From 'Crossfire' to 'CeaseFire': C-SPAN executive launches program that promotes common ground

San Francisco Chronicle​

3 days ago

For several years when he was at CNN, Sam Feist was in charge of 'Crossfire,' the show that set a template for televised political combat. Now that he runs C-SPAN, Feist is going in another direction.
The public affairs network debuts 'CeaseFire' this fall, described as an attempt to bring political opposites together to find common ground, and on Wednesday announced that Dasha Burns of Politico will be its host.
'At the end of the day, Americans and members of Congress agree more than they disagree,' said Feist, C-SPAN CEO. 'We just never see that on television, and you rarely see that on the floor of Congress. And I wanted to change that.'
'Crossfire' aired on CNN from 1982 until 2005. It featured a conservative and liberal host, with guests, debating a contentious issue. It often got loud — and sometimes personal. Conflict sells, and as cable television evolved into more often talking about the news than reporting it, the formula was widely imitated.
It arguably influenced politics as well. Being argumentative and taking no prisoners were more effective ways of getting attention than trying to find common ground and get things done.
That was the view of comic Jon Stewart, who effectively killed 'Crossfire' with a 2004 appearance where he told then-hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson that they were hurting America. Begala later called it a 'disemboweling.' Three months later, CNN canceled the show.
Losing the 'sugar high' of partisan conflict
From traveling the country reporting, Burns said she also feels there is a disconnect between how people think of politics and how it is portrayed on television — a dissonance, she suggests, that 'CeaseFire' can tap.
'I think there is a secret yearning for this among a lot of people,' said Burns, Politico Playbook author and chief White House correspondent, who will hold onto those roles. 'Obviously there is a reason why shows that have a lot of conflict get a lot of views, but I also think there is a part of the country that is really tired of the sugar high from conflict and polarization.'
Burns said she works hard to cultivate a nonpartisan approach in her job so she can report equally well on what is happening with Democrats and Republicans in Washington.
'My moderating style does tend to be very personal and conversational, and I want to bring some fun and charm and levity to the show,' she said, 'but also really push people and get people out of their comfort zones of partisan acrimony and into a zone that may be less comfortable for them in the public eye.'
Feist said Burns was chosen for the job because she's both a good interviewer and a good conversationalist, as well as being plugged into the Washington scene.
He said he got the idea for 'CeaseFire' years ago from Michael Kinsley, a former 'Crossfire' co-host, and is hoping it can become a signature show. A time slot, premiere date or early guests have not been announced yet.
Friends from across the aisle
Since getting the job at C-SPAN, Feist said he has talked to more than 100 members of Congress about whether they had friends across the aisle and, to a person, each one gave him a name of a political opposite they enjoyed spending time with.
If only half of those pairings agreed to come on 'CeaseFire,' he said, he'd have enough programming for a year.
C-SPAN takes pride in appealing in equal numbers to Democrats, Republicans and independents. They are people who want to watch politics and government in action, and not just people talking about it, he said. Still, there's a need to show something during the nights and weekend when Congress is not in session.
'When I got here we started talking about new programming and what we could do that was different, where there was a need in the television landscape,' Feist said. 'Over and over, I heard from people on the inside and the outside: 'Can't you even have a civil conversation in Washington?''
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