Frequent CNN guest Joe Walsh lambasted the network for its decision to lay off 200 employees and sideline Jim Acosta, who gained a reputation as a thorn in Donald Trump's side during his first term.
Walsh, a former Republican congressman from Illinois, took to social media Thursday evening to call what CNN did “cowardly bull****,” while also calling Acosta one of the network's “most independent, fearless hosts.”
“I appear on @CNN quite often. And if saying what I'm about to say means my days at CNN are over, then so be it,” he wrote on .'
“To demote him to appease the crybaby in the White House is pathetic. And an abdication of your duty to hold ALL public officials accountable. Shame on you CNN. Please correct this error now,” Walsh concluded.
Acosta has hosted CNN's 10 a.m. broadcast since January 2021 and was previously the bulldog chief White House correspondent who dragged Trump into repeated debates over whether or not there should be an “invasion” at the U.S. border. Mexico had taken place.
Executives gave Acosta the chance to host a two-hour show at midnight, an offer he reportedly turned down.
Before the firings were confirmed, The LA Times wrote a report indicating that Acosta could now “leave the network, according to people familiar with his thinking.”
Wolf Blitzer takes over the 10 a.m. slot from Acosta, an 18-year veteran of the network.
Frequent CNN guest and former Congressman Joe Walsh blasted the liberal network for laying off 200 employees and sidelining Jim Acosta when Donald Trump took office
Pictured: Walsh's post on X criticizing CNN, calling the network “cowardly” and accusing its executives of appeasing Trump
Acosta has worked at CNN for 18 years in various reporting roles. Most recently, he was the morning anchor at 10 a.m. and before that was the network's chief White House correspondent
An unnamed media executive told former CNN reporter Oliver Darcy that CNN “wants to get rid of Acosta to throw Trump a bone.”
“Midnight is not a serious offer if its ratings are among the best on the network,” the executive added.
One of the most famous interactions between Acosta and Trump took place on November 7, 2018, when he criticized the president for his characterization of the Central American migrant caravan traveling to the US southern border at the time.
'But they're hundreds of miles away. They are hundreds and hundreds of miles away. That is not an invasion,” Acosta said
'You know what? I think you should,” Trump began to say, pointing to Acosta. “Honestly, I think you should let me rule the country. You run CNN. And if you did it right, your ratings would be much better.”
As Acosta tried to ask another question, a White House intern rushed over and tried to grab the CNN reporter's microphone.
“Excuse me, ma'am,” Acosta began to say before Trump interrupted him again. The intern then awkwardly ducked under Acosta.
The incident sparked a heated debate online over whether Acosta's physical contact with the female intern was appropriate.
Because Acosta allegedly pushed her away when she reached for the microphone, his White House press badge was revoked, although it was reinstated about two weeks later.
Pictured: President Donald Trump points at Jim Acosta during a fiery debate the two had on November 7, 2018. The two argued over a migrant caravan heading to the US-Mexico border
The altercation in the White House East Room culminated when a White House intern grabbed Acosta's microphone after Trump repeatedly tried to shut him down
The layoffs that began this week were first reported in November and followed about 100 cuts the network made over the summer.
At least one major producer reportedly learned on Wednesday that they were out of a job, and many more will be told on Thursday, Status reported.
There are also rumors that many shows are moving from New York and Washington to Atlanta, where production costs are cheaper, according to CNBC.
In addition to Acosta's ouster from the airwaves, there have been other changes to the TV lineup.
Jake Tapper's two-hour show now starts at 5 p.m.; Audie Cornish will host “CNN This Morning” starting at 6 a.m.; Kasie Hunt will host a new show, “The Arena” at 4 p.m.; and Rahel Solomon will do a show, '5 Things' at 5
Unaffected by the downsizing were some of CNN's highest-paid stars, including Anderson Cooper — who brings in $20 million a year — Erin Burnett ($6 million) and Kaitlan Collins ($3 million).
An insider told DailyMail.com on Thursday that they have made massive cuts to their TV department because it has become so 'bloated' and overstaffed with people doing the bare minimum.
The layoffs are concentrated in CNN's TV operations, where ratings have fallen as consumers cut cable and sought other news sources.
Unaffected by the downsizing were some of CNN's highest-paid stars, including Anderson Cooper – who brings in $20 million a year – Erin Burnett ($6 million) and Kaitlan Collins ($3 million)
CNN CEO Mark Thompson defended his decision to lay off 200 employees, promising more investment but a change in strategy after Thursday's massacre
An insider told DailyMail.com on Thursday that they have made massive cuts to their TV division because it has become so 'bloated' and overstaffed with people doing the bare minimum
They will ultimately be compensated by new hires in the digital sector, in which Warner Bros. Discovery is making an investment of $70 million, according to CNN.
“This is not a cost-cutting exercise, we are actually increasing investments,” said CNN CEO Mark Thompson.
However, a source told DailyMail.com: 'Always fired – they had to cut the fat.'
CNN's transformation “is not and cannot be a single series of changes, but a process of investment, experimentation and adaptation that will take years,” Thompson said in a memo to CNN staff.
“Our goal is simple: shift the gravity from CNN to the platforms and products that audiences themselves are shifting to.”
However, there is a clear edict for journalists to be more professional and impartial in the second era of Donald Trump.
“I think we should continue our work as journalists calmly and patiently,” he said.
Thompson said he wanted CNN to differentiate itself with hard-hitting journalism and fact-checking so viewers could form their own opinions on issues.
CNN's ratings have taken a hit since the election of President Donald Trump, a longtime critic of the network.
The network averaged 1.7 million viewers for Trump's inauguration this week, compared to 8 million for Joe Biden's inauguration four years ago, though the audience can fluctuate based on the political stance of the person being inaugurated.
