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Bill Maher Criticizes CNN’s Shift Toward Opinion Over Straight News
On a recent episode of his show Real Time, Bill Maher delivered a blunt critique of CNN, the cable network that airs his program weekly. Speaking during the Overtime segment, the 70-year-old host reflected on the legacy of CNN founder Ted Turner, who passed away on May 6.
Maher echoed comments made by Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, who called out the modern state of cable news as overly opinionated and lacking in factual reporting. “Opinions are not news,” Fetterman said, describing much of today’s cable programming as “slop.” Maher agreed, admitting that while he remains a fan of CNN, “It’s too much opinion” these days.
“When CNN first launched, you could just turn it on and get the story,” Maher remarked. He emphasized his desire for CNN to return to straightforward journalism rather than focusing on commentary.
CNN airs new episodes of Real Time on Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., one day after the show’s debut on HBO Max. Both channels operate under Warner Bros.
Discovery, which is currently being acquired by Paramount Global and Skydance Media in a deal valued at about $111 billion.
During the same episode, Senator Fetterman urged CNN to prioritize “real news and the real dynamic” over “countless” opinions. The audience applauded as he criticized the continued prominence of controversial commentators like Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones. Fetterman also noted that some networks now feature guests they once avoided simply because those guests criticize former President Donald Trump, leading Democrats to reconsider certain viewpoints.
Fetterman cited Marjorie Taylor Greene-a former Trump supporter turned critic-as an example of this shift, calling her “crazy pants.” Maher used the opportunity to reinforce his call for journalism that focuses on delivering the news itself, without an overload of opinion. He avoided naming specific CNN hosts or shows in his critique.
Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw joined the conversation, agreeing with both Maher and Fetterman on the importance of distinguishing opinion from fact. Crenshaw pointed out that networks like CNN rely heavily on opinion content because it drives profits. Maher countered that news organizations shouldn’t be motivated by financial gain, noting that historically, news didn’t operate as a profit-driven industry.
In March, Maher highlighted a troubling statistic: fewer than one percent of Americans watch CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC combined during most primetime hours. “A guy on TikTok pressure washing his driveway gets bigger ratings,” he quipped, underscoring the challenges traditional news faces in capturing audiences today.