CNN has tried to control the narrative for years. But their game is over.
And Scott Jennings asked everyone on CNN a nuclear bomb of a question that made the entire network go dead silent.
During a recent televised discussion, Democratic strategist Karen Finney prompted laughter from Republican strategist Scott Jennings when she referenced a strategy meeting aimed at defeating President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Trump clinched the presidency on November 6, 2024, securing 322 electoral votes against Vice President Kamala Harris’s 226, surpassing the 270 needed to win. Finney described a meeting where notable Trump critic Bill Kristol and other former Republicans, now identifying as anti-Trump, strategized on how to oppose the former president.
Finney highlighted the involvement of thousands of former Republicans, including figures like former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who joined a anti-Trump movement. She recounted the diverse group at the meeting, which included conservatives and former allies across party lines, all united in their goal to block Trump’s return to the White House. Jennings, interrupting with a chuckle, asked, “How did it work out?”—a pointed jab at the group’s unsuccessful efforts.
A YouGov poll conducted from July 4 to July 7, 2025, showed Trump maintaining an 87% approval rating among Republicans. Kristol, a prominent “Never Trump” advocate and editor-at-large for The Bulwark, publicly identified as a Democrat during Trump’s first term. Other conservative anti-Trump figures, including those tied to The Lincoln Project, raised millions during the 2020 and 2024 campaigns to oppose Trump.
Trump’s recent successes extend beyond the election. On Friday, he signed a reconciliation bill that cemented his 2017 tax cuts into law. The Supreme Court also delivered favorable rulings on nationwide injunctions, bureaucratic layoffs, and deportations to third countries. Additionally, on June 22, 2025, the U.S. conducted strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, using 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators. The operation, involving seven B-2A Spirit bombers on a 37-hour mission, significantly disrupted Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Declining Trust in Mainstream Media Outlets Like CNN
The American public’s trust in mainstream media outlets, such as CNN, has plummeted in recent years, driven by perceptions of bias, sensationalism, and a disconnect from public concerns. Polls consistently show declining confidence in traditional news sources. A 2024 Gallup poll revealed that only 31% of Americans expressed a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in the media’s ability to report news accurately and fairly, a sharp drop from 68% in 1976. This erosion stems from multiple factors, including polarized reporting, selective coverage, and high-profile missteps that have fueled skepticism.
CNN, once a trailblazer in 24-hour news, has faced particular scrutiny for its editorial choices. Critics argue that its coverage often leans left, alienating conservative and independent viewers. A 2023 Rasmussen Reports survey found that 61% of Americans believe CNN operates with a partisan agenda, a sentiment echoed across social media platforms like X, where users frequently call out the network for framing stories to favor specific narratives. For instance, posts on X in 2025 have highlighted CNN’s coverage of Trump’s 2024 victory as overly critical, with some users accusing the network of downplaying his electoral mandate.
The rise of alternative media has further eroded CNN’s credibility. Social media platforms, independent podcasts, and citizen journalists offer unfiltered perspectives, appealing to audiences frustrated with mainstream outlets. A 2025 Pew Research study noted that 47% of Americans now rely on social media as a primary news source, up from 31% in 2020. This shift reflects dissatisfaction with networks like CNN, which are seen as prioritizing corporate interests over objective reporting.
High-profile controversies have also damaged CNN’s reputation. In 2023, the network faced backlash over its handling of a town hall with Trump, where critics argued it gave him a platform to spread falsehoods. Meanwhile, conservatives accused CNN of bias for moderating the event too aggressively. Such incidents reinforce perceptions of inconsistency, with 58% of respondents in a 2024 YouGov poll saying CNN’s reporting lacks neutrality. The network’s declining viewership—down 12% from 2022 to 2024, per Nielsen data—goes to show the impact of the loss of trust.
Partisan echo chambers have exacerbated the issue. CNN’s audience skews heavily Democratic, with a 2024 Pew study showing 67% of its viewers identify as left-leaning. This homogeneity alienates audiences, as coverage often caters to a specific ideological base. Americans frequently criticize CNN for framing stories in ways that seem dismissive of conservative viewpoints, such as its reporting on Trump’s tax cuts or immigration policies, which some users call “out of touch.”
The media’s handling of major events, like the 2024 election, has further eroded trust. CNN’s election-night coverage was criticized for focusing heavily on Democratic talking points while underreporting Republican gains in key swing states. A 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer report found that 64% of Americans believe mainstream media outlets like CNN prioritize political agendas over factual reporting. This perception is compounded by the media’s failure to anticipate Trump’s landslide victory, with many outlets, including CNN, projecting a closer race.
Missteps in reporting on international events have also played a role. The U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025 were initially underreported by CNN, with critics noting the network’s delayed coverage compared to independent outlets. When CNN did cover the strikes, some argued its framing emphasized diplomatic fallout over the operation’s strategic success, further fueling accusations of bias. A 2025 Morning Consult poll showed 53% of Americans believe mainstream media outlets misrepresent foreign policy developments to align with political narratives.
The proliferation of “gotcha” journalism has also alienated audiences. CNN’s focus on confrontational interviews and viral moments, such as heated exchanges between pundits like Jennings and Finney, often overshadows substantive policy discussions. A 2024 study by the American Press Institute found that 49% of Americans want news outlets to focus more on solutions than conflicts, a demand CNN has struggled to meet.
Efforts to regain trust have fallen short. CNN’s attempts to diversify its opinion programming, such as hiring conservative commentators, have been met with skepticism, as many view these moves as tokenism. A 2025 Axios survey found that 60% of Americans believe mainstream media outlets are unlikely to regain public confidence without structural changes, such as transparent editorial processes.
