Michael Fanone: "CNN Is Hosting a Town Hall for a Guy Who Tried to Get Me Killed --"

[kpete]

CNN Is Hosting a Town Hall for a Guy Who Tried to Get Me Killed
Donald Trump tried to end American democracy. Why is CNN throwing him a rehabilitation party?

BY MICHAEL FANONE

In a recent trip to CNN’s Washington, D.C. Bureau, I sat silently in the green room as guests, anchors and employees filtered through and clamored about how outrageous it was that CBS would give Marjorie Taylor Green an interview on its prestigious 60 Minutes series. Good question? I hope my fellow CNN employees have the balls to raise those same questions with the network executives.

CNN is a major American cable news outlet whose viewers trust that they are being given accurate reporting of events to the best of the network’s ability. With this trust comes an obligation and commitment to their viewers. In the past, CNN has recognized the dangers of allowing election deniers a public platform and would not allow them on-air. Under new “leadership,” that policy has been discarded as evidenced by CNN’s decision to allow the chief election denier, former President Donald J. Trump, a prominent time slot in its evening lineup. As if Trump was a normal candidate, who had not attempted to steal an election by force. In the wake of Jan. 6, Trump’s ability to communicate to the masses was essentially stripped away from him. Twitter banned him for “life”. No major media outlets would have him on. So what has changed?

I’ve heard the network’s attempts to justify this clear reversal. The “He’s the frontrunner in the Republican primary” argument. Somehow the network’s ”ethical” responsibility changed from preventing election deniers a platform regardless of the topic, to giving those same individuals a huge platform to disseminate their lies. I don’t believe for one second that this is about journalistic integrity. It’s about ratings and money. Sometimes things are exactly as they appear, and this appears to be an attempt by a major media outlet struggling with its ratings to attract disenfranchised viewers. To me, allowing Trump an open forum on a major television news network is the moral equivalent of putting an AR-15 in the hands of someone mentally unstable. Whether words or bullets — and I have seen firsthand the effects of both — they are equally dangerous in the mouths or hands of those who have shown us time and time again what their true intentions are.

MORE:
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/cnn-trump-town-hall-abomination-michael-fanone-1234732510/
https://balloon-juice.com/2023/05/10/feeding-the-beast/

[SouthernDem4ever]

1. Well said Michael.

CNN isn't worth a shit anymore.

[musclecar6]

4. I agree

Just another version of Fox. Not quite as obvious, but essentially the same. That guy Malone, a billionaire, who is of course a right wing conservative, is running that show from the back room, so we should not be surprised to see what’s unfolding here now that right wing Republicans have the control of two networks of the three major ones and only MSNBC with an opposing view , which does a great job, but it’s an uphill battle.

Not a big deal of course, with only democracy in peril.

[LoisB]

5. You are correct. I don't have television anymore but when I did, CNN was the station I turned to

to find out what were actual facts if I heard or saw something questionable elsewhere. How far they have fallen.

[Butterflylady]

2. Go after their enablers, it's all about the money.

So hit them where it hurts.

[pandr32]

17. Boycott!

[senseandsensibility]

3. Is CNN airing his response?

Dumb question I know.

[LoisB]

6. He is not wrong.

[Cha]

7. And Packing it with Supporters of

the would be Killer!

Fuck CNN!!

[Joinfortmill]

8. Fanone was an occasional commentator for CNN. Guess that's over...

[ShazzieB]

24. Maybe MSNBC will invite him to join their stable of commentators.

He wouldn't have to worry about encountering any Trump love over there!

[Evolve Dammit]

9. Well said. Fuck CNN. I used to watch. No longer

[PortTack]

10. They should give Fanone a town hall..not a rapist, traitor to his country, lying thief

[onecaliberal]

11. Fascists/Rapists of a feather...

[Tree Lady]

12. I am so hoping the ratings suck

and no one watches. Although there is some who will watch curious to see a train wreck.

[Paladin]

13. Full speed ahead, Officer Fanone.

Never doubt that your efforts are properly directed, and deeply appreciated.

[dchill]

14. Basically, the Cons outweigh the Pros.

[Wednesdays]

33. As in, the con men outweigh the professionals. nt

[dchill]

35. Basically.

[ALBliberal]

15. Weirdly I remember the grief Trump gave Kaitlyn Collins

On the campaign trail. Little disappointed that she’s interviewing him. Always liked her especially when she held her head up with him pointing her out as FAKE NEWS.

I’ll stick with Nicole Wallace and other folk at MSNBC (ya ya ya I have lots of other news sources)

[SamKnause]

16. Packed with 400 republicans or Independents that lean republican.

I don't capitalize republican because they don't deserve any recognition as a political party.

They are a fascist theocratic cult.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

18. CNN

Certainly Not News.

[housecat]

21. That's good! But tfg has enough brain-dead followers to watch it.

[GuppyGal]

31. I think its great that some Dems feel the same way that the reich wing feel about CNN common ground

isn't that grand?

[tavernier]

19. I emailed them.

Basically after an explanation, I told them that I would never ever watch CNN again. I’m not naive enough to think they would care. Still, I feel better.

[Turbineguy]

20. Fox gave up on trump

CNN is going for sloppy seconds.

[housecat]

22. eeeeuuuu! Tucker would fit in

[Wednesdays]

34. I give it 50/50 odds Tucker will have a slot on CNN within a year.

[housecat]

36. Looks like FOKS and CNN will need slightly different business models

[nilram]

23. I don't watch teevee but I am NOT going to their website anymore.

I used to go there when I was eating lunch at my work computer, but now I’ll find things related to my industry. Probably looks better if work is monitoring anyway. I’ll miss you, Anderson Cooper.

[ShazzieB]

25. I hope the ratings for this thing are abysmal.

Regardless of that, I'll also be eager to find out what happens. Will he be able to set aside his simmering rage over yesterday's verdict and do a semi believable impersonation of a sane person, especially if any of the questions make him uncomfortable? Or will CNN screen out any potentially discomfiting questions to make sure he isn't put to the test? I am genuinely curious!

[Tickle]

27. So does 🦊 News LoL

I suspect CNN is going for their Peep's

[area51]

26. CNN is trying to be Faux-lite.

And it won't gain them any viewers on the right.

[GuppyGal]

30. How so? They always creaming the orangesicle when I'm tuning in ....just a coincidence I guess

LOL

[peacebuzzard]

28. got rid of my television years ago

Got tired of yelling at it during the Bush years.
Have never missed it.

[GuppyGal]

29. Yup and he wants to pardon most of the January 6th skanks....another thing that will not play well

Carry on DUMP