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The Elusive Truth: CNN Fails to Push Back on the Corporate Takeover

In a time when the truth is more elusive than ever, it is becoming increasingly clear that mainstream media, once seen as a bastion of reliable reporting, is failing in its duty. This is more apparent than at CNN, which has chosen to toe the line on the so-called "reform" efforts championed by figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

CNN has accepted, without critical examination, the premise that massive layoffs across government and private industry are justified by the existence of “fraud, waste, and abuse.” They argue only about the speed and precision of these cuts rather than challenging the foundational assumption behind them. But that assumption itself is a deception. The idea that fraud, waste, and abuse are so rampant that entire agencies need to be gutted is a narrative designed to consolidate power, cripple government oversight, and enrich the oligarchs who stand to benefit from a weaker regulatory state.

The Truth About Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

Let’s be clear: fraud, waste, and abuse do exist. But they are not the pervasive crises that demand a wholesale dismantling of institutions. That’s why we have systems, inspectors general, auditors, and whistleblower protections to uncover and address these issues. If those systems are insufficient, the answer is not to burn the house down but to strengthen our existing safeguards. More oversight, not less. More investigators, not mass firings.

Yet, CNN and other mainstream outlets do not start from this fundamental reality. Instead, they accept, without evidence, the notion that bureaucracies are inherently bloated and must be trimmed to the bone. They parrot the talking points of those who gain the most from gutting public institutions, presenting the conversation as one of efficiency rather than a systematic assault on democratic governance.

The Real Goal: Corporate Takeover and Wealth Extraction

This is not about eliminating inefficiency. It is about power and profit. The same billionaire class that decries "big government" has no problem demanding taxpayer bailouts when their own fortunes are at risk. They want deregulation not because it benefits society but because it enables them to operate unchecked. They want fewer civil servants because civil servants act as guardrails against corruption.

Trump and Musk are not interested in reforming systems for the public good; they are interested in removing obstacles to their own dominance. By failing to challenge this false premise, CNN becomes complicit in its agenda.

Where to Find the Truth

If CNN is not a reliable source for challenging these dangerous narratives, where can people turn? Journalists and independent publications, places like ProPublica, The Guardian, and The Atlantic, among others, are doing real investigative work. Some Substack writers and nonprofit investigative groups are doing better work than cable news networks.

The key is to seek sources that start with a commitment to facts, not with assumptions designed to justify corporate and authoritarian overreach. We cannot be manipulated into believing that mass layoffs and the destruction of public institutions are necessary evils. Instead, we must insist on real oversight, accountability, and commitment to the public good.

CNN has lost its way. The question is, will the American people wake up before it’s too late?

William James Spriggs