Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann led liberal outrage toward CNN after its moderators received praise for their forum between President Biden and former President Trump. Olbermann and other Biden loyalists criticized the network for not "fact-checking" Trump and for allegedly siding with him.
In the aftermath of the highly anticipated CNN Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, liberal voices have erupted in outrage, accusing the network of unfairness and bias toward Trump. Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann led the charge, calling for CNN to be "burned down" for its handling of the debate.
Olbermann, who now hosts a podcast on YouTube, blasted CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash for their moderation of the debate, claiming they refused to "fact-check" Trump's many false and misleading statements. He labeled it as one of the "most immoral decisions" in the history of American journalism.
CNN Presidential Debate Aftermath: Outrage and Accusations from Biden Loyalists
"Literally, I am suggesting that at some point tonight CNN should -- it will not -- go off the air in shame, fire everybody, seal off the buildings, make sure everybody's out, and burn the Goddamn place to the ground," Olbermann fumed.
Olbermann's outrage was echoed by other Biden loyalists, including Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, who criticized CNN directly to anchor John Berman's face. Shapiro admitted that Biden had a rough night but said the network could have done a better job calling out Trump's lies.
CNN Presidential Debate Aftermath: Outrage and Accusations from Biden Loyalists
"Frankly, I think CNN could have done a better job in calling [Trump's] lies out," Shapiro said.
Similarly, Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-N.Y., accused CNN of not pushing back hard enough when Trump "blatantly mischaracterized the disaster that was his presidency."
CNN Presidential Debate Aftermath: Outrage and Accusations from Biden Loyalists
Meanwhile, former Playboy White House correspondent Brian Karem criticized Bash and Tapper for failing to moderate the debate effectively, calling it an "abdication of journalistic responsibility."
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former adviser to former first lady Melania Trump, also took issue with CNN's production of the debate, claiming that the lighting design favored Trump over Biden.
CNN Presidential Debate Aftermath: Outrage and Accusations from Biden Loyalists
"Biden was filmed in profile, looking pale as a ghost. Trump was filmed straight on, not looking his usual shade of tangerine, but more like marmalade," she said.
Liberal actor John Cusack joined the chorus of criticism, accusing CNN of allowing "a deranged liar lie with no consequences," adding that "this is the end, my beautiful friends."
CNN has defended its handling of the debate, citing bipartisan praise from both Republicans and Democrats. The network stressed that its role was to present the candidates with questions and facilitate a debate, and that it provided robust fact-checking in post-debate analysis.
However, the outrage from Biden loyalists has cast a shadow over the debate, raising questions about the role of the media in moderating political discourse and the challenges of maintaining objectivity in an increasingly polarized political environment.
