CNN devoted multiple segments on Thursday to coverage of a Washington Post report about President-elect Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, criticizing him for drinking beer during a “Fox & Friends” segment about St. Patrick’s Day.
The story comes just as NBC News ran a hit piece — citing a number of anonymous sources, but apparently not bothering to speak to his former cohosts and colleagues at Fox News — accusing Hegseth of drinking to excess on a regular basis.
Newsbusters managing editor Curtis Houck shared some of the coverage via X:
The Washington Post story about Hegseth also came up on CNN in the 9am Eastern hour, touting the anonymous sources claiming to have worked at Fox News, but left out the fact that the incident in question in which they saw him drink beer….was on St. Patrick's Day pic.twitter.com/LOPkxEDCi0
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 5, 2024
And more:
And the 6am hour….
“Hegseth has denied all wrongdoing; yesterday mounted a public defense in an interview with fellow former Fox host Megyn Kelly…Last night, The Washington Post reporting this: ‘At FOX News, Hegseth had a reputation as a heavy drinker. According to six… pic.twitter.com/kXV8WmtfUV
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 5, 2024
But what critics quickly pointed out was that the St. Patrick’s Day segment was tame when compared to some of the CNN New Year’s Eve coverage featuring anchor Anderson Cooper, Bravo host Andy Cohen, and former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
“Has CNN watched CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage?” Stephen L. Miller asked.
Pete Hegseth had some beers on St. Patrick's Day. https://t.co/memDUtPmxd pic.twitter.com/GyctlovkRh
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 5, 2024
Abigail Jackson, communications director for Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) shared a screenshot of Cooper and Cohen doing shots.
Also CNN https://t.co/7wgb9ipylY pic.twitter.com/TGQxZFxVaJ
— Abigail Jackson 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) December 5, 2024
There was even an entire segment that ran during CNN’s 2017 New Year’s special in which an obviously intoxicated Don Lemon got a piercing.
WATCH The most Cringeworthy thing in 2017 so far: CNN's Don Lemon completely wasted, getting a piercing on live TV… #WTF #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/WtYVADndAo
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) January 1, 2017
In 2018, Cooper and Cohen did a lot of tequila shots.
The Anderson Cooper shot montage you didn't know you needed #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/QC2YBhUxd6
— Amber Duke (@ambermarieduke) January 1, 2019
A 2020 segment featured Cohen and Cooper, both inebriated, playing a game with Snoop Dogg.
What is going on at CNN, part 1….
An absolutely hammered Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper decides to to play "have you gotten high at" with Snoop Dogg #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/GRwp0kTm3U
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 1, 2021
Others noticed a parallel to the Democrats’ failed attempts to derail the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
“It’s literally the exact same playbook as Kavanaugh. When the sex allegations flame out because they are nonsense, switch to ‘He Likes Beer!!!'” David Marcus posted.
It’s literally the exact same playbook as Kavanaugh. When the sex allegations flame out because they are nonsense, switch to “He Likes Beer!!!” https://t.co/90hGHc55jC
— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) December 5, 2024
“They are trying to Kavanaugh Pete Hegseth. We are not letting this happen! Folks, this is the hill to die on. They Kavanaugh Pete Hegseth? And the swamp’s already won,” radio host and former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino said during his Wednesday show.
Per Dan: TREND THIS HASHTAG‼️#PushPeteThrough
Dan Bongino @dbongino:
“They are trying to Kavanaugh Pete Hegseth. We are not letting this happen! Folks, this is the hill to die on. They Kavanaugh Pete Hegseth? And the swamp’s already won.”@PeteHegseth pic.twitter.com/xTSNchMWNq— MAGA Kitty (@SaveUSAKitty) December 4, 2024
