CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins asked Bill Maher, host of “Real Time,” on Friday for his take on CNN’s coverage of the Democratic National Convention.
Maher, which airs on HBO, got things started by playing footage of Collins’ appearance on “The Late Show,” where the crowd chuckled at the idea that CNN was an objective outlet.
“I’m a big rooter for CNN, but that tells you a lot, doesn’t it?” Maher asked.
“How do you guys think you’re doing in that arena of like ‘This is a terribly divided country. We’re not only politicized, a lot of people just hate the other side.’ And CNN, in my view, should be the place where both sides can watch. How do you think you’re doing with that?”
To which Collins shot back: “CNN is the place where both sides can watch. My show is evidence of that. We have lawmakers from both parties. We’ll have Elizabeth Warren on one night, we’ll have Ted Cruz on another night… I mean, look at what just happened in Chicago. WE had 300 people from CNN on the ground covering that convention. There were several reporters from just our team alone on the floor bringing it in real time to people. And I think CNN puts resources behind things, and just brings a level of news that you don’t get anywhere else.”
But Maher pushed on, making clear he meant the people at CNN and how conservatives see their network. He later moved on to CNN’s analysis of Vice President Kamala Harris’ convention speech, noting that CNN had talked for almost quarter of an hour about how much they liked the piece before giving any conservative commentary.
“It wasn’t until 11:23 til the one conservative guy. What’s his name?” Maher asked.
“Scott Jennings,” Collins answered.
“Lonely Scott I call him,” Maher quipped. “From 8:09 to 8:23 (PT), they were just gushing about how great a speech it was. And I think she did fine. I didn’t think it was as good as they were making it up to be. But if I’m a conservative in America and I’m watching CNN just for the straight middle of the road, that’s what I hear for 15 minutes. It’s great. And then Lonely Scott.”
Collins again defended CNN. By the end of the show, Maher still wasn’t totally convinced, by CNN host’s perspective and their coverage of the DNC.
