Worthless CNN. Viewership implodes. Conservative Rightwing Slant Turning Viewers Away Even More Now

[IrishBubbaLiberal]

CNN SUCKS.

CNN has long been a worthless crappy corporate ‘news’ shit zone.

CNN sucks.

— Jon Cooper (@joncooper-us.bsky.social) 2025-05-23T13:12:24.344Z

[wcmagumba]

1. I quit watching CNN long ago...too much RWNJ biased misinformation for the reality of my life...

[Alliepoo]

7. Same here.

They’ve been leaning waaaay to the right for a long time. I stopped watching them several years ago because they were too right wing for my taste.

[PatSeg]

15. I quit CNN a long time ago as well

There was so little substance and most of the journalists were superficial and annoying. There were a few exceptions of course, but for the most part, I found the station barely watchable. Also, I'll never understand why someone like Wolf Blitzer had such a prominent position for so many years.

[JHB]

29. I think a couple of guys on local-access cable in Aurora, Illinois were on to somthing...

Wayne: Brick Hugh, ABC. Geez, I wish that was my name! It sounds like James Bond, you know? [ imitates ] “Hugh. Brick Hugh.” Congratulations! Good work, my friend! Okay, Worst Name. CNN Pentagon Correspondent, Wolf Blitzer? Shyeah, right!
Garth: It’s so obvious the guy made it up for the war!
Wayne: Yeah! I know, it’s like, “Hi, we now take you to our War Correspondent, Howitzer Explosion Guy.”

[PatSeg]

46. Ha, ha, ha!

Though the only cool thing about him is his name. A dirty dish rag has more personality and his monotonous voice puts people to sleep.

I remember years ago when Aaron Brown and Judy Woodruff were their primary anchors. Once they were gone, things went downhill pretty quickly. They put more money and effort into their flashy sets and silly graphics than on air personalities. Remember the stupid holograms that rarely ever worked?

[LiberalBrooke]

58. I quit watching tv news when they went to 24 hour coverage.

Not 24 hours of news so they had to just add talking points and filler stuff to make up the other hours. That said, they could have added “feel good” stories but they chose not to.

[newdeal2]

2. Looks like Tapper and CNN are learning an important lesson

Everything Trump touches dies.

[krkaufman]

72. The lesson's there

I have little faith it will be learned:

[ruet]

3. Who Could Have Possibly Predicted Such an Outcome?

Maybe they should have looked up the term "Republican lite".

[mcar]

4. I will never understand why CNN hasn't figured out

that RWNJ's will never watch their network. Ever. There are plenty of RW networks around for them to get their "fair and balanced" newz, they don't need CNN.

[not fooled]

35. Although their agenda might be even more insidious

Not to attract the RWNJs but to propagandize the rest of us to accept GQPee destructive crazy policies and insane politicians.

[LR3]

36. Meanwhile, the side of truth and facts is wide open for the taking

MSNBC is fine enough for their evening shows, but for Dog's sake they still employ Katy Tur and Joey S. An true opposition network would have no competition.

[PJMcK]

56. Perhaps this is CNN's strategy

Slant rightwards and their television feed will be broadcast in airport lounges, hotels, etc.

That would increase the fees they could charge for ads. Additionally, it provides a "captive" audience.

I really don't know. Just a thought.

[Cosmocat]

81. The objective was to kill the network

They were overtaken by right wingers, who knew what most here have commented that the "base" won't ever watch CNN.

The objective was to kill it by turning in it rightward to alienate the few left leaning viewers away.

Mission accomplished.

[hunter]

5. I used to say television was the worst medium for news.

That was before twitter came along.

I quit television news in the run-up to the war in Iraq. Then I quit cable television. In 2012 my wife and I quit broadcast television too.

My wife has never watched television news. We subscribe to two or three streaming services at any given time and have a large collection of DVDs.

Traditional broadcast and cable television created Trump. Traditional television needs to die.

