Claim: CNN is "a mainstream, nonpartisan media outlet."
Who said it: The authors of the Politico Playbook newsletter published Wednesday morning.
Context: The Politico journalists were discussing how Gov. Ron DeSantis (R., Fla.) had hoped to overcome "a deluge of negative headlines" and "hit the reset button" by taking part in "a rare sitdown interview with a mainstream, nonpartisan media outlet: CNN."
However, the journalists wrote, DeSantis's big plans were thwarted by former president Donald Trump, who "stole the headlines" on Tuesday by announcing that he may soon face charges in connection with the storming of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.
More context: The "deluge of negative headlines" about Ron DeSantis were published in so-called mainstream media outlets such as Politico and CNN that desperately want Trump to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024.
CNN, for example, enjoyed soaring ratings and record profits during Trump's presidency. Ratings and profits have plummeted since President Joe Biden took office in 2021. Accordingly, Trump does not have to work very hard to steal headlines in media outlets desperate to write about him.
Why it matters: Most "mainstream" journalists are Democratic activists who falsely present themselves as "nonpartisan" arbiters of truth. It is important to hold them accountable for their lies.
Analysis: The facts do not support the claim that CNN is a "nonpartisan media outlet." Such an outlet would not employ a professional fact-checker who spends all his time fact-checking Trump and various right-wing Facebook memes while ignoring the gibberish routinely spouted by President Biden, the most powerful politician in the world.
• Chris Licht, the network's former CEO, tried to make CNN less partisan. It cost him his job.
• Given CNN's precipitous ratings decline, it seems like a stretch even to describe the network as "mainstream."
Go deeper: CNN Is a Clown Network Run By Creeps.
Verdict: We rate this claim 4 Fiery But Mostly Peaceful Clintons.
