Podcast Summary: Bulwark Takes – "Why Are CNN Hosts Defending Trump Like This?"

Date: September 10, 2025
Hosts: JVL (Bulwark), Andrew Ager (Bulwark)
Theme: Examining why CNN anchors are repeatedly using similar language to distance Donald Trump from accusations of wrongdoing, specifically in the context of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

Overview

In this episode, JVL and Andrew Ager explore a pattern emerging on CNN, where hosts go out of their way to clarify that Donald Trump "has not been accused of any wrongdoing" regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case, even when their guests make more pointed statements. The Bulwark hosts dissect whether media outlets are self-censoring due to fear of legal action from the Trump camp and how corporate interests shape news coverage. The conversation ranges from media ethics and legal pressures to Trump’s controversial history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. CNN's On-Air Refrains and Legal Caution

• JVL introduces the topic by noting that multiple CNN anchors, including John Berman and Brianna Kyler, have made similar statements disassociating Trump from wrongdoing in the Epstein scandal, even as their guests connect Trump to suspicious behavior.
  • Quote:
    • "In the course of their conversation, Berman went out of his way to say that Donald Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing." – JVL [00:58]
• JVL and Andrew discuss the legal and reputational pressures that likely drive these editorial decisions.
  • Quote:
    • "It sure sounds to me like somebody at CNN gave on-air personalities a talking to about making sure that they say... that Donald Trump has not been connected to any wrongdoing. That's the word that they're all supposed to use." – JVL [04:52]

2. What Does "Wrongdoing" Mean?

• JVL highlights that "wrongdoing" isn’t a legal term, differentiating it from terms like "treason" or "assault," which have precise definitions.
  • Quote:
    • "Wrongdoing is a very interesting word to use because it is not a legal term... There's no prosecutor who has come and said, we've indicted you on wrongdoing... It's just the network going and running cover for Trump." – JVL [06:58]
• The hosts point out that CNN's deliberate vagueness—interrupting guests instead of clarifying the legal facts—serves as a shield rather than an attempt at precise journalism.
  • Quote:
    • "The fact that they are imprecise and like interrupting other people to run cover and say this, that's just... they're trying to do the work, the vibes on this to make sure that the administration doesn't target them." – JVL [11:27]

3. The Impact of Litigation Threats and Corporate Ownership

• Andrew outlines how aggressive litigation by Trump and fear of lawsuits affect news coverage, noting prior and ongoing lawsuits against outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
  • Quote:
    • "It's plainly like the higher the temperature gets here, the more they're pressing down the pedal of litigation... obviously there's something like that going on underneath the surface here." – Andrew Ager [05:29]
• The discussion extends to how conglomerate ownership of news organizations fosters a risk-averse culture—CNN, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, is just “a tiny little insignificant part of it,” so risk avoidance prevails.
  • Quote:
    • "We are not going to let things that CNN is doing... impact the rest of what we do. And that is a problem with corporate owned media and... not a problem with the Bulwark where this is all we do. So we'll just say the stuff that's obvious. He's connected to wrongdoing. He has done wrong things." – JVL [13:43]

4. Actual Claims vs. Media Hedging

• JVL and Andrew point out that while CNN refrains from stating legal conclusions, there are numerous public accusations and suspicious behavior associated with Trump, including accusations from Epstein accusers and Trump’s own admissions in interviews.
  • Quote:
    • "It is fact incorrect that Donald Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in about a thousand different ways, including in about six different ways related to this very story they're all reporting on right now." – Andrew Ager [09:02]
• The "where there's smoke, there's fire" refrain from Democrats is noted and critiqued as coordinated messaging, possibly intended to skirt direct legal claims but still imply wrongdoing.

5. Chilling Effect on Journalism

• The hosts reflect on the broader journalistic implications: when outlets police their language overly carefully, it encourages a form of self-censorship that ultimately serves the interests of powerful actors rather than the public.
  • Quote:
    • "The whole point here is to make journalists look over their shoulder and feel like, oh, are we going to get in trouble for doing totally fair by-the-numbers aggressive reporting about this administration? Like that's the, that's the recipe, right?" – Andrew Ager [12:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• JVL’s Satirical Wrap-Up:
  "Many, some would say too many, many. People are saying with tears in their eyes that Donald Trump is doing wrongdoing. Hit like, hit subscribe, follow the channel. We'll be back. Good luck, America." [14:23]
• On Media Censorship:
  "It's funny to imagine a counterfactual where they actually were very precise about this... you have to layer on so many qualifiers in order to make it not true. Because he has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior toward young women, including by certain of Epstein's own accusers." – Andrew Ager [10:34]
• On Corporate Media Priorities:
  "CNN is this tiny little insignificant part of it... we're not going to let that impact the rest of what we do. And that is a problem with corporate owned media." – JVL [13:43]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:00 – 02:18: CNN anchor John Berman clarifies Trump is not accused of wrongdoing; guest Dave Min pushes back on circumstantial evidence.
• 03:55 – 04:46: Brianna Kyler, another CNN anchor, uses similar language; discussion on guest talking points.
• 04:52 – 06:58: Hosts speculate about CNN's possible internal directive due to legal threats.
• 06:58 – 09:02: Deep dive into the vagueness of "wrongdoing" as a term and how networks use it.
• 09:02 – 12:07: Broader pattern of lawsuits, chilling effect on reporting, and media organizations’ motivations.
• 13:43 – 14:26: Critique of corporate-owned media’s influence on journalism; Bulwark's independent position.

Takeaway

JVL and Andrew Ager argue that CNN's repeated use of the phrase "not accused of wrongdoing" is a defensive maneuver driven by corporate and legal anxieties rather than journalistic rigor. This pattern of self-censorship, they warn, erodes meaningful public accountability and ultimately empowers those in power—precisely the scenario solid, independent journalism is meant to guard against.