If you look at the ratings information for CNN from Nielsen…things are not good. Except for when Scott Jennings is on.
Jennings is a regular contributor to CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, the program that airs at 10 PM ET.
And routinely, his appearances create headlines and go viral. From both sides of the political aisle. While I would generally denounce such partisan hackery — by the way, any tweet that includes the phrase “Retweet if you agree!” is poppycock — being able to embolden one side to say that you have “owned” someone, while the other side says you got “torched” in the same clip is a skill.
Scott Jennings creates interesting and compelling television virtually every time I see him on the screen. Whether he’s serving as a token Republican voice in staunch support of his ideals or playing the comedic foil in a less-than-serious segment, I can’t help but wait with heated anticipation for what he’s going to say next.
I’m an on-the-record hater of the “everything in television now must include conflict” style that permeates both sports and news television. We have “embraced debate” long enough, dang it.
But it might be time that I change my tune. Because the conflict Scott Jennings brings to CNN is both refreshing and entertaining.
The network has to do something to spice things up. For the week of May 19th, CNN averaged 386,000 total viewers in primetime. That’s the lowest figure the network has seen all year, and if you’ll remember, it started 2025 with headlines about historic low viewership.
The lack of audience at the venerable network is a certified problem. I’ve seen the way out.
No, Scott Jennings doesn’t need his own show. That doesn’t suit his strengths. He’s a reactor. He needs a sparring partner. That is what CNN should lean into.
If the network has any hopes of returning to its news roots, it doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. The days of a show like Larry King Live — what we know today simply as “virtually every celebrity interview podcast ever — working are long gone.
CNN — in my very humble, obviously correct opinion — needs to resurrect the Crossfire format. Is there anything in the cable news sphere like that former show today? No, absolutely not.
Furthermore, in a left vs right, right vs left cable news landscape, where does CNN fit in? Fox News has a firm grasp on conservatives, while CNN is getting more than doubled by MSNBC, which caters to the left. Finding a lane is paramount. And that lane, could be — should be? — being the home of great debates, conversations, and knock-down-drag-out brawls between conservatives and liberals.
Put Scott Jennings (and truthfully, not always Scott Jennings, because it would get stale after a while) on a desk opposite someone like David Pakman, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Keith Olbermann, pick your favorite liberal pundit, or some former member of Congress who has some debate chops and can think on the fily, and you’d have immediate sparks.
Original content wins. Fox News has original content. MSNBC has original content. CNN has…who, as its major star? Anderson Cooper? Abby Phillip? Kaitlan Collins?
In today’s primetime cable news world, well-written monologues, sharp opinions, and high-profile interviews win the day. CNN doesn’t really have anyone who does any of those superbly. The network has — justifiably so — hung its hat on Big J journalists in primetime. And look where that has gotten it.
Leaning into provocative opinionists like Scott Jennings can be an avenue for the network to not only regain its foothold but to thrive.
But you know what else also wins? Debates. Now, obviously Donald Trump is a different animal when it comes to debates. But debates drive intrigue and tune-in. When Fox News featured a sit-down between Sean Hannity and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), people tuned in. When there were Republican Presidential Primary debates without Trump, people still tuned int.
If you can lean into it and leverage it on a somewhat regular basis, don’t you believe that an audience would be there?
When you look at the criticism of CNN, what are the key points people make? “It’s biased.” Yeah, well, it’s cable news. Find me a network that isn’t biased. “They don’t showcase any conservative viewpoints.” With someone like Scott Jennings featured more prominently, you won’t hear that pushback any longer. “The hosts are all liberal.” When your hosts are playing point guard and simply setting up the pundits and analysts to smash it out of the park, no one will care about the political leanings of your hosts.
Furthermore, what’s the largest criticism of political discourse today? “People don’t talk to one another. Everyone is in a silo.” Well break the silos down. Force Republicans and Democrats to come to the table with ideas and let viewers decide. As much as we like having our viewpoints reinforced, we like watching trainwreck drama even more. CNN can and should create that drama and conflict, because Jennings sure isn’t shy about generating it.
Is it counterintuitive to put your resources into high-profile contributors rather than hosts who are designed to be stars? Yeah, a little, truthfully. But CNN is in a situation where it has to do something different. It can’t simply sit back and find itself relegated to third place in the cable news sphere, slowly withering on the vine.
Scott Jennings — and others like him — can be what catapults CNN back in the conversation. I can’t even say back to the top of the cable news world because that would feel like attempting to eat an elephant. But how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. That first bite needs to include a shift in strategy. And that strategy should revolve around identifying talent like Scott Jennings to help reinvigorate the brand.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
