The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court started on Monday morning and will surely have a spot in future history books but if you only rely on CNN for your news, you would never have known.
The ever liberal news outlet received some harsh criticism for cutting away from the hearing early and chose to instead have pundits bash Barrett then turning to some coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
The socially distanced hearing is unlike any Supreme Court hearing before it. The nominee wore a black face mask on a split screen television as senetors gave their opening statements. Many senators joined in virtually as a precaution.
The unprecedented news event was aired by MSNBC and Fox News but CNN thought it best to ignore the early session.
NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck said of the news outlet, “Aside from missing out on partisan commentaries from Senators that would just as easily be delivered by Brianna Keilar or Anderson Cooper, it’s sadly not surprising that CNN has shown little interest in the hearing.”
“It’s as if the hearing hasn’t been going on this morning,” Houck continued. “Just as soon as the statements from Chairman Graham and Ranking Member Feinstein concluded, CNN bailed,.”
“And then it was back to their predictable drivel, trying to strike fear into the hearts of viewers on coronavirus and offer newscasts that are in-kind donations to the Biden campaign,” he added.
“Presumably, their worried voters will be impressed by Judge Barrett,” Sen. Ted Cruz wrote in a tweet.
CNN did air remarks by Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris but then quickly cut away when Joe Biden’s running mate finished speaking until Barrett spoke herself.
Many took to Twitter with angry reactions to CNN’s decision to skip over of the proceedings:
Why is CNN the only network not carrying the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett? ???????????? pic.twitter.com/NdGKEl0zip
— Francis Brennan (@FrancisBrennan) October 12, 2020
First Supreme Court confirmation hearing I can remember that @CNN isn’t covering gavel to gavel (you wouldn’t even know it’s happening). @MSNBC and @FoxNews both have it on. Why? pic.twitter.com/RW7TBY2Jbh
— Chris DeRose (@chrisderose) October 12, 2020
this is stunning
CNN has literally aired every Trump sentence uttered live and in full for the last 4 yrs.
but CNN is not airing every word of the Supreme Court confirmation hearing
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) October 12, 2020
What are they purposefully hiding from the American people? ???? https://t.co/Raqpuj5YLo
— mbauza1116 (@mbauza1116) October 12, 2020
I think we can officially call "time of death" on CNN as a news network, with them not showing the Barrett hearings.
— Dr. J.J. by the Bay (@flagg_colonel) October 12, 2020
