Is Jim Acosta next?

[CatWoman]

SCOOP: Rumors CNN Is Planning to Fire Jim Acosta Are ‘Absolute Bullsh*t,’ Sources Say

Rumors have been circulating that CNN anchor Jim Acosta is the next boldface name to exit the cable news network in the wake of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, but those rumors are “absolute bullsh*t,” as one source so colorfully told Mediaite.

There have been a number of major changes since the merger, most notably the shuttering of the CNN+ streaming service after less than a month and the cancellation of Reliable Sources — along with the departure of its host, Brian Stelter.

Journalist Jon Nicosia (a former Mediaite managing editor) set the rumor mill churning with Acosta’s name with several tweets last Tuesday claiming another “big name” would be leaving CNN, and then following up on Friday by identifying that name as Acosta.

Acosta’s name may have sounded plausible for the chopping block in light of reports that CNN’s new president Chris Licht was pushing the network away from the “extremes” of partisan commentary, including being willing to “oust” on-air talent that didn’t fall in line — and several of these reports speculated about Acosta’s fate by expressly mentioning his name.

https://www.mediaite.com/news/scoop-rumors-cnn-is-planning-to-fire-jim-acosta-are-absolute-bullsht-sources-say/

[OtterDave]

1. Screw Jim and CNN

They both suck!

[Kid Berwyn]

45. Jim Acosta is a great reporter.

Especially when compared to his contemporaries.

Who else in the press asked Trump the Traitor, to his face, if he was going to apologize for sending the mob on the Congress?

[renate]

2. Dinesh D'Souza doesn't like him... thus confirming my decision to follow him on Twitter

Link to tweet

[FoxNewsSucks]

8. Dinesh D'Ouchebag is a convicted criminal, pardoned by MF45.

[renate]

30. I wasn't clear--I follow Jim Acosta on Twitter

Oh Lordy, I hope you didn't think I followed Dinesh D'Souza!!!

[FoxNewsSucks]

31. you're OK, I knew what you meant,

I just didn't want to pass up any chance to remind people what a scumbag he is.

Acosta is good, I hope he keeps his job. But I think all republicons hate him

[badhair77]

3. I watch Jim Acosta

and Anderson Cooper. I think that’s it for their regular schedule. If they go, I go.

[Mike Nelson]

4. Hmm...

... I though Chris Wallace had escaped... but maybe he's breeding...

[underpants]

5. Hey CNN, they are never going to watch your network.

The cult tells the specifically that YOU are the enemy. But then I’ve only been watching TV my whole life.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

6. The whole "CNN is moving right-wing" conspiracy theory

was started by an ultra-right-wing source, The (Washington) Free Beacon.

Sadly it was picked up and amplified by credulous left-wing sources who didn't check their facts.

And the bullshit story won't die here on DU.

We laugh at the MAGAts when they swallow every conspiracy theory under the sun, but...

[FoxNewsSucks]

9. Actually, I laugh at people who refuse to acknowledge what they see right in front of them.

The channel that aired batshit-crazy Michelle Bachmann's stupid Teabag rebuttals to Obama's SOTUs, and held Teabag debates while ignoring liberal debates has always been right of center.

That channels new owner and manager have stated their intent, and the channel is moving right. It's not yet full-fascist as some state, but it is pandering to the right.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

11. I feel the same way about people who refuse to recognize the truth.

Don't fall for right-wing originated conspiracy theories. It isn't a sane path.

[FoxNewsSucks]

13. I can see for myself what is covered, how, and who keeps their jobs

No conspiracy necessary.

Besides, it's not really a conspiracy, in CNN's case they announced their intent.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

14. I have my own well-functioning mind. The whole right-wing originated conspiracy

is pure bullshit.

CNN never announced they intended to go fascist, become FOX-lite, or any for the other lies I've read here on DU.

It's pure malarky.

[FoxNewsSucks]

17. Might I suggest a 'reading-for-comprehension' type course?

I'm sure something like that could even be found online or on Zoom.

I didn't see where anyone here stated that CNN announced any of those things.

Those were all personal opinion, speculation and interpretation of what CNN actually did announce combined with what is known about its current owners. It would be good for you to learn how to recognize that.

Of course, you're free to just carry on.

[CatWoman]

15. actually, it was Keith Olbermann who sounded the alarm for me about Licht and CNN

and Olbermann is hardly of right wing origin

[Just A Box Of Rain]

16. He picked up the conspiracy theory after it was originated by the ultra-right Free Beacon.

And IMO Keith Olbermann is pretty unhinged, in any case.

But this didn't start with Olbermann.

[CatWoman]

18. I don't agree as Keith worked at MSNBC while Licht was there

he describes him as Joe Scarborough's hatchet man.

It was Licht and Scarborough who got Markos Moulitsas banned as a contributor on Keith's show.

P.S. -- Daily Kos is hardly right wing also: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/16/2123400/-MEET-CHRIS-LICHT-CNN-HATCHET-MAN

[Just A Box Of Rain]

19. Olbermann was fired by MSNBC and reportedly Rachel Maddow blackballed

him as a possible successor for her show. Olbermann has been fired everywhere he's worked, in fact.

