Rep. Tim Burchett absolutely dismantled CNN’s Jim Acosta during an appearance on the show “CNN Newsroom with Jim Acosta” this past Wednesday. The heated exchange took place in the context of a discussion over the pardons issued by former President Donald Trump connected to the events of January 6th. As always, Acosta aimed to steer the narrative against Trump, demanding Rep. Burchett to condemn the former president for granting freedom to over 1,500 individuals perceived as political prisoners by conservatives.
Acosta launched his question with clear intentions: “I just want to ask you if any of these people who were released from prison, if any of them commit crimes in the future, should Donald Trump take personal responsibility for that?” Rep. Burchett, unwilling to engage in the predictable setup, retorted with a sharp comparison to the current administration. He pointed out the hypocrisy by stating, “No more than Joe Biden should take personal responsibility for the 14 million people, for Laken Riley losing her life because he didn’t have enough guts to enforce the law.” This powerful reply highlighted the selective accountability often pushed by liberal media.
OUCH. @TimBurchett absolutely bodies CNN's Jim Acosta as the network losing to Spongebob reruns….
Acosta: "This is this is not Fox, congressman. You can't just spin a tale and pull the wool over people's eyes. This is CNN. This is the news. We are asking you to come on and… pic.twitter.com/AUfWPwPH49
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 22, 2025
Frustrated by the deflection from his intended narrative, Acosta snapped back, “I’m not talking about Joe Biden!” despite his transparent agenda to link Trump directly to any potential future crimes by those pardoned.
The exchange took a further downturn for Acosta when he attempted to underscore CNN’s credibility. “This is not Fox, congressman,” Acosta said petulantly. “You can’t just spin a tale and pull the wool over people’s eyes. This is CNN.” This was a stunning assertion, especially considering CNN’s ongoing struggles with viewership and credibility.
CNN's Jim Acosta: "I just want to ask you if — if any of these people who were released from prison, if any of them commit crimes in the future, should Donald Trump take personal responsibility for that?"@TimBurchett: "No more than Joe Biden should take personal responsibility… pic.twitter.com/AniHmDbim4
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 22, 2025
Burchett seized the opportunity to deliver a brutal reality check regarding the network’s declining ratings. In a concise and impactful statement, he remarked, “And that’s why more people are watching the Cartoon Network, Spongebob reruns right now. Jim,” reminding viewers of CNN’s waning influence in the media landscape. Drawing from personal experience, he added, “Look, I left the White House during a riot. My life was threatened.” The congressman amplified the reality of threats against his life, an issue grossly overlooked by mainstream media more focused on vilifying Trump.
“My life has been threatened within the last few weeks, yet there’s no coverage of that,” Burchett continued with calm assertiveness. The focus of the media, he argued, remains unfairly skewed against Trump: “And you all continue this, this narrative of attacking Trump. You just can’t stand the fact that he won and that America spoke and that your view is very diminished.”
Acosta attempted a weak interruption, “Congressman, that’s not the case at all,” but the damage was done. Burchett’s parting shot was a potent reminder of the disconnect between CNN and the American public: “And your view is very diminished!”
Burchett’s handling of this hostile interview segment serves as a master class in confronting biased media narratives. For GOP politicians, apart from Trump himself, this instance showcases the power of direct, unrelenting responses to persistent media bias.
h/t: Steadfast and Loyal
