The Dworkin Report: Did CNN Really Think We'd Fall For This? [View all]

[Dennis Donovan]

The Dworkin Report - Did CNN Really Think We’d Fall For This?

Give me a break

Scott Dworkin
Dec 12, 2024

Yesterday, rightwing news outlets celebrated a new poll that was released with the headline: “Most Americans approve how Trump is handling his return to the White House.”

Wanna guess who ran this poll and ridiculous story? Nope, it wasn’t Fox.

It was CNN, who even went so far to say their numbers prove Trump has “earned a honeymoon period with the public.” As if we needed another reason not to watch their network anymore.

It took some digging, but I was able to get a copy of the 33-page polling memo, and the fine print is just ridiculous. Having worked with pollsters for decades—I can tell you this whole thing needs to be ripped to shreds.

Out of the mere 1,011 people polled, 72% said they were only somewhat, not too closely, or not at all following news about Trump’s transition. So if these folks aren’t paying attention, why is CNN pretending this represents all of America? It was the basis for their entire article, after all.

What they should have said is that only a slim majority of the small sample they polled—most of whom aren’t aren’t actively tuned in—“approve” of how Trump was “handling” his return to the White House.

/snip