void and put MSNBC in play.