[newdeal2]

9. I think other countries do it better

What we have here is junk reality TV news, minus 60 Minutes and maybe a few PBS programs.

[SouthBayDem]

17. Other countries have better regulation and funding of media

For example the BBC has an international news service with a heck a lot more resources than PBS over here, so BBC news is imported here through NPR and PBS stations.

[OMGWTF]

28. There's no Fux News in Canada because it's against Canadian law for a news program to LIE.

Too bad the US thinks that is just fine. I HATE IT HERE!!!

[MichMan]

33. That damn 1st Amendment n/t

[D_Master81]

62. I'm all for the 1st amendment

However putting out misinformation and propaganda and straight up lying to people shouldnt be protected. We are dealing with the effects now as no one knows what’s true and we don’t even have truth as a society anymore. Truth is whatever someone says it is. You can’t operate as a country long term like this

[MichMan]

64. Are you sure?

Who decides what is allowed on the air and what isn't? If it's the government, then no, you don't believe in the First Amendment.

[hadEnuf]

70. And if it's right wing fascists deciding that's okay with you?

[MichMan]

80. You may want to re read what I posted

I'm not the one saying that the government should have the power to control speech; quite the opposite, actually.

[hadEnuf]

83. Yes, but at this point, either way, whether it's the government

or corporations, we are still getting nothing but subversive propaganda from the media in a dominating way.

Individual speech is always there and has been. But manufactured propaganda lies presented as actual truth with little to no rebuttal taking over media is not okay because of free speech. The only way to counter that would be to create a whole new media empire to say the opposite of what the other side says. That's not free speech, that's a pissing match with democracy hanging in the balance. And we do have the world's billionaires stepping up for us to make it happen either.

[SouthBayDem]

43. Your info may be a bit out of date

The Canadian Cable Television Association first sought permission to broadcast Fox News and several other non-Canadian networks in the country in 2003, according to an archived letter on the CRTC’s website. The CRTC rejected that request, citing concerns about competitiveness and a need for more information. A year later, in 2004, the CRTC approved Fox News for distribution.

The AP has previously debunked the claim that the U.K. banned Fox News. According to both Fox News and U.K. officials, U.K. regulators never banned the channel from operating in the region. Instead, Fox News voluntarily stopped broadcasting in the U.K. in 2017 due to the channel’s low viewership there.

AP on 12/14/21

[Jarqui]

6. I even deleted my links to CNN more than a year ago ... nt

[Johonny]

8. Anonymous sources only ones still watching

[Raven123]

10. I watch no CNN except for Abby Phillip's late show which I record and watch sometimes.

Yes, she has right wingers on, but she has a round table of 4-5 people with opposite viewpoints. Limits discussion to the topic, controls the tempo, and keeps calm.

[Straw Man]

60. The problem with Abby Phillip's show ...

... is that they give camera time to Scott Jennings' smirks, eye rolls, and irrelevant interruptions. These are all the cheap tricks of a paid partisan hack, and they should be ashamed for letting him get away with it.

[Raven123]

63. Honestly, I listen more than watch when it on, so I am less aware of that nonsense.

[SpankMe]

11. CNN isn't great

But, they do deliver the basic news during certain hours.

I'm thinking the ratings drop is more related to Trump fatigue than Jake Tapper's "expertise".

[Raine]

77. I agree. i watch CNN, i don't mind different points of view. nt

[Mr. Sparkle]

12. The right wing ownership has been a disaster for them.

[dchill]

13. Maybe they need more blondes.

[calimary]

74. THAT'S IT!!! MORE BLONDES!!!

Aw shit! For some reason, blonde hair has always been big on TV. Maybe it photographs well.

[dchill]

76. It's practically formulaic. Apparently.

[Kid Berwyn]

79. With really big...

…eyes.

What?

[LisaM]

14. What did Jake Tapper seriously hope to accomplish with this book?

He already sandbagged Biden at the debate right out of the gate with a loaded and slanted question (if you can call it that) while ignoring Trump's apparent insanity, spent the next two weeks leading the charge to drum Biden out of the race, at which he (unfortunately) succeeded, again ignoring Trump's rampages, and then even that wasn't enough, then he demanded to know why the Democrats let our own highly capable Vice President be nominated at our convention.

