John Malone, a billionaire media mogul and major shareholder in Warner Bros. Discovery (CNN’s parent company), has been vocal about his criticisms of CNN and the broader news media landscape. In a September 2025 interview with CNN’s Pamela Brown, Malone discussed the evolution of the news business and his concerns about its direction.
Malone has consistently criticized CNN for what he perceives as an embedded left-leaning bias, which he believes hampers its ability to compete with networks like Fox News and MSNBC. In a separate interview with CNN contributor Kara Swisher, he described CNN as “too political,” arguing that its focus on political coverage over hard journalism has contributed to declining ratings.
He contrasted CNN with Fox News, noting that Fox openly acknowledges its bias, with personalities like Sean Hannity and Greg Gutfeld blending entertainment with news, while CNN holds itself to a journalistic standard it struggles to meet.
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— Tom Benson (@Tombenson1) September 5, 2025
Malone’s critique dates back to at least 2021, during the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger, when he told The New York Times that CNN lacked focus on journalism and was a poor competitor to Fox News. He reiterated in 2025 that CNN’s staff, while well-intentioned, operate with an unconscious liberal bias, likening it to latent racism among some white people—a comparison that drew attention for its provocative framing.