Former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett accused CNN of booking “stupid” Trump surrogates to defend the president on air.
CNN’s Brian Stelter asked the “Pod Save America” co-host what he would change about the cable news format.
“You turn it on and there’s a big, giant panel,” Lovett said.
“You mean Jeffrey Lord and Kayleigh McEnany and other Trump supporters?” Stelter responded.
This was glorious. @jonlovett @brianstelter #lovettorleaveit #SundayMorning pic.twitter.com/nmcgw3AP2H— Matt Wilstein (@TheMattWilstein) March 26, 2017
“Absolutely, and you look at that giant panel, and it’s smart person, smart person, smart person, stupid person, smart person, smart person, smart person, bullshit factory,” Lovett said.
“Why does it help you to insult Trump supports like that?” Stelter asked.
Lovett responded that his criticism wasn’t directed at Trump supporters, but Trump’s defenders on cable news.
“I’m calling the people that CNN puts on television terrible representatives of the views of conservatives, they’re terrible representatives of the kind of politics we should have. I mean these are not intellectually honest people. These are people building a brand. These are people willing to say anything,” he said.
“So often on these giant CNN panels, it’s checking a box. Here’s the liberal. Here’s a conservative. Here’s the Trump conservative. I just don’t know what the value is of that conversation.”
