Maddow: CNN ‘Is Not What It Used to Be’

“I’m about to do something that’s a little bit controversial for cable news,” Rachel Maddow said at the top of her MSNBC show Tuesday night. “It shouldn’t be controversial, but because of this business it is.” After that warning, she continued, saying, “I’m about to praise a rival cable news network.”

But this “praise” was historical. “CNN today is not what it used to be,” Maddow said, before moving on to her “controversial” statements. “But once upon a time, CNN really was the only cable news network,” she added. “And they really did have a singular role in keeping people informed about what was going on, not only around the country but around the world.”

From there, Maddow flashed back to 1997 when former Democratic Rep. James Traficant boldly suggested on the floor of the House that America replace the CIA with CNN. With so many big international news stories breaking on that network, he argued that “Congress should fire the CIA and hire CNN. Maybe we’ll learn what’s happening in the world.”

I guess this would be like someone at CNN praising MSNBC for their early coverage before they became more politicized.

Watch video below, via MSNBC:

[h/t POLITICO]
[photo via screengrab]

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