The third-ranked news network, CNN, has been facing challenges for some time, but March has proven to be exceptionally troubling. At the beginning of the month, news broke that its parent company would be acquired by Skydance Media. This news sparked a twofold panic within the network, as the new conglomerate intends to spin off its cable television networks. There are growing concerns that CNN may fall under the editorial control of Bari Weiss, the head of CBS News, and her right-of-center editorial slant.
As a result, the cable channel has been acting unhinged for the past couple of weeks. There was a misplaced sense of pride when it was announced that CNN would be the only news broadcaster permitted into Iran by the government, as many questioned why Iranians would trust this outlet (but we know why, dear reader, don’t we?). After the bombing attempt in New York City, CNN tried to frame things as an attack on Mayor Mamdani with misdirection reports. This was followed by numerous retractions and corrections throughout the week. Then we saw that not only were the dispatches from Iran trending towards propaganda, but the channel also devoted minutes of airtime to the state-run Iranian News broadcast.
This morning, various news outlets reported on the latest Pentagon briefing, during which Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directly criticized CNN for spreading “fake news.” He specifically addressed a recent report that claimed there were concerns in National Security Council (NSC) meetings about the military and the administration not anticipating Iran’s efforts to close off the Strait of Hormuz.
CNN is reportedly struggling to respond to this criticism.
Longtime CNN contributor Barbara Starr was upset when Hegseth criticized her network. As expected, her response lacked any self-reflection. Her reaction of “Well, how DARE you!” suggests that because CNN has reporters in the field, they somehow possess better intelligence than our own military. Additionally, she overlooks the fact that Hegseth was addressing an opinion being presented as fact, which further undermines the already dwindling credibility of CNN:
Listen up Mr. Defense Secretary. CNN has had personnel in combat zones for decades. CNN has had killed and wounded and all with lives changed forever. You have a legal and moral obligation to defend the free press, even the ones you don’t personally like.
— Barbara Starr (@bstarrreports) March 13, 2026
Network tater Brian Stelter was also upset about this morning’s press conference, where CNN spokespersons expressed support for their journalism and reaffirmed their report.
A CNN spokesperson says the network stands by its reporting about the Trump admin underestimating the Iran war's impact on the Strait of Hormuz. Here's the article: https://t.co/Dnw7lbAP7K https://t.co/JEp13lT2l5
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 13, 2026
Brian’s hope seems to rest on the idea that there will be a lack of historical context in the region, along with the belief that few people will actually read the contested article. This outlook appears somewhat naïve, grounded in questionable sources. Let’s start with the fact that the classified intelligence from the National Security Council meeting is credited to “multiple sources familiar with the matter.” In plain terms, this means it’s leaked intel coming from Democrats within the council.
To buy into this fakery, you must accept the idea that there was no military plan in place for the possibility of Iran trying to close off that crucial shipping route, despite the fact that the country has been threatening to do so for decades. Observers have consistently noted that whenever there is conflict in the region, Iran might take action to disrupt shipping through this passage. Yet, we are expected to believe that this situation came as a surprise today.
Despite Brian’s assertion that the issue was simply one of “underestimating,” the report claims there was no plan in place, and for reasons that seem absurd. The contents of the CNN report are perplexing because the explanation provided not only defies logic but is also inherently contradictory. Please read this passage and try to connect the various threads that lead in multiple directions:
CNN said more than "underestimating", it claimed they did not even plan for the common act of Iran in threatening Hormuz.
This explanation is inept, as the network says the US thought it would hurt Iran, AND that Iran made threats to close the Straight. https://t.co/LyUrC23vd9 pic.twitter.com/3372tBUNK3— Brad Slager: CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) March 13, 2026
According to four reporters from CNN, along with assistance from two additional contributors, our military chose not to address the situation in the Strait of Hormuz because it could have a negative impact on Iran, despite the fact that Iran threatened to close off this critical passageway last year. The premise that our generals and admirals didn’t think of this borders on clinical insanity.
It’s evident from the contentious reporting that CNN tends to align its narrative with its goal of opposing the Epic Fury initiatives, relying heavily on sympathetic Democratic sources to support its claims. This approach reflects a clear case of confirmation bias, requiring its audience to overlook Iran’s historical context in the region and to assume that our military strategists, along with those in Israel, were unprepared for the actions Iran has repeatedly vowed to take.
The reactions from CNN, which resemble a fainting-couch response to criticism of their emphasis on emotion in reporting, are both amusing and indicative of a troubling trend: the dwindling credibility of a news outlet that appears indifferent to this unfolding reality.
