CNN Takes Heat For Grilling Ex-Trump Aide Sam Nunberg on Being Drunk: ‘Sh*tty and Heartless’
Ex-Trump aide Sam Nunberg was on a whirlwind media blitz Monday, which kicked off with a wild call-in interview on MSNBC and continued with a series of increasingly unhinged cable news hits.
The “Full Nunberg” started Monday afternoon, after it was reported that he was refusing to comply with a subpoena from special counsel Robert Mueller to appear before a grand jury with regards to the Russia investigation.
Nunberg called into Katy Tur’s MSNBC show shortly after, and then spoke with Gloria Borger on CNN, followed by Jake Tapper and even NY1 — all while dropping a series of absolutely stunning quotes about the Russia investigation, Trump campaign and his own legal predicament.
By time Nunberg appeared on Ari Melber’s show at 6p.m., the former Trump campaign adviser was inspiring pity from the MSNBC host — who even brought on a legal expert to offer advice to Nunberg (“I think your family wants you home for Thanksgiving,” she told him. “I hope you will testify.”)
But there was no time to waste, as Nunberg whizzed to the next cable news set, sitting down CNN’s Erin Burnett for nearly an hour on her 7 p.m. show. She opened by asking Nunberg for his response to White House sources who said he was “drunk or off [his] meds” — an allegation he denied.
Those claims were echoed by friends of Nunberg, who reportedly told the Daily Beast they feared he was drunk for his cable appearances.
Burnett wrapped up her interview by again asking Nunberg if he had been drinking, before directly confronting him: “Talking to you, I have smelled alcohol on your breath,” Burnett said.
Nunberg again denied that he had been drinking, noting that he had taken antidepressants earlier in the day.
That line of questioning from the CNN host struck some as too far, who took to social media to question whether the spectacle was exploitative, and why the network would choose to interview a possibly impaired guest who may have been unraveling before our eyes:
Saying “some say you’re drunk” to an interview subject on live TV is shitty, esp. if he has a problem & has fallen off the wagon. Following up with, “I can smell alcohol on you” is doubly shitty *and* heartless.
If it’s what it looks like, the man needs help. Not exploitation.
— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) March 6, 2018
This is extremely irresponsible from CNN and Burnett https://t.co/j0t2KV8LOz
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) March 6, 2018
It’s his third appearance on CNN today and something like his 5th overall. What news value is there now in having a drunk or drugged person on air on national TV like this? None. https://t.co/5rFr3QoQtm
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) March 6, 2018
If you think you’re interviewing someone under the influence, take a whiff during the break & end the interview.
Doing it live is dramatic, but now donald & GOP will throw @ErinBurnett’s words at @cnn: “They admit they put drunks on. Drunk News!”@cnn will regret the stunt. https://t.co/61efy1qSAQ
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) March 6, 2018
If you really thought he was impaired, would it be ethical to put him in front of a camera? https://t.co/WwCVvz9BmE
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) March 6, 2018
I’ve seen a couple of Nunberg interviews now and a few clips. I’m not a professional, but I’m not sure he’s alright. Not sure he should be interviewed.
— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) March 6, 2018
Ouch! Erin Burnett literally just jumped down Steve Cortes’ throat when he suggested Sam Nunberg maybe shouldn’t have been on TV if he was unwell.
— Rachel Joy Larris (@RachelLarris) March 6, 2018
