Journalist Keith Olbermann on Thursday ridiculed CNN‘s decision to relaunch their morning show with Don Lemon, calling it a ‘sh**storm’ and accusing new CNN boss Chris Licht of being stupid.
Olbermann responded with deep cynicism to CNN’s announcement of the new show.
Lemon will move from his 10pm show to the new 6-9am slot, and will be accompanied by Poppy Harlow, current host of the midmorning show, and White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins.
Olbermann, a podcaster who from 2003-11 worked for MSNBC, said the new show was a silly idea from Licht – who was at MSNBC from 2005-11.
He described his former colleague as an idiot, saying he ‘used to eat paste’.
Keith Olbermann is pictured at MSNBC in 2010, the year before he left the network. He said on Thursday that he was unimpressed by the latest move from CNN’s new boss Chris Licht
Keith Olbermann is pictured at MSNBC in 2010, the year before he left the network. He said on Thursday that he was unimpressed by the latest move from CNN’s new boss Chris Licht
Don Lemon and Kaitlan Collins will co-host the new morning show, it was announced on Thursday
Don Lemon and Kaitlan Collins will co-host the new morning show, it was announced on Thursday
Poppy Harlow will be the third member of the team for the new morning show
Poppy Harlow will be the third member of the team for the new morning show
Olbermann tweeted: ‘Chris Licht (who, when we worked together at msnbc, I believed used to eat paste) has now surrounded Don Lemon with an ex-Daily Caller ‘journalist’ and somebody who last month demanded an apology from Biden to Republicans.’
Collins worked at the Daily Caller for three years on leaving college, and joined CNN in 2017.
Harlow asked the White House press secretary if Joe Biden would apologize for calling pro-Trump Republicans ‘semi-fascists’.
Olbermann said: ‘The @CNN s***storm is here.’
Olbermann, a noted left-leaning commentator, referenced reports that Licht was trying to move CNN away from its Trump-critical position, and make it more centrist.
Chris Licht, new CNN chief, worked with Olbermann at MSNBC until 2011
Chris Licht, new CNN chief, worked with Olbermann at MSNBC until 2011
He added that the current morning show host Brianna Keilar was unable to salvage her job by criticizing Biden for posing with Marines – a critique Olbermann said was a Republican talking point.
‘And @brikeilarcnn’s cut-and-pasted complaint about Biden’s marines, and doubling and tripling down on this pathetic and hypocritical conservative talking point, did not save her,’ Olbermann said.
‘You can never be sufficiently doctrinaire for TV Fascists like Licht and John Malone.’
Malone, a billionaire media mogul and influential Warner Bros. Discovery board member, is said to be the driving force behind CNN’s overhaul.
Keilar will be moved to another slot in CNN’s schedule, as will her co-host John Berman.
Lemon on Thursday night said he was asked to do the show and jumped at the chance, and denied that he had been pushed out after eight years helming his evening program.
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