Former CNN anchor Dave Briggs has attributed the network’s declining viewership to what he described as an obsessive focus on the Trump-Russia investigation during President Trump’s first term in office.
Briggs, who co-hosted “Early Start” from 2017 until 2019, made the comments during a Monday, June 23, appearance on the “Sanity with Alisyn & Dave” podcast.
Speaking with former CNN colleague Alisyn Camerota and guest Dylan Byers, Briggs indicated that the network alienated much of Middle America with its relentless coverage of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Russians helped Trump defeat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. He suggested this strategy cost CNN “30, 40% of the country” and that ratings data supported his assessment.
Briggs revealed he frequently clashed with network executives over the coverage strategy. He explained that daily arguments occurred with decision-makers about the network’s focus on the Russia investigation when people he knew outside the East Coast showed little interest in how the investigation concluded. According to Briggs, friends across the country consistently told him they wanted to know what else was happening in the world, which ultimately led them away from CNN.
The comments come as CNN faces unprecedented challenges, with the network experiencing historic ratings lows and significant structural changes. By late 2024, CNN’s primetime audience dropped to under 420,000 viewers, marking the lowest viewership in nearly 30 years. As of May 2025, the network averaged just 405,000 viewers in primetime, with only 74,000 in the key 25-54 demographic.
Mueller’s investigation, launched in 2017, examined Russian interference in the 2016 US election, potential links between the Trump campaign and Russia, and possible obstruction of justice by Trump. The probe concluded that Russia interfered in the election in a sweeping and systematic fashion to help Trump, but investigators found insufficient evidence to charge the campaign with criminal conspiracy.
During the period Briggs referenced, CNN was led by Jeff Zucker, who oversaw a dramatic ratings boom during Trump’s first term. The year 2017 marked CNN’s most-watched year ever, with viewership remaining strong through the 2020 election. However, ratings dropped sharply in early 2021 after Trump left office, with primetime viewership falling by 36% within weeks.
Zucker resigned as president of CNN in early 2022 after failing to disclose a romantic relationship with CNN executive Allison Gollust, violating company policy. The ratings decline accelerated following Trump’s 2024 re-election victory, contributing to the network’s current financial difficulties.
CNN is currently undergoing major restructuring as it confronts declining revenue and a looming ownership change. In early 2025, the network laid off six percent of its workforce and is preparing deeper cost-cutting measures, including salary reductions and tighter expense policies. CEO Mark Thompson is shifting focus toward a $70 million investment in digital platforms, aiming for $1 billion in revenue by 2030.
Staff anxiety has intensified ahead of CNN’s planned spinoff from Warner Bros. Discovery into a new unit called Global Networks, led by cost-cutter Gunnar Wiedenfels. With cable viewership shrinking industry-wide, CNN’s future remains uncertain as it attempts to reinvent itself for the streaming era.
A CNN source responded to Briggs’ comments, expressing disappointment about former employees speaking about their previous workplace and the media industry in what the source characterized as a naive manner for profit purposes. Representatives for Zucker declined to comment on the matter.
Briggs has since moved on to independent media ventures. He joined forces with Camerota for the “Sanity” podcast, which is backed by Mediaite as part of its creator-led YouTube network initiative. The partnership was announced in April 2025, with the show focusing on seeking answers to problems with curiosity, irreverence and an open mind.
Before joining CNN in 2017, Briggs had worked at Fox News as a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” and had experience in sports broadcasting with NBCSN. His departure from CNN in 2019 came as he pursued opportunities in sports podcasting, including a venture with the Radio.com Sports Digital Network.
Briggs’ criticism reflects broader discussions within the media industry about coverage strategies and audience retention during politically charged periods. His comments suggest internal tensions at CNN during a pivotal time in both the network’s history and American politics, when editorial decisions about story focus carried significant business implications.
The former anchor’s assessment comes amid a wider trend of traditional media personalities transitioning to independent platforms and podcast formats, seeking greater editorial control and direct audience engagement outside established network structures.