When he claims Licht "ate paste, " I tend to doubt his word.

The Daily Kos "article" is uncorroborated. It says up top: This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.

This wasn't the only mendacious article that acted as a right wing (((((echo chamber))))) on Daily Kos. It is one of the many problems with outlets that don't do any fact-checks or have editors verifying content.

We need to be better than the MAGAts.

[CatWoman]

22. Olbermann was fired from several places

and he quit several places.

We wouldn't have Rachel if not for Keith. He paved the way for her, and let her host his show several times before she got her own. He fought for her to get her own show.

I've been around for some time, and have seen first hand.

So what if Keith describes Licht as a "paste eater". That causes you to doubt his word. Doubt all you want.

You keep saying we "need to be better than the MAGATs".

We ARE better than them.

Part of being better is seeing and acknowledging the truth.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

46. Part of being better is seeing and acknowledging the truth.

Precisely my point.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. "Olbermann was fired by MSNBC and reportedly Rachel Maddow blackballed

him as a possible successor for her show".

Umm... Olbermann was the one who basically brought Rachel to MSNBC. I used to listen to her on SiriusXM's Left Channel which had Air America programming (the XM/Sirius merger meant 2 channels of left programming until they consolidated to 1 and juggled schedules) while she was also making appearances on his show before she eventually got her own.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

27. Yes, Obermann brought Maddow in to MSNBC.

That makes it all the more significant that she reportedly blackballed Olbermann as her replacement, don't you think?

She knows him. She vetoed it, if reports are to be believed.

[BumRushDaShow]

29. No there is nothing "significant" there

These networks have various owners and various Executives run through them like sieves and whoever is at the helm at the moment makes the decision. Each wants to put their own stamp on the programming as long as they can generate ratings. No one thought that Tweety would be booted but here we are.

Remember that Rachel was threatening to leave (obvious contract negotiation tactic) and adaptations were made to her schedule. In that business, it eventually becomes a matter of self-preservation.

[UTUSN]

24. Why would "ultra-right-wing" sabotage themselves?

As has been pointed out, OLBERMAN tweeted about his experiences with Chris LICHT who was a flunky for SCARBOROUGH in his original Wingnut incarnation, getting the MSNBC boss back then to cancel Lefty guests on Keith's and other hosts' shows, threatening that SCARBOROUGH would call in Sick if not appeased. And LICHT has pursued the agenda of his wingnut oligarch bosses/wingnut-donors to make CNN "more centrist" (with more wingnut guests and muzzling hosts).

What part of ACTIONS in front of the eyes is a "conspiracy" and what facts here are not checked?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

28. The far-right are not sabotaging themselves in this case.

Instead, they are getting a huge laugh from watching the left spreading their unfounded conspiracy theory without applying any critical thinking.

Chris Licht wasn't Scarborough's "flunky," rather Licht produced the morning show. That's been seen as his specialty in the business (Colbert's show aside).

None of the facts have been checked and multiple articles that have been reposted here on DU have contented "quotes" attributed to Licht that were pure invention and not anything Light actually said about the direction of CNN.

[UTUSN]

32. Got anything to back up your assertions?

[Just A Box Of Rain]

33. I told you the source.

Google the article in the Free Beacon. I'm not going to link right-wing sources.

Then look who took up the conspiracy theory. A reporter at The Daily Beast (Lachlan Cartwright) who was the the Executive Editor at the right-wing National Enquirer tabloid, who'd also written for Murdoch papers and tabloids on both sides of the Atlantic, The Free Beacon was his source.

Then the conspiracy when viral with unconfirmed (and actually fake) "quotes" attributed to Licht in the Daily Kos. An "article" that was subject to no scrutiny by anyone prior to publication on the internet.

From there it went viral--including here on DU.


Goes to prove Brandolini's law.

Brandolini's law: also known as the bullshit asymmetry principle, is an internet adage that emphasizes the effort of debunking misinformation, in comparison to the relative ease of creating it in the first place. It states that "The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it."

This bullshit keeps getting batted down. But it keeps coming back.

[UTUSN]

34. Keith's information about LICHT is a witness statement. Your reaction to him was ad hominem

( "He picked up conspiracy theory" and "unhinged" ) - when he cited only (what might be called "facts" ) about his experience/knowledge of LICHT's activities.

You went on to turn some of his job history (it's called "poisoning the well" ) of discrediting anything he had to say. Also unrelated and irrelevant to what he relayed about how LICHT operated.

When you dismiss whatever the Daily Kos said as "uncorroborated" you claim that "uncorroborated" means "not subject to review," which it doesn't.

Your posts on this topic are also "uncorroborated" and "not subject to review." You pile up stuff about MADDOW "blackballing" based on "reports" (which "reports"? what "reports"? ), at the same time that you are complaining about lack of "fact-checks" and "editors verifying".

