CNN plans more layoffs, NBC mulls more terminations

January 23rd, 2025

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SGT
January 23, 2025

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January 23rd, 2025

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CURRENT EVENTS

CNN plans more layoffs, NBC mulls more terminations

 Our take: No, you are not watching the movie “Groundhog Day”. Flailing cable network CNN is said to be planning several hundred more layoffs this week.

The downfall of CNN, a news network regarded for decades as one of the most trusted sources of news in the world, is a cautionary tale on 2 fronts.

First, CNN got way from what it did best - report the news. In the 1990’s, the news cycle changed from news being reported several times a day to being a 24 hour news cycle. This was driven largely by the success of CNN and other networks, who pioneered this news cycle.

As this news cycle evolved, it became harder to find content to deliver in real time. This caused these networks to branch out into editorial stories, which slowly took up more and more air time. This turned CNN from a news network to an entertainment network. They no longer just reported facts, they told people how they should think about particular topics and issues.

This approach proved successful for them for some time, as the barriers of entry into the news and entertainment industry were high. It cost a lot of money to broadcast to the public, which led to an oligarchy in this space. This takes is to the second cautionary tale to be learned from CNN.

As the internet evolved, it became easier for many different providers to reach wide audiences. CNN and the other networks that controlled the flow of information quickly lost that control as platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, podcasts, and other information sharing platforms popped up by the millions.

CNN and other networks were slow to respond to this new competition. They downplayed and insulted these providers, trying to take the elitist position that CNN was “the real news”. They continue to do so today, desperately trying to cling to the past, hoping people will tune out other sources and simply swallow whatever CNN feeds them. You cannot unring the bell. The new information source for most Americans is not a legacy media network. That ship has sailed.

It’s possible CNN can right the ship and develop a new model by which they regain relevancy. It’s also possible that we win the lottery and found the next billion dollar start up. All three of those things seem unlikely to happen.

COURTESY: MSN

CNN’s Jim Acosta caught practicing psuedo-journalism in interview with Congressman

Our take: Jim Acosta of CNN became known to most of America during the first Trump administration. He regularly sparred with President Trump at press briefings, winning him praise from some and scorn from others.

Outside of these exchanges, we don’t know of anything substantive he has done or been known for. Maybe he has a bunch of great news stories he reported on that we don’t know about. If that’s the case, please let us know. Either way, he parlayed those press briefings to an anchor position on CNN, where he hosts his own show.

On his show yesterday, he brought on a Republican Congressman to try some “gotcha” journalism. President Trump pardoned close to 1500 January 6th riot participants who had been convicted of federal crimes for their involvement in the riot at The Capitol. Acosta demanded the Congressman take a stand that he either fully supported these pardons or disagreed with these pardons. Yes or no.

The congressman correctly wanted to add context to the situation, as he did not see it as a yes or no question (which is correct). A grandstanding Acosta demanded an answer - yes or no?

When the congressman refused tom play the game Acosta chastised him. "That is absolutely false. Congressman, are you going to respond and say whether or not it is right to let these people out of jail?"

After more back and forth, Acosta ran for the high moral ground. "This is not Fox, congressman. You can't just spin a tale and pull the wool over people's eyes," Acosta told him. "This is CNN, this is the news. We are asking you to come on and tell the truth."

Uh-huh. CNN only tells the truth. Joe Biden has no mental decline. Hunter’s laptop is Russian disinformation. The Covid vaccine stops the spread of the virus. Trump conspired with Russia to win the 2016 election. BLM riots are peaceful. There is no immigration crisis at the Southern Border. Only the truth, baby!

We hope Jim Acosta is part of the upcoming layoffs at this network so we don’t have to hear from this sanctimonious gas bag anymore. His attemps at generating ratings with a tabloid journalism trick don’t resonate with us, and we doubt they will resonate with most Americans.

COURTESY: MSN

Teacher suspended for displaying the cross in the classroom

Our take: A public school teacher in Connecticut has been suspended for refusing to remove a crucifix from her classroom. The school says the display is a "clear violation of federal and state laws ensuring public schools remain neutral on religious matters.” The teacher’s legal representatives say the district is violating the teacher's First and Fourteenth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution, as well as religious freedom protections under state law and workplace discrimination protections.

So who is right? As with any situation, context is important.

The separation of church and state is enshrined in the first amendment, It guarantees religious freedom for all Americans as well as prohibiting the government from favoring one religion over the other. The question here seems twofold: One, is the teacher a government representative? Two, is the display of the crucifix an attempt to show favoritism by the government to one religion over another?

The answer to the first question is pretty clear. The teacher is employed by a public school, funded with taxpayer dollars. She is 100% a government representative whether she wants to cop to that or not.

The answer to the second question seems anything but clear. A crucifix is a worldwide symbol of Christianity without a doubt. But does simply hanging it on the wall of the classroom constitute the government showing favoritism to one religion? That seems like a stretch to us.

Does the teacher (or school) prevent a student or other teacher from wearing a Yarmulke? Are muslim students or teachers allowed to wear head coverings? Are Scientologists allowed to eat children on school grounds? OK - we made that last one up, but the first two are legitimate scenarios.

It seems to us that simply displaying a show of faith through a symbol or clothing does not constitute the government advocating for a particular religion. If the teacher is discussing the religion with students or advocating for them to check out the religion, it quickly crosses over into verbodden territory. Even more nuanced, if the teacher did not stop a simple crucifix, but decked her classroom out like the Vatican, that would clearly cross lines as well.

As for this situation, it seems like there are shades of grey to work through. It seems like the administrators may have over reacted, and the teach has dug her heels in. Hopefully cooler heads prevail and they can reach a compromise that works for all parties.

COURTESY: YAHOO

TIP OF THE DAY

Have a plan going into every day. You will almost never be able to stick to that plan as life is messy and none of us can predict the future, but you will wind up much better off than if you wing it.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” - Colin Powell

SOURCES: