Report: No CNN 'Revolt' Over Lewandowski Hiring

CNN's own senior media correspondent Brian Stelter found no evidence of insurrection over the network's controversial hiring of ousted Trump campaign manager and reporter-antagonist Corey Lewandowski, who is now a salaried CNN talking head.

On Friday, the NY Post reported "'CNN is facing a near internal revolt over the Corey hiring,' said a TV insider, who described many in the newsroom as 'livid.' 'Female reporters and producers especially . . . They are organizing and considering publicly demanding' that Lewandowski be let go."

"I approached this story the same way I would if I worked at my former employer The New York Times. I called and emailed more than a dozen sources all around CNN, and I found no signs of a revolt and no organized protest about Lewandowski's hiring,"

Stelter said on "Reliable Sources" Sunday. "But I did find some discomfort. There are some people that are uncomfortable with the hiring, and there might be some awkward moments in the makeup room. But everyone I asked also said they understand the hiring."






As soon as Stelter brought his panelists on, though, Baltimore Sun media critic David Zurawik let loose. Mediaite reports he made it clear he hates the idea of TV networks hiring political operatives in general, but Lewandowski’s on a whole different level. He said that Lewandowski embraced McCarthyite tactics with lies and a “snarly vicious tone on the campaign trail.” Zurawik praised CNN for doing great work this election season, but was just dismayed by them wanting “to bring this snake into it.”

Fox News’ Howard Kurtz took a few jabs at CNN on Sunday’s MediaBuzz over the network’s decision to hire Lewandowski. Kurtz called it a “sad move” by CNN because Lewandowski will not say anything negative at all about his ex-boss—partly because of loyalty, partly because of that NDA he signed. And as Kurtz pointed out, there was virtually no difference between Lewandowski’s CNN interviews before and after joining.