CNN boss Chris Licht seemed satisfied with the shitshow of a Trump town hall event they broadcast on Wednesday night, telling staff during a Thursday morning call that “couldn’t be more proud of” anchor Kaitlan Collins while he’s “aware of the backlash” to the programming decision according to a readout of the call obtained by former CNN media reporter Brian Stelter.
“You do not have to like the former president’s answers, but you can’t say that we didn’t get them,” Licht told employees, many of whom Stelter (and not just Stelter) reports are angry about the town hall. “Kaitlan pressed him again and again and made news. Made a LOT of news that is our job,” said Licht, apparently without a hint of irony or any self-awareness that he’s proud to have violated one of the most sacred and fundamental principles of journalism: Don’t make yourself the story.
“While we all may have been uncomfortable hearing people clapping, that was also an important part of the story,” Licht continued, referring to the positive reaction Trump got from the crowd for again defaming rape accuser EJ Carroll just a day after being found liable for that and sexually abusing her, explaining that “a large swath of America” cheers on that sort of depravity and CNN has to try to appeal to them. “America was served very well by what we did last night,” Licht concluded, to which Stelter again notes that “Many CNN employees strongly disagree.”