Following the departure of CEO Chris Licht, CNN appears to be reverting to its previous era of overtly liberal programming, reminiscent of the Jeff Zucker years. Media observers have noted a shift in the network's tone and coverage, particularly surrounding the recent federal indictment of former President Trump.

Critics like Fox News contributor Joe Concha argue that CNN has embraced its role as an "anti-Trump resistance network," abandoning any pretense of impartiality. This shift is evident in the network's coverage of Trump's legal challenges, with some anchors, including Jake Tapper, expressing reluctance to air his speeches live, citing concerns about potential danger and the desire to avoid a "spectacle."

This stance contrasts sharply with Licht's approach, which included hosting a Trump town hall, a move that drew considerable internal criticism. NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck observes that CNN's coverage now reflects a sense of triumph over Licht, whom some staffers viewed as an outsider attempting to impose an unwelcome balance on the network's reporting.

The network's internal conflicts under Licht were well-documented, including clashes over the short-lived CNN+ streaming service and criticism of Licht's management style. Reporters like Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper publicly expressed their disapproval of the Trump town hall, while CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy consistently undermined Licht's leadership.

Media analysts like DePauw University professor Jeffrey McCall suggest that CNN's entrenched liberal voices successfully ousted Licht to prevent a return to more objective journalism. This has allowed them to resume their "Trump resistance" approach, particularly in light of his ongoing legal battles. Tapper's recent on-air reprimand of producers for showing footage of Trump with supporters further illustrates this shift.

Even some Democrats, like strategist Kevin Walling, have expressed reservations about CNN's approach. While advocating for the public's right to hear from presidential candidates, Walling acknowledges the prevalence of misinformation in Trump's rhetoric. However, he believes that airing his speeches ultimately reinforces public perception of Trump's untrustworthiness.

Observers like Grabien Media founder Tom Elliott point to the return of CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale, who recently made a claim about President Biden's lack of involvement in the Trump case that contradicted court filings, as emblematic of the network's backslide into partisan reporting. Houck concludes that CNN's attempt to regain viewers by returning to its previous style is likely to fail, as audiences are now more aware of the network's biases.