It’s the end of an error at CNN, with Jim Acosta reportedly preparing to leave the cable news network after being demoted to the after-midnight block. The low-rated left-wing “journalist,” who previously anchored a mid-morning show, has long presented himself as a “resistance” figure, expressing some of the most blatant left-wing bias on television.
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Ever the self-absorbed flack, Acosta was apparently unwilling to suffer the humiliation of moving to one of the least-watched time slots.
The anchor, I’m told, signaled to associates in private conversations over the weekend that he intends to depart the network after its chief executive, Mark Thompson, booted him from the morning programming lineup — a move that conspicuously coincided with Donald Trump’s return to power.
CNN brass, as we first reported earlier this month, decided to strip Acosta of his 10am show, which he has anchored to great ratings success over the last 11 months, at times even seeing higher viewership than programs in the channel’s prime time bloc. Acosta was instead offered the less-than-desirable option of anchoring a show from midnight until 2am ET.
I’ve lost track of how many articles I’ve written about Acosta over the years, but suffice it to say, I’ve never been a fan. As CNN’s White House correspondent during the first Donald Trump administration, he was a grandstanding hack who went so far as to scuffle with a female staffer over a microphone. Acosta became the embodiment of everything wrong with the legacy media, and he continued that trend after moving into the studio full-time.
SEE: Rep. Tim Burchett Absolutely Bodies Jim Acosta Live On-Air, and Then Does It Again
So if this plays out as the reporting suggests, what’s next for Acosta? History would suggest not much. When John Harwood left CNN, he fell into relative obscurity, relegated to ratio bait for conservatives on social media. Oliver Darcy, who is behind this report about Acosta’s exit, now writes for some newsletter called “Status” that no one has ever heard of.
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In other words, many of these left-wing “journalists” have a much higher view of themselves than is supported by reality. Acosta’s arrogance in not accepting his demotion could very well end his career for all intents and purposes. No other major news outlet is going to be beating his door down to host a show or lead an editorial board. As television “talent” goes, Acosta is nothing special, and that’s putting it lightly.
As for what this means for CNN, I’m not sure it means much. Acosta is low-hanging fruit. Until the network is willing to rock the boat with its primetime anchors, the financial pain will continue, and given they rehired Brian Stelter last year, I’m not sure they have any desire to do so.
