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CNN’s Open Mic Night

The new set for Anderson Cooper’s AC360 has all the trappings of a 1950s radio show, with retro mics and paper maps. While C.E.O. Mark Thompson may be overseeing a makeover that skews creator-relatable, it undermines CNN’s news authority, especially during a war. At least Twitter enjoyed it.

Mark Thompson
On some level, Mark shouldn’t be faulted for testing new formats. CNN’s programming has grown listless, its ratings dismal. Why not shake it up? Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery
Dylan Byers
March 20, 2026

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This week, in the span of about 10 minutes, I received texts from three current or former CNN employees alerting me to an abnormal programming tweak. “Turn on CNN,” said one. “What the fuck is that set?”