Mark Thompson, the chief of CNN, is reportedly considering a shift in the timeslot of Jim Acosta’s popular morning show, to the midnight slot. This news emerges as former President Donald Trump is set to return to office.
Thompson, CNN’s top executive, has held discussions with Acosta about moving his program, CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta, from its present 10 a.m. slot to a midnight through 2 a.m. ET slot. The rationale behind this move is to cater to prime-time viewers on the West Coast and attract international viewers via streaming, according to Thompson.
An anonymous source revealed to the Status newsletter, “They want to get rid of Acosta to throw a bone to Trump. Midnight is not a serious offer when his ratings are among the best on the network.”
The timing of this proposed shift has drawn attention, as it comes right before Trump’s re-entry into the White House. Acosta’s interaction with Trump has been notably strained, culminating in the revocation of his press pass in 2018 following a fiery exchange at a press conference.
In the significant 2018 encounter, when an aide tried to remove the microphone from Acosta’s grip, Trump stated: “CNN should be ashamed of itself having you work for them. You are a rude terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN.”
Throughout Trump’s presidency, the discord persisted. In a 2020 press conference, Acosta countered Trump by saying, “Mr. President, I think our record on delivering the truth is a lot better than yours sometimes.” Trump shot back, “Let me tell you about your record, your record is so bad you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You have the worst record in the history of broadcasting.”
Another memorable confrontation occurred over border policy when Acosta asked Trump, “What do you say to critics who say that you are creating a national emergency? That you’re concocting a national emergency here to get your wall.” Trump’s reply was swift, “Your question is a very political question because you have an agenda. You’re CNN. You’re fake news.”
The suggested reshuffling would also impact veteran anchor Wolf Blitzer, 76, who currently hosts The Situation Room weekdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET. If the changes are implemented, Blitzer would transition to a new morning slot alongside Pamela Brown, possibly gaining an extra hour of airtime. Some industry insiders view this as a potential transition strategy for the seasoned broadcaster.
This restructuring forms part of a broader strategy by parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, which plans to invest $70 million in expanding digital content and launching new ventures, particularly in the health and wellness sector. Part of the strategy could also involve moving more production staff to CNN’s Atlanta facilities to cut costs.
Acosta made headlines a few hours before the news of his potential schedule change, by displaying a bright pink sign during his broadcast that read, “I march for Jim Acosta and a free press,” contributed by a CNN fan.
In the same segment, Acosta stood up for the role of journalism, stating, “Journalists exist to seek the truth, to tell people stories, to lift up voices that may not be heard otherwise. To shine a light on injustice and hold the powerful accountable, we are not the enemy of the people we are the defender of the people.”
