Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta on a recent addition of his podcast bemoaned President Trump’s intimidation of news organizations he feels are not covering him fairly.
“It seems to me Trump has figured out how– he’s figured out how to crack the code of, of how to hurt the press, how to hit the media where it hurts,” Acosta said on his Substack podcast with fellow former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
“And in part, because these companies should never have been allowed to take over these news organizations to begin with and have the kind of sway and influence over these new organizations that they’ve had over the last, what, 20 or 30 years that, Don, you and I have been in this business.”
Acosta was referencing widespread speculation that CBS News will soon settle a lawsuit with Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that ran last fall.
CBS’ parent company, Paramount global, is currently trying to push through a mega merger with entertainment giant Skydance that will need approval from federal regulators to clear.
Trump has ridiculed CBS, ABC and NBC over the networks’ coverage of him and threatened to have his FCC investigate them and pull their broadcast licenses .
At the White House, Trump’s press team has taken control of the White House press pool and sought to replace mainstream news outlets with more conservative or “new media” members.
Acosta left CNN earlier this year after being offered a less desirable time slot on its air. He was known during Trump’s first term for his clashes with Trump administration officials and the president himself.
