In his newsletter, CNN media critic Brian Stelter was continuing to whine that his dear leader was fired from CNN.

But, Stelter then turned to CNN and about how successful the network is and how viewers flock to CNN when the news breaks.

He writes:

Maybe CNN needs to do a better job telling its own story. That's not my job. But here's what I know to be true: When news breaks, CNN knows what to do. When something horrible or something wonderful happens in the world, the CNN machine clicks into high gear. And, because I study the ratings spreadsheets every day, I know this too: The audience rushes in. "The world turns to CNN," as one exec remarked to me. That can sound hyperbolic or braggadocious, except that it's true.

Okay, first, I thought your job was to tell CNN’s story, prop the network up, while dumping on Fox News. It sure seems that way on the outside looking in.

But, let’s forget that and move to this claim, “When news breaks, CNN knows what to do. When something horrible or something wonderful happens in the world, the CNN machine clicks into high gear. And, because I study the ratings spreadsheets every day, I know this too: The audience rushes in.”

Well, let’s look at those “spreadsheets” I.e. the ratings.

It appears that what Stelter calls rushing in, might be a bit overzealous.

Yes, when news breaks, the ratings do move up, just like they do for all the cable networks, along with broadcast networks and even local news channels.

But let’s look at a few big breaking news events to see if Stelter’s words hold water.

When Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement, Fox News beat both CNN and MSNBC combined.

Not exactly “rushing in” I would say.

The same thing happened with the hostage situation at Texas Synagogue. CNN saw a bump in the ratings, but Fox News beat CNN and MSNBC combined.

No rush.

The January 6th one-year anniversary showed CNN almost 120,000 fewer viewers than Fox News in total day.

When the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict came in, CNN pulled in 335,000 viewers which was an increase, but far behind the 733,000 viewers that Fox News got.

During the Afghanistan attack coverage, Fox News more than doubled the ratings of CNN. CNN did see the ratings increase 175% from their normal numbers, but, MSNBC saw their ratings go up by more than 200%. It seems the viewers “rushing” to CNN, stopped by MSNBC on their way.

Yes, CNN’s ratings go up when news breaks, just like every other news outlet in the country.

But, Stelter has you believe that that as the viewers “rush in” CNN is the highest-rated cable news outlet and that is clearly not the case.