Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

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CNN’s Scott Jennings on “Citizen McCain” Monday shot down speculation that he would leave his current network for CBS News under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.

Weiss reportedly sought to lure Jennings, according to multiple outlets in October, and reportedly invited him to CBS News’ headquarters in New York City, according to Semafor and The New York Post. However, Jennings said on the show that he had recently inked a long contract extension with CNN and was “happy” at the network.

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“I’m a huge fan of Bari, and I think she may save us all. I mean, her outlook on the way the newsrooms and journalism should be done. I think the success she’s had at The Free Press, we could all learn lessons from Bari,” Jennings said. “And so anytime she wants to have a chat, I’m always going to show up for it because I’m such a huge fan.”

“I don’t really have anything to say about it, other than to tell you [I’m] quite happy at CNN and quite interested in what she’s doing at CBS as well, and also quite interested in how the media landscape further develops over the next few months,” he added.

Jennings is a former George W. Bush administration official and former aide to Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. He has amassed popularity among conservatives for defending Trump on CNN.

Weiss took over as editor-in-chief after Skydance, Paramount’s new parent company, bought The Free Press for $150 million in October. He reportedly has a mandate from Skydance CEO David Ellison to restore balance to CBS News, according to NPR.

“We believe the majority of the country longs for news that is balanced and fact-based, and we want CBS to be their home,” Ellison asserted in an Oct. 6 statement announcing Weiss’ hiring and the acquisition of The Free Press.

Fox News host Bret Baier also revealed on “Citizen McCain” in October that he would not be exiting Fox News in the near future as reports circulated about Weiss wanting to hire him.

“I’m flattered by all the press and everything like that, but I’m in a multiyear contract with Fox so I don’t know where everything is going,” Baier said. “I’m signed on to Fox, very happy with Fox and we’ll see what happens at the end of that. But it’s interesting to see all the press.”