CNN commentator Van Jones has acknowledged a stark reality about the diminishing influence of mainstream media in shaping public opinion and political outcomes.
Speaking during a New York Times roundtable discussion post-election, Jones reflected on how the media and political establishment underestimated the power of digital platforms, a misstep that contributed to Donald Trump’s resounding victory.
Jones candidly described how traditional campaign strategies, such as door-to-door canvassing, have been eclipsed by digital outreach. He recounted the media’s initial mockery of Trump’s reliance on online engagement, spearheaded by figures like Charlie Kirk and Elon Musk, only to see its undeniable impact:
“We were laughing our butts off at Donald Trump for suspending his door-knocking campaign and letting Charlie Kirk and Elon do a bunch of stuff online. We said, these guys are idiots. These guys are stupid.
Then you start knocking on these doors. You know who people come to the door with? Their phone, in their hand. They’re in a 24-hour digital surround sound that has nothing to do with CNN. It has nothing to do with any stuff that we do.”
Van Jones: “The mainstream has become fringe and the fringe has become mainstream. There are