Which is why I asked which parts of OLBERMAN'S description of LICHT's activities can you provide evidence of being untrue. You deflected away from his descriptions of LICHT's activities with sleight of hand.

To your saying LICHT was a Producer as distinct from my use of "flunky," I say he can be both. And he was producer not for just any "morning show," he was SCARBOROUGH's producer, which is the point, since he was threatening and bullying the boss IN THE SERVICE of Scarborough and his/LICHT's joint mission.

*** But the point is that you consider "CNN moving right-wing" a conspiracy theory somehow cooked up by the wingnuts, which is why I asked why would they sabotage themselves - spelling out, showing their cards, about what is actually happening that is to their benefit.

*** All that said, you say you won't excerpt wingnut sources and I don't do your bidding to Google your wingnut source. so there's that. In a reply to another DUer you claim that CNN "never announced ... to go fascist... FOX-lite" - another fallacy, like that would be an announcement in those terms they would make as opposed to what LICHT and his oligarch bosses *did* say (to turn it more "centrist" ) and what he's de facto doing (ridding and muzzling too-Lefties and adding more wingnuts).

*** So it's clear you and I will only talk past each other, and I will be perfectly fine with skipping on past.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

35. Ad hominem only in the sense that I don't trust Keith Olbermann as a source.

Do you?

The man has been fired from everywhere he's worked and seems to have a beef with everyone he's ever worked with.

When one's history is toxic, the "poisoning of the well" of one's reputation follows. That's using good judgement.

IMS Olbermann has talked about having been blackballed by Maddow. Not a "secret."

Producers of shows are not "flunkies." LOL. I worked for mine entire career in television and film. That's not reality of the business.

This conspiracy theory WAS ABSOLUTELY started by ultra-right sources. I've provided the bread crumbs. Follow them, you will see. People have been hoodwinked. That's sad.

All the claims I listed, that CNN has done fascist (and even NAZI) or aims to become FOX-lite have been made on this forum in recent weeks. That's stupendously ridiculous. But the assertions keep coming.

[UTUSN]

36. No, not "only" in your sense of how YOU use "ad hominem". In ALL of the several (and counting)

different examples I provided of your rhetorical gymnastics. And your repeating many of your things I criticized doesn't meet the definition of a discussion either, along with the other terms you've misapplied.

As for your new deflection as to whether I trust Keith, I can't even fathom that you might entertain finding common ground between us based on YOUR distrusting him.

Somehow my "skipping past" wasn't clear enough.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

37. You make "mental gymnastics" sound like I bad thing.

I prefer to engage my mind and to check sources (as opposed to believing everything I read--no matter how bad the sources).

Too many people have been hoodwinked here by a right-wing originated conspiracy theory that has no basis in fact.

I'm sorry, but I've addressed every question you've raised, and what the conspiracy theory doesn't hold water.

I doubt you followed the breadcrumbs that I provided.

I've tried. The rest is on you to do some homework. Or not.

[CatWoman]

38. you provided the bread crumbs

[Just A Box Of Rain]

40. Yes, I did.

The Free Beacon article that started this right-wing conspiracy theory is easily found.

As is the Daily Beast article that used the Free Beacon as its source.

I'm not linking to right-wing sources due to the TOS here.

You seem unwilling to see the truth and instead roll-eyes?

Dayum.

[CatWoman]

41. you need to look in the mirror

[Just A Box Of Rain]

42. I give you the origin of the conspiracy theory

and instead of a thank you, you return insults.

I'm not the one in this situation that needs to self-reflect.

[CatWoman]

43. what should i thank you for?

unlike you, i provided links (which you soundly slapped down).

i'm not a parrot; i don't need bread crumbs.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

44. I'm not going to link extremist right-wing websites.

But check the Free Beacon and Lachlan Cartwright's follow up in the Daily Beast *if* you cafre to see the origins of this right-wing conspiracy theory.

You don't seem at all interested in de-bunking this conspiracy theory, so I don't know what to say about that.

I thought our side was interested in the truth?

[Boomerproud]

7. Time will tell.

[True Blue American]

10. I am watching Jim now. His Saturday and Sunday shows are the best if I am at home.

I was just thinking that Jim is a breath of fresh air, the way his show is set up. No ranting pundits there.

Jon Avalon and his wife Margeret Hoover are so good together giving different sides, but it is clear they love each other. Frequent guests. Jon is the fact checker on CNN!

[IcyPeas]

12. I often watch his show. are his ratings good?

[Beachnutt]

20. CNN is my go to channel if MSNBC has something

on I don't care for but I watch both really, Acosta is a great reporter imo.

[OilemFirchen]

21. Doesn't the article you posted answer your question?

What am I missing?

nb: Jon Nicosia was a breaking news editor at the Washington Examiner.

[CatWoman]

23. the article doesn't make it a sure thing

however, it all starts with a rumor, doesn't it?

[OilemFirchen]

26. Does it?

Did you note the source of this rumor?

Did you read the forceful pushback from sources?

[BlackSkimmer]

39. Good points. nt

[frogmarch]

47. It'll be the last straw for me

if Jim Acosta goes.