Struggling CNN cuts staff even as it moves to fancy new digs
News network CNN is planning to reduce its headcount, leaving many staffers worried for their jobs. As the network's ratings continue to sag, over 100 CNN employees have accepted voluntary buyouts.
Several conservative commentators who were previously employed by CNN are now speaking out against the network, claiming its current identity is "anti-Trump" instead of neutral, as it claims to be. One claims the network "openly despises conservatives."
"Most of us got squeezed out involuntarily,” Jack Kingston, a former Georgia congressman who appeared on the network, told Mediaite. “I was there for two years and was certainly willing to continue. It was clear to me in the end that the Republicans they prefer are anti-Trump Republicans.”
"Most of us got squeezed out involuntarily. I was there for two years and was certainly willing to continue. It was clear to me in the end that the Republicans they prefer are anti-Trump Republicans.”
Former U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston and his wife Libby are seen in Atlanta, May 20, 2014. (Associated Press)
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Conservatives come and go
Pro-Trump contributors at CNN seem to have come and gone in recent months. Last week, the network fired former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli as reports indicated he was being considered for a high-ranking immigration post in the Department of Homeland Security.
Earlier this year, CNN fired economic analyst Stephen Moore after President Trump nominated him to serve on the Federal Reserve Board. But Moore withdrew from consideration after CNN and other outlets reported old derogatory remarks he made about women and the Obamas.
Previously, CNN let go other commentators who supported President Trump. Contributors Jeffrey Lord and Ed Martin were fired for remarks they made outside the network. Paris Denard was let go after he was accused of sexual misconduct from a previous job. The contracts of Kingston and former South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer were not renewed. And former Trump campaign and administration officials Corey Lewandowski, Marc Short and Jason Miller all had short-lived paid contributorships.
Perceived animus
In addition to Kingston, other ex-CNN contributors weighed in on the perceived animus toward them at the so-called "neutral" cable news network in a report by Mediaite.
Moore has particularly been outspoken about his frustration with CNN.
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“Who are the Republicans, John Kasich? He hates Trump!” Moore said, referring to the former Republican governor of Ohio, whom CNN recently hired. "CNN is the 'hate Trump' network. They just trash Trump every single hour of every single day. All they’ve talked about for two years is the Mueller report and how bad does it make them look now that it proved nothing."
"Who are the Republicans, John Kasich? He hates Trump! CNN is the 'hate Trump' network. They just trash Trump every single hour of every single day."
Stephen Moore left CNN after President Trump nominated him to serve on the Federal Reserve Board.
Former Trump campaign deputy communications director Bryan Lanza left the network, claiming CNN's only identity is "anti-Trump," not "conservative versus liberal.”
'Last-place performance'
“If you hate Trump, you tune to CNN to validate your hatred,” Lanza told Mediaite. “Not sure it’s a winning formula -- and I’m validated by their last-place performance against other outlets.”
“If you hate Trump, you tune to CNN to validate your hatred.”
“CNN used to pretend it accepted right-wing voices for balance, but now it openly despises conservatives who are pro-Trump,” former CNN contributor Buck Sexton, a former CIA intelligence officer, said. “Today the entire enterprise clings to a fundamental dishonesty: that it has no political agenda. Taking down Trump is obviously the agenda. And in this regard, some of CNN’s ‘hard news’ anchors are the biggest journalistic frauds of all.”
“CNN used to pretend it accepted right-wing voices for balance, but now it openly despises conservatives who are pro-Trump. ... Taking down Trump is obviously the agenda.”
Former CIA intelligence officer Buck Sexton says, "CNN’s ‘hard news’ anchors are the biggest journalistic frauds of all."
Sexton, however, did leave the door open to return to the network "if CNN stopped being crazy.”
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A spokesperson for CNN told Mediaite that the network is "always looking to add new perspectives from across the political spectrum" and highlighted conservatives commentators Scott Jennings, David Urban, and Steve Cortes, as well as former Republican officeholders such as Kasich, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and former U.S. Rep. Mia Love of Utah.
CNN did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.
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