OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A former CNN anchor has decided to campaign for a spot in Congress to “save democracy.”
Former CNN Anchor John Avlon, who routinely used his “Reality Check” segment on the network to “fact check” former President Donald Trump, has announced that he will be campaigning in New York’s 1st Congressional District as a Democrat.
He will be one of several Democrats looking to defeat Republican Rep. Rep. Nick LaLota who took over for Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin.
“I believe the United States is the greatest democracy the world has ever known. But right now, our democracy is in danger,” he said in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter. “This election is not a drill. It’s up to all of us to step up and get off the sidelines. And that’s why I’m running for Congress, in New York’s 1st District. There’s just too much at stake for the country and the community that I love.”
“We need to build the broadest possible coalition to defeat Donald Trump, defend our democracy and win back the House from his MAGA minions who don’t even seem interested in solving problems anymore,” he said.
“Together, we can flip the seat, together, we can rebuild the middle class, invest in infrastructure, protect women’s reproductive freedoms and combat climate change. Democrats can’t afford to lose this fight,” he said.
The announcement came a mere two weeks after he departed CNN.
“I have to say something, John. I don’t know if this is the last time we’re together in this capacity, certainly not us, but, you know, there’s a big thing, you’re moving on to new adventures. I just want to say the very beginning of the show we were together on day one. That was almost 13 years in this case, becoming personal friends and professional — such admiration for you. Every step of the way, no matter what story happens. Something happening, you go, John! And there he was. In the meantime he’s written book after book after book, and we look better than ever. Anyway, I just want to say, I wish you the best. I know you just want to grow and fly,” CNN anchor Erin Burnett said during his last appearance on the network.
“Thank you. I love the whole team. Greatest respect and appreciation for CNN. Got to keep growing, and some great adventures ahead,” he said.
CNN had a tough year in 2023 as was reported in December.
“CNN once prided itself as the ‘most trusted name in news’ that was the go-to network for breaking news occurring around the world. But in 2023, it was best known for the utter chaos that unfolded both onscreen and behind the scenes,” Fox News, CNN’s chief rival and cable news leader, reported.
Dating back to 2021, CNN suffered through a number of embarrassing scandals followed by changes in ownership and management that left morale in the gutter the following year.
“And 2023 proved to be another disastrous year for CNN, as controversial comments made by one of its biggest stars, yet another regime change, and a ratings free fall have all made headlines,” Fox News pointed out.
For example, Don Lemon lost his long-time primetime evening gig and was reassigned to co-hosting duties on a revamped morning show, but that went nowhere. In fact, Lemon was eventually ousted altogether after making controversial remarks about GOP presidential candidate and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley’s age. He spent 17 years at the network and was one of its most left-wing voices.
“In 2022, David Zaslav, the chief of CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, tapped Chris Licht to lead the network following his anti-Trump predecessor Jeff Zucker, who was ousted amid scandal,” Fox News noted. “Zaslav saw potential in Licht who, despite having never run a news organization, was the executive producer who launched MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe,’ successfully revamped ‘CBS This Morning’ and helped champion ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ in the late-night ratings war.”
Zaslav’s task for Licht, beyond halting the decline in the network’s viewership, was to remove CNN of its perceived liberal bias inherited from Zucker, who had shaped the network into a left-leaning entity that frequently criticized former President Trump and other Republicans.
With this goal, Licht faced challenges in gaining the confidence of CNN’s staff, many of whom were skeptical about the notion of any political bias at their network, Fox News reported.
