CNN host Brian Stelter was hit with a flurry of criticism relating to CNN’s bias against former President Donald Trump and conservatives when he took live callers during a segment on C-Span earlier this month.
Stelter, of course, maintained that his network is not liberal or biased at all, but rooted in “reality.”
Media Research Center TV (MRCTV) compiled clips of Americans criticizing Stelter and his network, which in total lasts more than six minutes (see below).
During the on-air roasting, one female caller told Stelter, “CNN is so liberal, and I think Fox (News) is great.”
“I think that it’s important that CNN cover all the news, not from a conservative point of view, or a liberal point of view, from a reality-based point of view,” the host contended. “That’s our job; if we fall down on the job, we want to know and we want the feedback.”
Stelter was also called out over CNN’s botched coverage of Trump visiting a burned church by left-wing rioters, last summer. Numerous left-wing sites falsely claimed Trump cleared out “peaceful protesters” from Lafayette Square for a “photo-op.” The Daily Wire reported:
CNN “fact-checker” Daniel Dale, also made claims about the events of that day.
“[Trump impeachment defense attorney Michael] Van der Veen falsely claims the clearing of Lafayette Square last June happened to ‘establish an appropriate security perimeter’ from a ‘riotous mob,’” Dale tweeted during Trump’s impeachment trial in February 2021. “No. They cleared peaceful protesters out of the way for a Trump photo-op. The ‘narrative’ van der Veen is mocking is correct.”
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Inspector General debunked such claims:
The evidence we reviewed showed that the USPP cleared the park to allow a contractor to safely install antiscale fencing in response to destruction of Federal property and injury to officers that occurred on May 30 and May 31. Moreover, the evidence established that relevant USPP officials had made those decisions and had begun implementing the operational plan several hours before they knew of a potential Presidential visit to the park, which occurred later that day. As such, we determined that the evidence did not support a finding that the USPP cleared the park on June 1, 2020, so that then President Trump could enter the park.
Stelter also suggested that CNN never shied away from the bombshell Hunter Biden laptop story. As highlighted by Stelter’s own network, here was some of the host’s take on the New York Post bombshell reporting concerning the laptop back in October:
“This is a classic example of the right-wing media machine,” Stelter said. “Fox and Trump have this in common: They want you to stay mad and stay tuned.”
The story is a “manufactured scandal,” Stelter said, meant to feed “whataboutism” — an opportunity for the right-wing media to shift the conversation from Trump’s record to Biden’s.
Stelter told C-Span viewers that CNN did not offer extensive coverage of the laptop because they were “stymied” by Trump allies.
“My suggestion is whatever CNN says, do the opposite and you’ll be fine,” another caller told Stelter.
One man likened CNN’s inauguration night coverage of President Joe Biden to eunuchs covering Persian kings. “Pretty shameless if you ask me,” the caller said.
“Mr. Stelter is the biggest minister of misinformation I have ever heard …,” said another American.
Stelter also notably accepted a challenge from a caller to go head-to-head with Fox News host Sean Hannity and take questions via C-Span airwaves. “If Hannity wants to do it, as well, I’m game,” he said.
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Related: Inspector General Debunks Claims Made By Biden, Harris, Left-Wing Media Against Trump