Timcast IRL · April 22, 2022 · 2h 0m

Timcast IRL #514 - Trump ROASTS CNN+ For FAILING, Network FAILS In Less Than A Month w/Lauren Southern

mainstream-mediamedianewspoliticsculture-war

Episode Recap

Timcast IRL episode #514 featured Tim Pool and his co-hosts discussing the spectacular failure of CNN+, which had launched and collapsed in less than a month. The conversation opened with a humorous segment about viewers leaving critical comments in Tim's superchat, which led into a broader discussion about CNN+ and its doomed streaming service. The hosts noted that while CNN+ was clearly failing to everyone, establishment journalists were still promoting it on Twitter, which the group found hypocritical and ridiculous. They discussed how Wesley Lowry, formerly of the Washington Post, had written a thread about CNN+ being the only news streaming service, arguing that regular people don't want to pay for good reporting. The co-hosts debated whether CNN could have succeeded with different approaches, such as paying users to watch or branching into non-political content like sports and food. The conversation also touched on Brian Stelter, with the hosts questioning why anyone would give him his own show and criticizing his delivery and reporting style. They argued that modern media networks value loyalty and willingness to read scripts over actual good reporting. The episode featured Tim Pool mocking CNN+ through satirical proposals, including imagining what would happen if Trump did a backflip on their network, complete with techno music. The discussion highlighted the broader collapse of credibility in mainstream media and why alternative platforms like Timcast are succeeding where traditional media is failing.

TL;DR

  • →CNN+ failure and collapse discussed - launched and shut down in less than a month
  • →Tim Pool and co-hosts mocked establishment journalists promoting CNN+ while it was clearly failing
  • →Brian Stelter and media credibility examined - hosts argued loyalty to lies is more valued than good reporting
  • →Wesley Lowry's Twitter thread about CNN+ being a huge bet that didn't pay off was referenced
  • →Satirical suggestions for CNN+ including Trump backflips and Brian Stelter arguing with a duck
  • →The broader collapse of mainstream media credibility and rise of alternative platforms like Timcast discussed

Key Moments

  • 0:00
    Opening and Superchat Feedback
    Tim reads critical superchat comments and addresses viewers
  • 11:59
    CNN+ Failure Discussion
    Main topic begins with discussion of CNN+ shutting down
  • 13:36
    Journalism and Credibility
    Co-hosts debate what makes reporters valuable to networks
  • 15:32
    Satirical Roasting of CNN+
    Tim proposes absurd ideas for CNN+ including Trump backflips and Brian Stelter vs duck
  • 17:33
    CNN's Credibility Destroyed
    Closing analysis on why traditional media can't recover
  • 19:00
    Final Thoughts
    Epilogue discussion about media and society

Notable Quotes

“The funniest thing about CNN Plus was that it was obviously failing to everybody with all the stories that were breaking. It was like a day after it launched, they announced that they were planning on shutting it down.”

— Tim Pool · opening discussion on CNN+ failure

“When you're on a show like that people who are willing to play the game and be loyal and not question things are almost more valuable than good reporters.”

— Ian Crossland · analysis of network priorities

“I think CNN Plus is actually failing because too many people are sharing passwords.”

— Tim Pool · humorous speculation on failure reasons

“Even if they do I think their credibility has just been so completely destroyed that that wouldn't even save them.”

— Ian Crossland · assessment of CNN's prospects

“Without CNN, what do we do? Where do we go? Make another one. I feel lost. Well, we're already doing it. That's the reason why CNN is failing is because of shows like this.”

— Tim Pool · closing commentary on media landscape

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