Bill Maher offered a scathing critique of CNN, the network that airs his own show, during a recent episode of Real Time. During the 'Overtime' segment, Maher discussed the legacy of Ted Turner, who passed away on Wednesday, and agreed with Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman's characterization of modern cable news as 'slop.'
Maher and Fetterman's Criticism
Fetterman, a Democrat, stated that 'opinions are not news' and criticized the proliferation of commentary over factual reporting. 'There are so many s***ty takes out there in the world now,' Fetterman said, drawing applause from the audience. He questioned why networks still feature figures like Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones, suggesting that some outlets now platform former Trump supporters who criticize the president.
Maher, who considers himself 'a fan of CNN,' concurred with Fetterman's assessment. 'It's too much opinion,' Maher said. He recalled CNN's early days, when viewers could 'just turn it on and you would just get the story.' Maher urged the network to 'get the news,' emphasizing that factual reporting is what audiences truly need.
Republican Support
Republican Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw joined the conversation, agreeing with both Maher and Fetterman. 'The problem is, though, the American people need to learn to distinguish between opinion and fact,' Crenshaw said. He argued that networks like CNN prioritize opinions because they are profitable, but Maher countered that news organizations should not be driven by profit. 'News organizations shouldn't be making money to begin with,' Maher stated, noting that historically they did not rely on revenue from opinion segments.
Context and Ratings
CNN airs the latest episode of Real Time every Saturday night at 8 p.m., one day after its premiere on HBO. Both networks are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which is being sold to Paramount Skydance for approximately $111 billion. Maher, with a reported net worth of $140 million, previously noted that less than one percent of Americans watch CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC combined during prime time, drawing comparisons to a viral TikTok video of a man pressure washing his driveway.
The Daily Mail has contacted CNN and Maher for comment.