Having got everything he apparently wanted to settle his petty feud with the Bidens, culminating in this disaster of an administration, he then proceeds to pat himself on the back and assume that we now all want to congratulate him for this spurious book based on a bunch of fabricated evidence.

When Biden is diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that most experts agree was very not diagnosed until very recently, what does Tapper do? Does he show empathy, or at the very least, does he tamp down flogging his book?

Why, no! He doubles down. It's all very strange, I am not a huge Jake Tapper fan anyway, and have not been since his treatment of Al Gore in his book about the 2000 election, but I never expected him to go completely off the rails like this.

In the meantime, Project 2025 grinds on, trampling on everything we hold dear in this country.

[ToxMarz]

16. I couldn't believe MSNBC ('Moron Joe and Mika) had Tapper on the other day to interview for his new book.

Acted like he had done somthing important and noteworthy!

Cnn MUST have paid for that ad/endorsment, no other explanation.

A crap book written by a rival network anchor, why?
And even if it WAS a good book, why?

[Paladin]

24. Nothing would surprise me about Joe and Mika, anymore.

Not even a return trip to Mar a Fucko, kneepads in hand.

[kimbutgar]

18. The only time I have watched CNN was the Saturday show with Roy Wood Jr, Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black

How I got news for you. I hope it doesn’t get cancelled.

[JoseBalow]

27. Pre-show disclaimer: "This is CNN. But also kinda NOT CNN.""

Have I Got News for You with Roy Wood Jr. is the only show I have watched on CNN for a long time. I think he's great! I have been a fan since I first saw him on the Daily Show, way back when.

According to the Wikipedia page:

A third series was commissioned in May 2025 and scheduled for September 6

(0:27)

[poozwah]

19. diseasus christ

has the cdc reacted to the newly discovered outbreak of tapper syndrome?
as sick as biden is, and may have been in the last year or so of his term, no disease is as sickening as that who suffer with tapper syndrome. biden got us out of the mess created by trump’s mishandling of the covid pandemic. the thanks he gets for this is a book not praising his accomplishment, rather his health is the issue. his successor is much sicker than biden has ever been. to my knowledge, tapper is afflicted with his own syndrome in not writing books about trump’s obvious illnesses, both mental and physical. why? there are two reasons that immediately come to mind:

1. he fears retribution from trump. this makes him a coward.

2. he is greedy is using his position to increase his wealth while making the nation poorer for it.

[Skittles]

59. excellent assessment

I'd say both reasons are accurate - Tapper is both obeying in advance and an eager, opportunistic piece of SHIT.

[poozwah]

84. thanks

thank you!

[Joinfortmill]

20. Tapper SUCKS!!

[jaymac]

21. and so does

that face contorting Scott Jennings.......very rarely watch but even when I try, it's just awful.

[jlcfandwn]

22. CNN Sucks, as well as NBC

I stopped watching CNN last year, canceled my Washington Post subscription, and got rid of NBC on my phone. There are enough sites out there to get unbiased news. It just breaks my heart that they have all been sucked into the Right Wing Rhetoric.

[Bengus81]

82. Stopped watching them after the FAKE Trump town hall. Never been back and never will

Stopped watching MSNBC streaming when Morning Schmo and MeeKa went down and kissed Trumps ass just a few days after the election.

[miyazaki]

23. They could have been heroes. Now they are zeros.

[ificandream]

25. Trump agrees and thanks you very much for your "opinion."

No one should care about a rant on the internet from someone who has to have something to say and needs an audience to hear it, no matter whether they know anything or not. If CNN's ratings are down, they still deserve your support over disgusting Fox and its right-wing comrades. Real news is not a cheering section, like RW media is. It's factual, and that means you won't always like it. (And yes, I don't always like it.) But I'll take trying to be honest over outright propaganda and lies. (Remember that Fox has paid a ton for their lies.)

