Former CNN Anchor Soledad O’Brien Blasts Chris Cuomo For Kellyanne Interview: ‘Utter Waste Of Time’

On Thursday night, CNN’s Chris Cuomo welcomed on White House counselor Kellyanne Conway for yet another lengthy, off-the-rails, mind-numbing interview that featured the two sniping at each other for nearly 40 straight minutes. Following the interview, Cuomo’s colleague Don Lemon called him out for bringing on Conway, saying she and other Trump apologists “take up your time, our time, on national television, when we could be learning something that’s important to us.”

Lemon wasn’t alone in his criticism of Cuomo’s choice to give Conway over a half-hour of national airtime. Taking to Twitter Friday morning, former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien tore into her one-time colleague.

Responding to a tweet from journalism professor and critic Jay Rosen in which Rosen commented on Cuomo’s defense of his interview to Lemon, O’Brien called the whole thing an “[u]tter waste of time.”

Utter waste of time. “They sent her to come after me” is the telling quote. For CNN it’s not about educating the public, or making sure facts and truth are elevated. It’s about wrestling in the mud, to give a sense of urgency and drama. It’s really, really sad. https://t.co/D2GTmuN5VX

— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) December 14, 2018

“‘They sent her to come after me’ is the telling quote,” she added. “For CNN it’s not about educating the public, or making sure facts and truth are elevated. It’s about wrestling in the mud, to give a sense of urgency and drama. It’s really, really sad.”

Another former CNN employee, Reza Aslan, retweeted O’Brien’s observation.

This is far from the first time that O’Brien has blasted CNN over its editorial practices or coverage. Last month, she accused the network of giving racists and white supremacists airtime in an effort to boost ratings, all in the name of “hearing them out.” Back in August, she called out the network for its lack of diversity in response to a CNN story on the White House having no senior black staff members. She also shredded CNN political reporter Chris Cillizza for his tepid analysis of the Trump White House.

O’Brien worked for CNN for a decade before leaving the network in early 2013 after her morning show Starting Point was canceled. Starting Point was replaced by New Day, which was originally co-anchored by Kate Bolduan and Cuomo.