1/♾️
Reading @TimAlberta's Iliad-like @TheAtlantic chronicle of the walking, semi-sentient disaster that is @CNN CEO Chris Licht, I kept thinking this would be the last paragraph:
"Finally, came the call. Licht was out. At least he'd have more time to spend with his trainer."
2/♾️
It is hard to imagine that a profile of anybody less egregiously antisocial than a serial killer could begin with this - Licht dismissing the complexity of the key to a now 8-year-long fascist coup designed to destroy American democracy - AND THEN GO DOWNHILL FROM HERE:
3/♾️
From the start (BTW forgive me - link: theatlantic.com/politics/archi…) Licht doesn't understand what the American journalism he professes to cherish, MUST do:
It MUST advocate.
It MUST advocate for democracy
And ADVOCATING is not partisanship🤦🏼♂️
The shit HAS hit the fan, Dummy
4/♾️
From the beginning of Licht-CNN (pick the worst, least principled, least self-aware mouse you've ever known; Now envision him chosen to lead a group vital to freedom's defense) I have sensed even I was unaware of some disastrous influence.
I was right. FRANK F'ING LUNTZ?
5/♾️
Understand that the "genius producer" reputation at MSNBC was forged (all meanings) by Licht himself.
There, he seemed to have just one job: henchman for @JoeNBC: damaging @maddow and me behind our backs, protecting the GOP.
Now he really DOES think he's THE journalist:
6/♾️
No journalist - let alone the self-appointed Defender of Journalism™️ can allow himself or his network to look like it made a deal to provide a candidate with a live crowd of cheerleaders.
Clearly "Extra Trumpy" Licht sold out CNN's objectivity to Trump. This is fireable:
7/♾️
Alberta captures the fundamental Licht flaw: his unassailable self-confidence, without any actual skill.
Therefore all criticism of him is wrong. Therefore all critics are plotters. Therefore: paranoia
@DylanByers is a Licht apologist who has echoed the "genius" nonsense
8/♾️
What happens next at CNN?
Read the piece. You may say what I would say to Licht:
Don't buy, rent. If you already bought, sell. If you rented, get out of the lease and get a hotel room - because your boss won't give an on-the-record interview defending you #ByeFelicia
9/♾️
Lastly:
Chris Licht HAS accomplished something he told Alberta he aspired to: as the ratings (and @CNN's self-defenestration into, at times, 4th Place behind NewsMax) suggest - people NO LONGER "think of CNN, Fox, and MSNBC in the same sentence."
Well done Licht!
10/♾️
(I will go into greater length on the piece, and Licht, in Monday's Countdown podcast) theatlantic.com/politics/archi…
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CNN Trump journalistic
disaster bleeds over to ratings and rebellion:
-Just 700k demo viewers - an average day for "Good Morning America"
-staff rage over platforming Trump
-CEO Licht on 9 AM call insists it “made a lot of news”
Vitally, all news organizations must now look inward to understand: if you assume as CNN did that ordinary journalistic conventions can stop someone who will utter any lie, slandered any one, manipulate any fear - you will inherit the wind.
PLUS: 60 Minutes ratings crash to 6.66 Million, live, thanks to Marjorie Taylor Greene.
CNN and MSNBC showing Trump in a car, a plane, and another car was then trying to cuddle up to the Trump crowd. They've done it before: hear the saga of Michael Savage tinyurl.com/3h2347hm
AND a sad anniversary for me, with a funny and warm punchline. My mother passed away 14 years ago today.
For her last decade she was one of baseball's most famous FANS, all because of one bad throw by Chuck Knoblauch.
He's trying to get this man killed. Period. Enough.
I've known Trump since 1983. Even so -- I don't mind confessing -- I thought the baseball bat one was a fake. That's how dangerous this moment is. He is channeling January 6th again. Arrest him today.
You can guess the lead comment in tomorrow's podcast. I'm writing it now. In the interim, today's is still pretty damn good: