Latest news with #JimAcosta
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
CNN reject humiliated over 'lamest party ever' with z-tier celebrity guest list and half empty seats
Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta is being roasted by critics after his much-hyped 'Fire Within Tour' event reportedly fell flat, failing to fill even half the seats at a Washington DC theater. The event, which was the first stop of the 'Fire Within Tour,' featured a lineup of guests including comedian Rosie O'Donnell, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and included discussions about current political developments. Just hours before the event, Acosta was still promoting available seats to his Substack followers, telling them: 'There are some tickets left' for his Lincoln Theater show in Washington, D.C. Acosta was joined by co-hosts including former DC police officer Michael Fanone, who became a political figure following the January 6 Capitol event, and former Republican official Olivia Troye, who spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. The Free Beacon reported that the 1,200-seat venue appeared to struggle to reach its capacity - with hundreds of seats empty. The upper balcony section, which comprised of nearly half of the theater's seats, was reportedly closed to the public. The lower section was estimated to be about three-quarters full, with an audience of around 500 people. A majority of the guests were either members of a federal employee union invited to denounce Trump, or had personal or professional connections to one of the 'performers,' a source reportedly told the Free Beacon. But it was the cringeworthy finale that left many confused, as Acosta carried out what many social media users are calling a 'bizarre' closing ceremony. The former White House correspondent asked the remaining audience members to turn on their mobile phone flashlights. Video footage captured the moment glowing screens filling the half-empty theater in scenes that went viral on social media. 'This is not a country that is being plunged into darkness. This is a country that can find its way back to the light,' he told the crowd. 'Keep watching us, we're going to give you the truth.' The theatrical moment sparked a strong reaction, with some users mocking the performance and calling it embarrassing. 'We couldn't have created something anymore cringe than this with AI,' one wrote. 'This is the best comedy on the internet,' another chimed in. 'Jim you never ever gave us the truth. You are a propagandist nothing more. The truth always comes out. You have been proven a liar, time and time again,' one user accused. Journalist Megyn Kelly even slammed the event on her podcast calling it 'sad' and 'embarrassing.' Acosta, who left CNN in January after years as a White House correspondent, has transitioned to independent media through his Substack newsletter and podcast. The 'Fire Within Tour' was promoted with the tagline 'Fueling Courage. Defending Freedom. Igniting Truth.'
Fox News
03-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Jasmine Crockett agrees during town hall that 'Republicans want poor people to die'
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, agreed that "Republicans want poor people to die as quickly as humanly possible," during a town hall event on Monday. The live town hall, hosted by Jim Acosta of CNN, featured actress Rosie O'Donnell, CNN contributor and former Capitol police officer Michael Fanone and former Trump administration official Olivia Troye. Crockett, dubbed a rising Democratic Party star, was the headliner. Acosta told the panel he was "astounded" by Sen. Joni Ernst's town hall comment last week that, "We all are going to die," when discussing Medicaid reform. "I'm thinking to myself, isn't the point of healthcare to postpone that as long as possible, like, we don't want that to happen, isn't that the point?" Acosta asked. Fanone, who gained national attention for his role defending the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and is now an analyst for CNN, said, "Republicans want poor people to die as quickly as humanly possible." "I agree," Crockett responded. "I don't think that is a glitch, but that's actually part of the design." Ernst said, "We all are going to die," during a contentious moment at her town hall in Iowa. She was explaining that Medicaid reform will only remove people who do not qualify for benefits – illegal immigrants, able-bodied Americans who can work but choose not to, those ineligible to receive benefits who are currently receiving benefits, and duplicate enrollees in one or more states. But Ernst was interrupted by a rowdy crowd, including one attendee who shouted, "People will die!" prompting her comment that drove Acosta's town hall conversation on Monday. "The idea that you've got someone who has the audacity to say to people that sent her into D.C. to work on their behalf that you're going to die," Crockett said Monday as the crowd erupted in cheers. "I think we all know that, but the reality is that you've decided that you want to be a gravedigger, and I don't think that is who they elected you to be. They elected you to actually breathe life into it." Crockett did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment, but an Ernst spokesperson dismissed Crockett's criticism as "fearmongering." "While Democrats fearmonger against strengthening the integrity of Medicaid, Sen. Ernst is focused on improving the lives of all Iowans. There's only two certainties in life: death and taxes, and she's working to ease the burden of both by fighting to keep more of Iowans' hard-earned tax dollars in their own pockets and ensuring their benefits are protected from waste, fraud and abuse," an Ernst spokesperson said. Crockett is considering a run to lead the House Oversight Committee, which is responsible for holding President Donald Trump accountable as leader of the executive branch. Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Crockett of "threatening lives" and said she should apologize for her rhetoric against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for saying, "All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down." Crockett would clarify that her comments were intended as "nonviolent" resistance. Crockett was also criticized this year for calling Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, who is in a wheelchair, "Governor Hot Wheels." She walked back the comments after her remarks went viral, calling the outrage a "distraction." Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., challenged the Texas congresswoman to a fight in January after Crockett said, "child, listen" during a House Oversight Committee hearing. And Crockett dominated headlines last year when her campaign trademarked the phrase "bleach blonde, bad built, butch body," after a verbal dispute with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., during a chaotic House hearing.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jim Acosta Signs With WME (EXCLUSIVE)
Jim Acosta, a former chief White House correspondent and anchor for CNN, has signed with WME for representation. Acosta joined CNN in 2007 after beginning his career in local radio and television and with CBS News, where he covered issues including the 2004 presidential election, the Iraq Qar and Hurricane Katrina. He covered Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's campaigns for the 2008 presidential election at the beginning of his time at CNN before becoming a national political correspondent and covering Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. He was promoted to senior White House correspondent during Obama's second term as president, then became chief White House correspondent in 2018, during Donald Trump's first term as president. More from Variety Chris Rock Signs With WME Daniel Kaluuya Signs With WME (EXCLUSIVE) WME Revenue Spikes in Q4 as Endeavor Prepares to Go Private Again Acosta left CNN in January of this year, and has since pivoted to doing independent journalism on Substack, where he has more than 300,000 subscribers, more than 10,000 of which are paid. There, he does daily live broadcasts, having featured guests including Pete Buttigieg and Leader Hakeem Jeffries. On Tuesday, he hosted his first in-person event, a town hall featuring Don Lemon and Michael Cohen. WME will work with Acosta on building out his independent journalism business through additional partnerships, digital distribution and live events. In addition to Acosta, WME represents journalists including Robin Roberts, Kaitlan Collins, Joe Scarborough and Rachel Maddow. The agency has also supported Substack launches for Norm Eisen and Jennifer Rubin (The Contrarian) and Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman (The Capital Offense), as well as a newsletter platform for Oliver Darcy (Status). Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Hungry like the wolf for tariffs': Trump's trade policy unleashes chaos
What do Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs have in common with the recently 'de-extincted' dire wolves? What they're selling you is better than the real thing. Genetically-engineered gray wolves are not dire wolves, and Trump's tariffs are not 'the art of the deal' no matter how many times they try to tell you otherwise. 'Trump is hungry like the wolf, you might say, for tariffs – but he has not been able to make 'fetch' happen,' journalist Jim Acosta tells Ali Velshi.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ticker: Former Cable Anchors Embrace Substack for Their Next Act
Top of the Ticker: Where do former cable news anchors go when their network gigs are up? Substack! The New York Times recently covered how Jim Acosta, Joy Reid, Mehdi Hassan, Don Lemon, and many other former cable personalities have found a new home on the publishing platform. As the article outlines, Substack has recently made a push into video, which makes it an attractive option for former on-air personalities. Of course, that transition has not always been smooth as the anchors now have to adjust to creating their own subscription models plus work within bare-bones operations. However, they also appreciate the casualness that comes with being on the platform, which former CNN head Jeff Zucker said allows for a more personal connection with their audience. 'Viewers just want to hang out and hear from someone they like and trust,' Zucker observed. Partnership Extended: NewsNation and The Hill have extended their agreement with polling and election data provider Decision Desk HQ for the 2025 and 2026 election cycles. Under the terms of the agreement, Decision Desk HQ will provide exclusive election data, voter analysis, polling information, and other insight into various political races across the country. NewsNation's ongoing partnership with Decision Desk has paid off for the network as it was the first news network to call the 2024 presidential election for Donald Trump. Webby Wonders: CNN led all broadcast and cable news outlets at the 29th Annual Webby Awards, receiving 16 nominations, including Media Company of the Year. ABC News, MSNBC, Vice News, PBS News, and Al Jazeera also received nominations. The winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 22, and the ceremony will be held on May 12 in New York City hosted by Ilana Glazer. Celebrations Continue: Former and present anchors of ABC News' Nightline marked the newsmagazine's 45th anniversary with a featurette discussing the show's enduring legacy and memorable moments behind the anchor desk. Among those featured in the video are Ted Koppel, Juju Chang, Byron Pitts, Bill Weir, and many more. Quick Takes: MSNBC's Mike Brzezinski was featured in the latest issue of Northern Virginia magazine speaking about her parents' immigration experience from Poland, growing up in the region, and the road to her journalism career. Meanwhile, NewsNation's Leland Vittert will release his first book. Entitled Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism, the tome is scheduled to hit shelves on Sept. 30, 2025 and detail Vittert's personal experience with autism and how he made it into the anchor's chair.
