Former CNN anchor and independent journalist Jim Acosta launched a scathing critique this week against CBS News, accusing the network of a significant rightward political shift and warning of a dangerous emergence of "state-compromised media" in the United States.
A "State-Compromised" Press System
During an appearance on Jennifer Welch's "I've Had It" podcast, Acosta argued that the American free press is under direct threat. "I think we have a system of state-compromised media in this country. We do not have a free press the way that we did a couple of years ago," he stated. Acosta linked this erosion to corporate media ownership, suggesting that when major outlets are under the influence of a political administration, genuine press freedom vanishes.
CBS News's Controversial Transformation
Acosta's comments target the ongoing transformation at CBS News under its parent company, Paramount. The network's new leadership includes Paramount CEO David Ellison, a known ally of former President Donald Trump. This era has seen major staffing changes, including the appointment of conservative journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief and the hiring of new anchor Tony Dokoupil.
The network has faced intense criticism for several recent actions. Weiss reportedly pulled a "60 Minutes" episode investigating the El Salvadoran prison where the Trump administration sent over 200 Venezuelan migrants last year. Furthermore, anchor Tony Dokoupil drew ire for what Acosta characterized as fawning admiration during an interview with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Acosta's reaction to Dokoupil's style was visceral: "I mean, not only was Walter Cronkite spinning in his grave, I was hoping he would come back from the great beyond to choke the living shit out of him, and say, 'What the fuck are you doing?'"
Condensing Principles and a Blunt Rebuttal
Adding to the controversy, CBS News recently condensed its guiding principles from a 38-page handbook down to five core values. One of these values explicitly states, "We love America. And we make no apologies for saying so."
Acosta offered a blunt and profanity-laced rebuttal to this simplification. "Get the fuck out of here! We all love America! That's why we're doing this," he told podcast host Welch. He argued that proclaiming love for the country is irrelevant to the core mission of journalism, which is to hold power accountable without fear of reprisal.
"What we should be having in this country is a free press that can hold the goddamn president of the United States accountable without everybody worried whether they're going to lose their fucking job," Acosta asserted.
Criticism of January 6th Coverage and the Path Forward
Acosta also took aim at what he perceived as false balance in CBS's reporting, specifically regarding the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He slammed Dokoupil for "both sides-ing" the insurrection, which resulted in five deaths.
"We saw it on goddamn television. It was a bunch of Trump thugs that he egged on and incited and sent to the goddamn capital. He's the one who did it," Acosta said. "There is no both sides of that fucking story. End of fucking story."
Despite his grim outlook on mainstream outlets, Acosta pointed to the rise of independent media as a sign of hope. He suggested that platforms like his own podcast thrive because the public can sense "the pandering and the nonsense" in compromised corporate news.
