A prominent social commentator is accusing CNN of sacrificing journalism for spectacle and using anchor Abby Phillip as the centerpiece of it.
In a blistering video posted to Instagram, media critic Nikki Free (@iamnikkifree) argued that CNN’s 10 p.m. hour has abandoned public service journalism in favor of outrage-driven programming. Phillip, she said, has not only been caught in the network’s pivot but is actively participating in it.
“I really hate to say this, but CNN is using Abby Phillip, and Abby Phillip is allowing herself to be used,” she said. “Her show isn’t journalism. It’s sensationalized content designed to stir division, amplify outrage, and keep the political circus spinning.”
Free, a former news reporter who identifies as a Black journalist, framed her criticism through the lived experience of Black women in American newsrooms — often elevated as symbols of progress, she said, but not always empowered to shape the journalism behind the scenes.
A spectacle, not journalism
Free’s critique is unsparing: the show, she argues, is not informing viewers, clarifying political complexity or protecting democratic norms. Instead, she says, it has slipped into the same high-conflict, personality-driven format that has reshaped cable news across the Trump era.
“CNN positioned Abby as a sign of progress… but positioning means nothing when the journalism underneath relies on sensationalism to survive,” she said.
According to Free, the show leans heavily on political provocateurs — including conservative commentator Scott Jennings — in ways that reward conflict over understanding. She accuses the network of shaping coverage around former President Donald Trump’s anger, normalizing extremism out of fear of backlash.
Holding Phillip accountable
Free did not place blame solely on CNN executives. She insisted Phillip shares responsibility for embracing the network’s primetime priorities.
“She knows what it looks like when the media chases drama instead of truth,” Free said. “She knows when interviews are designed to provoke, not illuminate.”
In her view, Phillip’s participation carries added weight because Black journalists face stricter scrutiny and higher stakes. When newsrooms pander to outrage or allow misinformation to spread, she said, the consequences fall heavily on communities already harmed by misrepresentation.
“Black journalists do not get to play with this kind of fire,” Free said. “Our communities suffer when misinformation thrives.”
A call to return to journalism as “justice work”
Free invoked the legacy of investigative pioneer Ida B. Wells, arguing that journalism, at its best, is a form of public accountability, not a nightly performance.
“This is not the journalism America needs. It’s not the journalism Black viewers deserve,” she said. “If journalism is going to survive this era, it cannot be scared of Trump, addicted to outrage, or invested in division.”
Her message is clear: Phillip “is capable of more,” CNN refuses to demand more, and the country is worse off for it.
CNN has not yet responded publicly to Free’s critique, and Phillip has continued hosting her nightly program without addressing the comments. But the video is resonating widely online, especially among viewers frustrated with the increasingly theatrical tone of U.S. political coverage.
Whether the network or the anchor will shift course remains to be seen.
