(BPR) Political plans for a fired CNN host set “Republican” ambitions at the local level toward “guiding and teaching the next generation.”
When CNN’s then-CEO Chris Licht had taken a hatchet to the ranks of the network struggling to find an upward trajectory for ratings, “Reliable Sources” host Brian Stelter’s ousting included his landing a gig as a Harvard fellow. Following that stint in academic circles, the former on-air personality reportedly set his sights on impacting classrooms in the Garden State on a local school board — as a Republican.
One-time freelance reporter Shlomo Schorr posted to X recently that, according to the editor of The New Jersey Globe, David Wildstein, Stelter was seeking an elected position in Hunterdon County.
“Former CNN reporter Brian Stelter is seeking a seat on the Readington Township, New Jersey school board, @wildstein is reporting. The former host of Reliable Sources is one of six candidates interviewing to fill a vacant seat caused by the resignation of Christina Napoli,” wrote Schorr.
Former CNN reporter Brian Stelter is seeking a seat on the Readington Township, New Jersey school board, @wildstein is reporting.
The former host of Reliable Sources is one of six candidates interviewing to fill a vacant seat caused by the resignation of Christina Napoli.— Shlomo Schorr (@OneJerseySchorr) February 20, 2024
Reports indicated that the former host had been registered as a Republican since 2022 prompting some to suspect the affiliation was either a ruse or a result of a crowded field of Democratic Party contenders looking to fill the same spot.
The reasoning behind the alleged run didn’t need to be known for social media users to find the premise hilarious.
IKR? Can’t make this stuff up!
— Gray Wolf (@graywolf442) February 24, 2024
This is hilarious! Probably too many Dems running.
— Gray Wolf (@graywolf442) February 24, 2024
IKR? Can’t make this stuff up!
— Gray Wolf (@graywolf442) February 24, 2024
They do know he’s Brian Stelter, right?
— Jack Daley (@jackDaleyDCLA) February 20, 2024
Mr Potato Head looking for another gig?
— Ken Harford (@harford_ken) February 20, 2024
Well at least it’s not Jeffrey Toobin. 🤡
— ShellyM (@ShellyMNO) February 20, 2024
Stelter had boasted ahead of his 2022 CNN departure that his program was used in lesson plans around the world. “It’s part of journalism school curriculum. Teachers across the country, and in other countries outside the U.S., teachers use segments from this show all the time in classrooms, lessons, guiding and teaching the next generation.”
Meanwhile, he wasn’t alone in being a former CNN personality supposedly seeking a new position in elected office as Axios had reported that departed anchor John Avlon had officially launched his bid for Congress in New York’s 1st Congressional District this week.
“Right now, our democracy’s in danger,” the Democratic primary contender said in a launch video that wasted no time picking up on the party narrative.
Avlon had only recently left the network and his announcement was met with a statement from National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Savannah Viar that read, “We look forward to litigating this smug, liberal hack’s past.”
