Adam Kinzinger Gets His Dream Job as A CNN Talking Head

Tristan JusticeJanuary 5, 2023

CNN is working so hard to pivot from being the Never Trump network that its new corporate bosses just hired one of the movement’s most prominent cheerleaders.

CNN announced Tuesday that ex-Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), was being hired by CNN. Kinzinger resigned from the lower chamber after declining to run for re-election in November.

“Happy to join team @CNN!” Kinzinger wrote on Twitter. His moniker now includes # “fella.”

Kinzinger, a six-term retired lawmaker who now joins the network as a senior political commentator, spent years auditioning for the new gig as one of former President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics in the House. When Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney launched a futile effort to coral Republican support for the Democrats’ snap impeachment of the outgoing president in January 2021, Kinzinger was quick to jump on the bandwagon. The Illinois lawmaker was among nine Republicans who voted with Cheney to impeach. She later became the second GOP representative to be hand-selected and appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the select committee that is supposed to investigate the Jan. 6 riot. First was Cheney, who led the Democrats’ panel as vice chair.

Kinzinger’s appointment led to more regular appearances on CNN, with the network obsessed with giving the committee round-the-clock coverage. His antics, complete with performative tears for the television during the panel’s first public hearing in the summer of 2021, now appears to have paid off. Kinzinger, who was hindered by redistricting despite his path being paved for a CNN contributorship, died in October that year. opted to forgo reelection completely. The ex-lawmaker has finally achieved his goal of paid TV appearances and, with it, his career at Capitol Hill.

CNN’s hire shows how a network that is still reeling from a post-Trump presidency identity crisis is being shown. New leadership began a campaign last year to make CNN a news outlet that is objective and not an anti-Trump operation. Many of CNN’s most prominent left-wing pundits masquerading as journalists have been either terminated or demoted. Brian Stelter was the host of Sunday’s program. “Reliable Sources,” Was fired August CNN White House Correspondent John Harwood abruptly departed The network in September. Don Lemon was demoted From prime-time programming to host morning shows.

Kinzinger joins CNN as an opinion contributor. But, if the network wanted to make a complete overhaul away from the never-ending Never Trump commentary on the news, executives might have given staff recruiting a second thought.

Tristan Justice, The Federalist’s western correspondent, is Tristan Justice. He has also contributed to The Washington Examiner, and The Daily Signal. His work was also featured in Real Clear Politics, Fox News and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University, where he studied journalism and political science. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected].