A recent appearance by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on the “Absolutely Not” podcast sparked disbelief, as she asserted that neither she nor her network harbor bias against Donald Trump, claiming their coverage is consistently fair.
The statement feels almost satirical, a disconnect from the widely perceived reality. CNN has, for many, become synonymous with a relentless anti-Trump narrative, a bias visible throughout their programming, day after day.
This perceived slant hasn’t gone unnoticed by viewers. Over the past decade, CNN has experienced a dramatic decline in viewership, losing nearly two-thirds of its audience – a stark indicator of eroding trust.
Collins, in the podcast clip, stated, “They always argue the media is biased against them, it doesn’t cover them fairly — even though we cover them I think fairly and accurately.” This reveals a remarkable self-perception within the network, a belief in their own objectivity despite widespread criticism.
Compounding this situation is a growing national trend: declining public trust in the media as a whole. Recent polling data paints a concerning picture for news organizations.
A Pew Research Center analysis reveals that a majority of Americans – 57% – express low confidence in journalists’ ability to act in the public’s best interest. This includes a significant 40% with “not too much” confidence and a further 17% with “none at all.”
The divide is sharply political. Democrats demonstrate more than twice the level of confidence in journalists compared to Republicans, a gap that has persisted, though slightly narrowed, since 2020. Democrats consistently show greater trust in news sources overall.
The struggles of other news organizations, like the Washington Post, should serve as a critical warning. The current trajectory suggests a simple choice for the media: address the pervasive perception of bias, or risk further decline and potential obsolescence.
