CNN's Anderson Cooper Expresses Doubts About Michael Cohen's Testimony

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper admits he would "absolutely" doubt the credibility of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen's testimony if he were a juror in the Trump trial. Cooper's statement comes amid CNN's struggling primetime viewership, which hit a critical low despite the ongoing New York v. Trump trial.

CNN's primetime lineup has experienced a significant decline in viewership, hitting a critical low in the advertiser-coveted demographic of adults aged 25-54. Despite the ongoing landmark New York v. Trump trial dominating the news cycle, CNN's primetime shows managed to gather only 83,000 nightly viewers in that key demographic from May 13-19.

This dismal total ties the network's 2023 Thanksgiving week for its smallest audience in the critical category since 1991. In comparison, Fox News programs dominated in the same demographic, averaging 186,000 demo viewers and crushing CNN's audience by over 100,000 people between the ages 25-54.

The former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's highly publicized testimony in the New York v. Trump trial failed to provide a ratings boost for CNN's primetime lineup. Despite the widespread interest in the trial, CNN's lineup averaged only 484,000 total viewers compared to two million for Fox News.

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper candidly admitted that he would "absolutely" have doubts about Cohen's testimony if he were a member of the jury. Cooper's statement came after Trump's lawyer confronted Cohen with a lie during the trial.

CNN's primetime lineup has undergone significant changes in recent years, with Chris Cuomo's firing late in 2021 and Don Lemon's departure in 2023. The network has experimented with various lineups before settling on the current trio of low-rated programs.

The tiny audience witnessed Cooper's admission, raising questions about the credibility of Cohen's testimony and the effectiveness of CNN's primetime lineup. The landmark New York v. Trump trial failed to generate significant viewership for the network, underscoring the challenges it faces in capturing audiences.

Fox News Channel's "The Five" emerged as the most-watched show on cable news last week, averaging 3.1 million total viewers and 223,000 in the key demo. Despite airing at 5 p.m. ET, the show continues to thrive, demonstrating Fox News's dominance in cable news ratings.

Former President Trump has vehemently denied the alleged sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels and has characterized his prosecution as a politically motivated witch hunt. The trial's outcome remains uncertain, with the defense resting without calling Trump to testify and a motion to dismiss pending.

As the trial continues, CNN's primetime lineup faces an uphill battle in attracting viewers, particularly in the key demographic of adults aged 25-54. The network's low ratings highlight the challenges it faces in competing with Fox News and other cable news outlets.