Chris Licht, CEO of CNN, phoned me today. He said that the piece I wrote about him and CNN (Tuesday’s substack of which can be found here, and a column I wrote for today’s Guardian, here) was inaccurate and that the sources on which I relied had got it wrong. I told him I’d relay his version to readers. Herewith.
Seeing how our very democracy is on the line, I think it is definitely time to sound the alarm. And as for Brian Stelter? Sunday morning was the perfect time for me to watch his show. If timing was the issue, why didn't CNN move his show to a different time slot?? I'm not buying any of it.
By suggesting, in the current political climate, that he cannot raise the alarm with every undemocratic thing Trump says or does, he is saying that CNN will normalize Trump’s illegal behavior and only report the worst of the worst. The line just keeps moving. As long as Trump is consistently anti-democratic, and as long as the other GOP nutcases are consistent, there is nothing new to report. It’s all fine and normal. That is extremely dangerous. And wrong. And it does smack of Nazi Germany.
What kind of journalism tries to be bland and vague in order to get an audience?
That Licht called Professor Reich is an indication that Reich is influential. Why is he influential? Because he tells it like it is without being rude.
Licht is full of shit and a liar. Your piece was right on. Don’t believe a word. Listen to GOP Tapper. The channel has moved to the right. I will never watch or subscribe to CNN. They are in the heap with Fox.
Honestly, I think you touched a nerve. I prefer to listen to PBS. Point is Trump needs to be tamped down. He's doing the same thing "making it all about him and he is a victim". We literally have been traumatized by him and are still digging out from his BS. Garland needs to move in on him and all the people who opposed and supported the insurrection . Get them out like a cancer clearing the perimeters.
UnF***ingbelievable!! What kind of koolaid has he been drinking? The term "Big Lie" certainly has Nazi roots FOR A VERY GOOD REASON: it's what they used, and we all need to be very aware of that history. We also need to continue to use that term because it is TRUE and no amount of mealy-mouthed BS from Licht will make it untrue. Take THAT, Licht, and put it where the sun don't shine, which is where it belongs.
Thank you, Robert Reich. The fact that Chris Licht offered a response, regardless of how genuine it was, shows that he was influenced by your piece. There is value in speaking out. Keep up the good work!
I have recently retired, after working in corporate software sales and marketing, running my own small businesses and winding down in an IT role in education. I've heard a lot of board room speak, and dealt with people's credibility on both sides of the sales game.
I can also say, that one of the nice things that does come with getting older and more experienced, is that the naïveté gives way to a more discerning ear. That sounds like a whole lotta moose milk to me.
Watch what he does, not what he says. CNN's credibility is already taking hits.
Yes, Chris Licht needs lots of luck. It sounds to me like he wants to dismantle any semblance of real journalism, integrity, and truth away from CNN. We have plenty of “news” that refuses to call Trump and his nefarious acts what they are or to call him a liar. I know my husband and are done with CNN.
Seeing how our very democracy is on the line, I think it is definitely time to sound the alarm. And as for Brian Stelter? Sunday morning was the perfect time for me to watch his show. If timing was the issue, why didn't CNN move his show to a different time slot?? I'm not buying any of it.
If It goose-steps like a Nazi and it salutes like a Nazi and it BigLies like a Nazi...
By suggesting, in the current political climate, that he cannot raise the alarm with every undemocratic thing Trump says or does, he is saying that CNN will normalize Trump’s illegal behavior and only report the worst of the worst. The line just keeps moving. As long as Trump is consistently anti-democratic, and as long as the other GOP nutcases are consistent, there is nothing new to report. It’s all fine and normal. That is extremely dangerous. And wrong. And it does smack of Nazi Germany.
What kind of journalism tries to be bland and vague in order to get an audience?
That Licht called Professor Reich is an indication that Reich is influential. Why is he influential? Because he tells it like it is without being rude.
Licht is full of shit and a liar. Your piece was right on. Don’t believe a word. Listen to GOP Tapper. The channel has moved to the right. I will never watch or subscribe to CNN. They are in the heap with Fox.
What part of we are perilously close to losing our Democracy doesn't Chris get?
And not calling out the big lie and all the 30,000 little lies is how we got here.
Honestly, I think you touched a nerve. I prefer to listen to PBS. Point is Trump needs to be tamped down. He's doing the same thing "making it all about him and he is a victim". We literally have been traumatized by him and are still digging out from his BS. Garland needs to move in on him and all the people who opposed and supported the insurrection . Get them out like a cancer clearing the perimeters.
UnF***ingbelievable!! What kind of koolaid has he been drinking? The term "Big Lie" certainly has Nazi roots FOR A VERY GOOD REASON: it's what they used, and we all need to be very aware of that history. We also need to continue to use that term because it is TRUE and no amount of mealy-mouthed BS from Licht will make it untrue. Take THAT, Licht, and put it where the sun don't shine, which is where it belongs.
It seems to me that most of his answers contained obfuscation of his actual intentions. He might make a successful politician ;-)
Blah blah blah. Just more excuses for courting the Right. To hell with CNN.
Thank you, Robert Reich. The fact that Chris Licht offered a response, regardless of how genuine it was, shows that he was influenced by your piece. There is value in speaking out. Keep up the good work!
Trump is a “Big Lie”. Licht is - double talk. Follow the money is right!
I have recently retired, after working in corporate software sales and marketing, running my own small businesses and winding down in an IT role in education. I've heard a lot of board room speak, and dealt with people's credibility on both sides of the sales game.
I can also say, that one of the nice things that does come with getting older and more experienced, is that the naïveté gives way to a more discerning ear. That sounds like a whole lotta moose milk to me.
Watch what he does, not what he says. CNN's credibility is already taking hits.
The venerable Southern idiom is "Bless your heart."
Keep it up, Robert. You are such a source of sanity for us all.
Yes, Chris Licht needs lots of luck. It sounds to me like he wants to dismantle any semblance of real journalism, integrity, and truth away from CNN. We have plenty of “news” that refuses to call Trump and his nefarious acts what they are or to call him a liar. I know my husband and are done with CNN.