John,
Something is very wrong at CNN.
In January, the network fired 6% of its staff. And after a public clash with Donald Trump, longtime anchor Jim Acosta left rather than accept a humiliating demotion.
At a time when Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling the government and pushing the country toward a constitutional crisis, CNN is retreating—cutting resources and softening coverage. Few outlets have the reach and credibility to cover this moment as the emergency it is—but instead of rising to the occasion, CNN is backing down.
CNN’s bias toward Trump is only getting worse.
During the campaign, CNN admitted to holding Kamala Harris to a higher standard than Trump. COURIER and others called them out for the blatant bias. But since Election Day, that bias has only deepened:
- Jim Acosta was banned from the pressroom during Trump’s first term. Recently, CNN tried to push him to a midnight time slot to appease Trump. Rather than accept the demotion, Acosta left the network entirely.
- Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper—two of CNN’s strongest Trump critics—were reportedly told to hold back their outrage during Inauguration Day coverage and approach Trump with an "open mind." Tapper’s noticeably muted coverage only seemed to reinforce those reports.
- The deference to Trump isn’t working. In January, CNN averaged just over half a million viewers—while Fox News pulled in 3 million. And Trump himself mocked CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins at a press conference, sneering: “Nobody watches CNN anymore. Because they have no credibility.”
And now, when the country needs CNN to treat Trump and Musk’s dismantling of the federal government like the five-alarm fire that it is, they’re shrinking their newsroom and retreating.
They have the platform and the resources, but instead they’re playing it scared and safe.
That’s where COURIER comes in.
We don’t answer to billionaires, ratings, or clicks. We answer to facts, truth, and journalism's core mission of defending democracy.
While legacy media bends, COURIER stands firm. With your help, we can fill the void and ensure journalism stays true to its mission.
In solidarity,
The COURIER Team