Also remember -- opinion pieces are different than straight news. They are just that -- opinion. One person's opinion. And are usually tagged with disclaimers that the network doesn't necessarily agree with them. I'll repeat -- OPINION. Like this OP is.

[Brainstormy]

26. Good!

just good. Eff Jake Tapper.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. CNN... what's that?!

[LiberalArkie]

31. They bought into their own "Both sides are the same" that they preached for decades. And still believe

[TheProle]

32. The beneficiary is FOX

I get the CNN hate, but don't let it blind you to the reality on the ground.

According to AdWeek, citing Nielsen ratings for the week of May 12, Fox News was the only network to see gains in total viewers and the key Adults 25-54 demo compared to the same period last year. In primetime, the network rose a whopping +26% in total viewers and +52% in the key demo, while its total day numbers rose +23% in total viewers and +32% in the demo.

In comparison, MSNBC was down a dismal -29% in total viewers and -40% in the demo in primetime. During total day, the network dropped -36% in total viewers and -44% in the key demo.

Meanwhile, CNN decreased by -16% in total viewers and -11% in the demo during primetime and -28% in total viewers and -29% in the demo during total day.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1193271/fox-news-ratings-msnbc-cnn-cable-news-viewership/

[MichMan]

34. Fox is seeing gains on top of already leading in total viewership by substantial amounts

Overall, Fox News held 99 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the week and also pulled ahead of ABC and TNT (both airing live sports last week with the NBA and NHL playoffs going on) in primetime total viewers. Fox News averaged 3 million total viewers in weekday primetime, ahead of ABC’s 2.9 million and TNT’s 2.5 million.

[Initech]

47. 3 million? That's it?

And the whole country of 330 million gets wrecked because of this shitty disgusting network? WTF?

[MichMan]

48. CNN had 400k

Why care what they do or don't do, with numbers like that? Tapper can go on there every day for all I care.

Makes the argument about blaming the media, pretty ridiculous, doesn't it?

[Initech]

50. It totally does when you put things into perspective!

[LoisB]

37. Time was, if you wanted "just the facts", CNN was the go-to. I can't imagine what made

them think being Fox-lite was a good idea?

[ificandream]

38. Opinions don't make them Fox-lite.

[LoisB]

40. My reference is to news, not opinions. Sorry, I was unclear.

[ificandream]

53. No problem.

I should say that I really was displeased with ABC and those outlets (not RW) that have let Trump have his way with them through lawsuits and the like, but overall, I'm still behind the real journalism that reporters have been doing to make Trump's corruption known. And they are doing that.

And if I can make a recommendation for a podcast, Decoding Fox News is great. I can't stand to watch Fox for even a second, but Juliet Jeske shows all their crap each time out. If you don't subscribe to it, I heartily recommend it. (And I have nothing to do with the show.)

[LoisB]

55. Thank you for the recommendation, I will check it out. I had not heard of it before.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

39. FAFO

[flvegan]

41. Good. Fuck CNN. n/t

[GoodRaisin]

42. I stopped turning the channel on CNN when I noticed the increased amount

of lying Republicans showing up on their shows. Scott Jennings being in about every conversation was enough of a turn off but it has become even way worse this year.

[oysterpoint]

44. And with Tapper selling the hit piece on Biden...

…there is even less incentive to watch that channel! Haven’t watched CNN since they gave F47 all the free air time.
These guys have bent the knee. Their management seems to be useless. And a weak news outlet is not an effective news outlet.
Until they turn 180 degrees, and become a leader of the progressive movement, using fact-based data, they will wither away.

[BoRaGard]

45. Americans are fed up with right-wing claptrap

You can only lie to people for so long...

[Celerity]

78. Fox News is growing in terms of viewership, per other replies in this OP thread.

Plus, the RW dominates the far larger and more influential social media and political podcast spaces, on balance.

[womanofthehills]

49. I haven't had a tv in 15 yrs

But I see many cable shows have less than 500,000 viewers while podcasts keep growing- some getting 10 to 40 million viewers a podcast. If you are a busy person, you can drive, shop, often work listening to a podcast.

The end of cable might be near as the younger generation are into their phones, not tv.

[LymphocyteLover]

51. I generally avoid CNN but do like some of their anchors. Jake Tapper & Scott Jennings have made me flee completely from

the network. Sad that a few terrible people screw over the good people there.

Jake Tapper has a special place in hell waiting for him, with all the other MAGAts

[Vogon_Glory]

52. Life outside the right-wing bubble can be surprising

Viewers might not care for so-called “conservative” (reactionary) “balance” and change the channel. Big-name right-wing influencers might not draw in legions of viewers after all. And viewers might turn away from “Fox News lite” in repulsion.

In some circles, circles found less and less in the US in these troubled times, this is called viewer feedback. It’s also known as “the invisible hand of the marketplace,” where consumers choose what they’ll watch under their own volition, not because they are forced to.

I may not be a corporate executive paid in a year more than many people see in their lifetimes, but even I can see that this is not a winning strategy to gain viewership.

And the cause of this is not the Democratic Party, George Soros, Hillary Clinton, the League of Women Voters or magical gerbils from outer space, but the senior executives of CNN who decided to cater to the reactionaries—and ran off many of the viewers they already had.

In days gone by, they would have been fired for blunders on this scale. But that doesn’t seem to happen any more.

[Cha]

54. Jake Tapper's Network! lol Keep Going

Down, Fascist Enabling Fucks.

[LittleGirl]

57. I still watch Anderson but that's about it anymore. nt

[D_Master81]

61. Stop catering to the right!!!

They don’t like you, they don’t respect you, they don’t watch you. Why do you continue to cater to them?

[MichMan]

65. I remember when one of their commentators, Donna Brazile, gave Hillary the debate questions before a primary debate

[BigmanPigman]

66. I only watch it if there is a national disaster like an earthquake

or a hurricane. They can't screw that up as much as their fictitious "news".

[Jspur]

67. I really really hate Scott Jennings

and how CNN has basically made him into an idiotic Republican version of Simon Cal. I hate that guy and I feel CNN has made him into a star by trying to paint the narrative that he's a cool contrarian while the liberals he argues with are out of touch.

I would like to see Scott Jennings debate some real progressives from Youtube such as Kyle Kulinski, Sam Seder but CNN would never have those progressives on to expose clowns like Jennings. This is why I never watch CNN because they don't get true real progressives to fight against the Scott Jennings of the world.

[wolfie001]

68. Jake Tapper is a "Grade E" Embarrassment

Prostituting his shit-book

[Blue Owl]

69. Will NEVER allow that propaganda channel in my house

Let it fucking eat shit and die

[Picaro]

71. I wrote off CNN years ago

Glad to see that they are flailing.

The sad data point is that Fox is still ascendant.

[sheshe2]

73. I stopped watching them decades ago.

They beat their stories to death. Natalee Holloway and Michael Jackson was the last straw for me. Their "Breaking News" updates every 30 minutes! Breaking News update!!!! Natalee is still missing and here is Michael from a different angle walking into the courtroom again!

Gah! They drove me nuts.

[fujiyamasan]

75. Is this typical volatility, in terms of ratings?

That seems like a big drop off, but CNN’s ratings aren’t very good to begin with. A small number of viewers can throw it off quite a bit.

CNN doesn’t have any direction. They tended to be critical of Trump for a while, then were told to lay off when their leadership changed.

I think its ratings only spike when there’s a major news event and then it dies down again right after. Conservatives are mostly loyal to Fox, and if they do leave they’ll go to OANN or Newsmax (talk about crazy). They’re definitely not going to CNN! And I think liberals tend to watch less TV news overall, and if they do they it will be MSNBC because they target a specific market.

They said, it’s also possible viewers got bored of a major figure on the network hawking his gossipy book.