What a gut punch.
CNN anchor Jim Acosta, once the face of the "resistance" during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term, is reportedly facing a dramatic demotion that could send him to the graveyard shift at the ratings-challenged network. According to Oliver Darcy’s Status newsletter, CNN’s new chief Mark Thompson is considering shuffling Acosta from his prominent morning slot to a midnight-to-2 a.m. show—a move that, in television terms, is akin to Siberian exile.
The idea, apparently floated during a phone call that left Acosta “shocked,” has sparked rumors of a larger agenda behind the scenes. While Thompson could justify such a decision as part of his ongoing efforts to revive the network’s dismal ratings, some insiders are speculating the shift could also be a nod to Trump. After all, Acosta was Trump’s media nemesis during the former president’s first term, famously clashing with him in the press briefing room and becoming a symbol of anti-Trump resistance. "They want to get rid of Acosta to throw a bone to Trump," one source reportedly told Darcy. "Midnight is not a serious offer when his ratings are among the best on the network."
Acosta’s potential move comes at a time when
CNN is in desperate need of reinvention. The network has seen its ratings crater—down a staggering 49% since the days leading up to Election Day. Thompson, who was brought in to clean up the mess left by previous leadership, is clearly not afraid to shake things up. But the decision to sideline Acosta, one of CNN’s most recognizable (if polarizing) figures, may be a signal that Thompson is willing to jettison old icons in favor of a fresh start.
Acosta’s reaction to the news, while not publicly confirmed, seems to align with his reputation for melodrama. Just this week, he delivered an impassioned monologue about the media’s role in “defending the people” as Trump’s second term approaches, even holding up a pink placard allegedly given to him by a fan that read, “I march for Jim Acosta and a free press.” The performative display—complete with echoes of the "resistance" aesthetic of Trump’s first term—was widely mocked online. Some, like RedState’s Bob Hoge, noted Acosta’s apparent desire to return to his glory days of sparring with Trump. Unfortunately for Acosta, it seems the network isn’t looking to rehash that era.
Critics have long accused Acosta of being more interested in grandstanding than journalism, a reputation that dates back to his clashes with Trump and former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Acosta’s habit of making himself the story led to memorable moments like refusing to relinquish a microphone during a press briefing or repeatedly shouting questions at Trump about his “enemy of the people” comments. Even former CNN staffers, like Steve Krakauer, have blasted Acosta for being “self-serving” and “an embarrassment,” arguing that his antics undermine serious journalism.
Acosta’s defenders might argue that his confrontational style made him a hero to Trump critics, but his polarizing presence has also become a liability for CNN, especially in the current media landscape. Thompson’s apparent willingness to sideline Acosta reflects a broader acknowledgment that the network’s old strategy of catering to anti-Trump resistance viewers is no longer enough to sustain its audience. With Trump’s return to power, the landscape is shifting, and CNN needs to evolve—or risk irrelevance.
Ironically, Acosta’s potential midnight move could be seen as poetic justice by Trump and his supporters. For years, Acosta positioned himself as the self-proclaimed defender of democracy, a crusader against Trump’s “war on truth.” Now, it seems his crusade may continue under the cover of literal darkness—far away from the prime-time spotlight he once commanded.
As for CNN, the network faces an uphill battle in rebuilding its audience. Deadline recently reported on the network’s post-election viewership collapse, noting that politics-weary audiences have tuned out following Trump’s victory and Kamala Harris’ loss. Whether Mark Thompson’s shakeups—including this potential demotion for Acosta—will be enough to revive the network remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Acosta’s era as CNN’s resistance warrior appears to be over. The man who once described his time covering Trump as worthy of “hazard pay” may now find himself covering the news when most of the country is fast asleep.
