Podcast host Joe Rogan says the audience's reaction to Colbert's comment is indicative of "how crazy the world has gotten."
"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert's comment about CNN being "objective" drew unexpected laughter from his liberal audience on Monday night.
During an interview with network anchor Kaitlan Collins, Colbert said, "I know you guys are objective over there, that you just report the news as it is…"
Stephen Colbert's Audience Laughs at His Comment About CNN's Objectivity
The audience erupted into laughter. "No, no no —" Colbert objected while waving his hand and grinning at the unexpected reaction. "CNN makes a…" he trailed off.
Rogan said the audience's reaction to the notion of CNN being "objective" is indicative of "how crazy the world has gotten."
Stephen Colbert's Audience Laughs at His Comment About CNN's Objectivity
"How crazy is that?" Rogan said on his podcast. "The audience is like shut the f--- up. That is hilarious. They thought he was being a joker. They thought that was a joke. That's how crazy this world has gotten, where fu--ing CNN being unbiased is a joke to people in the audience. That's so crazy."
Rogan said the news organization has strayed so far from "straightforward" journalism and chastised CNN leadership for putting money before journalistic principles.
Stephen Colbert's Audience Laughs at His Comment About CNN's Objectivity
"If you were running a business, what did you accomplish by doing things that way? You've ruined your business because now, people think you're full of sh-- and you could've just been actual, just straightforward journalists and been beyond reproach and probably gotten away with…" he trailed off.
"But you wouldn't have got as much money. You gotta get those ads in," he quipped.
Stephen Colbert's Audience Laughs at His Comment About CNN's Objectivity
CNN developed a reputation as a partisan news organization during the Trump presidency, in large part, due to the anti-Trump tone that dominated the network's primetime programming. Then-White House reporter Jim Acosta was regularly combative with members of the administration. As a result, Trump referred to CNN as "fake news" on a regular basis for years.
TV producer Chris Licht, formerly the executive producer of Colbert's show, took over the network in 2022 and made it clear he wanted to dial back the left-leaning opinion programming that engulfed the network under his predecessor, Jeff Zucker. He made overtures to Republicans who had been alienated by its past coverage and fired some of its well-known liberal anchors and reporters, but Zucker-era staffers remained throughout the company.
Licht was eventually fired in 2023 after reportedly losing the faith of the long-struggling network’s liberal employees.
Left-wing commentators Jeffrey Toobin, Don Lemon, and Brian Stelter have made appearances on the network in recent months after being pushed out under Licht's leadership.
Colbert's comment about CNN's objectivity has been widely shared on social media, with many people commenting on the irony of the situation.
"The fact that Colbert's audience laughed at his comment about CNN being objective says it all," one person tweeted. "CNN has lost all credibility."
"It's sad to see how far CNN has fallen," another person tweeted. "They used to be a respected news organization, but now they're just a joke."
Colbert's comment is just the latest example of the declining trust in the media. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 32% of Americans have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in newspapers, while only 18% have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in television news.
The decline in trust in the media is a serious problem, as it makes it difficult for people to get accurate information about important issues. Without accurate information, people can't make informed decisions about their lives or their government.
It is important to support independent journalism and ensure that everyone has access to accurate information. We need to hold the media accountable for their reporting and demand that they put the public interest ahead of their own profits.
