Billiejeens
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- Jun 27, 2019
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Former CNN anchor Dave Briggs has attributed the network’s declining viewership to what he described as an obsessive focus on the Trump-Russia investigation during President Trump’s first term in office.
Briggs, who co-hosted “Early Start” from 2017 until 2019, made the comments during a Monday, June 23, appearance on the “Sanity with Alisyn & Dave” podcast.
Speaking with former CNN colleague Alisyn Camerota and guest Dylan Byers, Briggs indicated that the network alienated much of Middle America with its relentless coverage of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Russians helped Trump defeat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.
He suggested this strategy cost CNN “30, 40% of the country” and that ratings data supported his assessment.
Briggs revealed he frequently clashed with network executives over the coverage strategy.
He explained that daily arguments occurred with decision-makers about the network’s focus on the Russia investigation when people he knew outside the East Coast showed little interest in how the investigation concluded.
According to Briggs, friends across the country consistently told him they wanted to know what else was happening in the world, which ultimately led them away from CNN.
internewsgroup.com
Bj -
The Political Pullout of the story is that
The comments come as CNN faces unprecedented challenges, with the network experiencing historic ratings lows and significant structural changes.
By late 2024, CNN’s primetime audience dropped to under 420,000 viewers, marking the lowest viewership in nearly 30 years. As of May 2025, the network averaged just 405,000 viewers in primetime, with only 74,000 in the key 25-54 demographic.
The executives want to be Advocates for the Democrat Party
The employees still think that they are journalists (some)
Briggs, who co-hosted “Early Start” from 2017 until 2019, made the comments during a Monday, June 23, appearance on the “Sanity with Alisyn & Dave” podcast.
Speaking with former CNN colleague Alisyn Camerota and guest Dylan Byers, Briggs indicated that the network alienated much of Middle America with its relentless coverage of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Russians helped Trump defeat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.
He suggested this strategy cost CNN “30, 40% of the country” and that ratings data supported his assessment.
Briggs revealed he frequently clashed with network executives over the coverage strategy.
He explained that daily arguments occurred with decision-makers about the network’s focus on the Russia investigation when people he knew outside the East Coast showed little interest in how the investigation concluded.
According to Briggs, friends across the country consistently told him they wanted to know what else was happening in the world, which ultimately led them away from CNN.
CNN’s Collapse: CNN Anchor Speaks Out | internewsgroup
internewsgroup.com
Bj -
The Political Pullout of the story is that
The comments come as CNN faces unprecedented challenges, with the network experiencing historic ratings lows and significant structural changes.
By late 2024, CNN’s primetime audience dropped to under 420,000 viewers, marking the lowest viewership in nearly 30 years. As of May 2025, the network averaged just 405,000 viewers in primetime, with only 74,000 in the key 25-54 demographic.
The executives want to be Advocates for the Democrat Party
The employees still think that they are journalists (some)
