Twitter Flips Out Over Reports About DOJ Demanding CNN Sale: ‘WHHAAAT’
Media Twitter went into overdrive on Wednesday in response to the reports suggesting that the Trump Administration might be trying to meddle with the AT&T-Time Warner merger deal in order to punish CNN.
Multiple news sources indicate that the Department of Justice has told AT&T that they will not approve their deal until CNN is sold off. Donald Trump frequently rails against the network, and even though there isn’t any sign of his direct intervention in this matter, the DOJ’s statement raises questions about whether this has anything to do with how fiercely the president despises CNN’s coverage.
Of course, the news prompted the expected reactions of shock, jokes, and general outrage about the supposed abuse of power taking place.
"The only reason you would divest CNN would be to kowtow to the president because he doesn't like the coverage" https://t.co/hr9L3RjPw5
— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) November 8, 2017
Someone make the (apolitical) argument for why AT&T would need to divest CNN. Because I can't figure it out.
— Dan Primack (@danprimack) November 8, 2017
A Zucker punch to end all Zucker punches:
US regulators demand CNN sale to approve AT&T-Time Warner dealhttps://t.co/upvwhGtomP #fb— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) November 8, 2017
WOW….. https://t.co/ep503UTAeL
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) November 8, 2017
The well is so poisoned on this one it's basically impossible to assume this is happening on the merits of the deal itself. https://t.co/XGHAYPsJV7
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) November 8, 2017
"The only reason you would divest CNN would be to kowtow to the president because he doesn't like the coverage," one source said. "It would send a chilling message to every news organization in the country." https://t.co/0opq7OiEqu
— Steven Shepard (@POLITICO_Steve) November 8, 2017
People close to AT&T's negotiations with the DoJ on the Time Warner have been dumbstruck by the demands to sell CNN to ensure clearance.https://t.co/ZnC41qmob2 pic.twitter.com/SuyGuvIF4C
— Matthew Garrahan (@MattGarrahan) November 8, 2017
Breitbart should buy CNN
— Anthony De Rosa ? (@Anthony) November 8, 2017
Why is DOJ telling AT&T to sell CNN in Time Warner Bid? They don’t own a competing News network. This is @realDonaldTrump BS https://t.co/uWEh7WwEc6
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) November 8, 2017
Also, while we’re talking about AT&T, Trump’s political retaliation for CNN reporting is exacting costs >$1billion https://t.co/jmwKPgkSTd
— David Frum (@davidfrum) November 8, 2017
WHHAAAT!! DOJ has demanded sale of either Turner (which includes CNN) or DirecTV division for merger to be approved https://t.co/GB3u9O3WxQ
— Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) November 8, 2017
Can anyone explain a plausible reason besides politics that DOJ would force AT&T to offload CNN?
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) November 8, 2017
Given Trump's assaults on CNN and threats of retribution, it's hard to see this as disinterested application of justice (even if that's what it is). Trump is corroding faith in the rule of law. Me: https://t.co/t9QKhrCwzO https://t.co/CRnoRWGVhP
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) November 8, 2017
Not everyone on Twitter is freaking out, though:
The NY Times makes this sound waaaaay more mild (and plausible) than the Financial Times pic.twitter.com/AhktkoIsFU
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) November 8, 2017
If DOJ wants Time Warner to sell off CNN so it can be taken over by AT&T, how does that jeopardize CNN? It's just sold to someone else.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) November 8, 2017
[Image via screengrab]
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