A report from The Washington Free Beacon details the lengths new CNN CEO Chris Licht has gone to make amends for what Republicans view as unfair attacks on the party.
Axios originally reported Licht met with leaders of both parties last week but put significantly more weight on his meetings with Republicans.
“We want to win back your trust,” Licht reportedly told Republican lawmakers. “I think he does genuinely want that to happen,” one Congressional Republican told The Washington Free Beacon. “Put aside ideology, I think he thinks CNN sucks.”
Licht joined CNN in May and has tried to put his stamp on the network. A reduction in the use of “Breaking News” graphics, as well as the abrupt cancellation of the CNN+ streaming service, are two of the major changes seen under his leadership.
“Sadly too many people have lost trust in the news media,” Licht told CNN employees on his first day on the job. I think we can be a beacon in regaining that trust by being an organization that exemplifies the best characteristics in journalism: fearlessly speaking truth to power, challenging the status quo, questioning ‘group-think’ and educating viewers and readers with straightforward facts and insightful commentary, while always being respectful of differing viewpoints. First and foremost, we should, and we will be advocates for truth.”
On his debut of The Countdown With Keith Olbermann podcast Monday, the former MSNBC host said “you don’t know how bad that is for the future of this country” in regards to Licht being CNN’s CEO.
