MSNBC Contributor Howard Fineman Dies (2024)

As the 2024 presidential election nears, words spoken by each side of the political aisle become hyper-scrutinized. Former CNN host Brian Stelter believes themes from the Trump campaign have leaders of news organizations concerned for the future.

While appearing with Abby Phillip on his former cable news home Tuesday, Stelter stated that he had spoken with news leaders and shared that some have privately expressed concern about what a second Trump term could mean for the business.

“I’ve talked to the heads of news organizations, CEOs, and media companies that are thinking this through, not in dramatic fashion, not because they’re afraid of going to jail, but because they want to know what could Trump do to use his power in the second term to punish the media,” Stelter said.

The comments from Brian Stelter come after MSNBC host Rachel Maddow shared that she was “worried” about not only her future but the future of the nation, should Trump be elected.

“I’m worried about the country broadly if we put someone in power who is openly avowing that he plans to build camps to hold millions of people, and to ‘root out’ what he’s described in subhuman terms as his ‘enemy from within.’ Again, history is helpful here,” the MSNBC host said. “He’s not joking when he says this stuff, and we’ve seen what happens when people take power proclaiming that kind of agenda.”

CNN and ABC News are the two homes for 2024 presidential debates, thus far. And while he won’t be moderating, George Stephanopoulos has shared the one question he’d ask the candidates, namely former President Donald Trump.

While discussing the debates on CNN with primetime host Abby Phillip, the ABC News anchor says the questions asked of Trump will be a litmus test for the state of American journalism.

“I’ve made it a point — if they will not accept those facts, I don’t go on to other issues. I’m not going to participate in some kind of a sham where you somehowequatethe legitimacy of an election or the peaceful transfer of power with a debate over tax cuts or environmental regulation,” said Stephanopoulos.

“If you can’t pass that fundamental threshold of saying, ‘Yes, the last election was not stolen. Two, I will abide by the results of the next election,’ then I think that’s all voters and viewers need to know. If you’re willing to lie about something as big as that, why should anything else they want to talk about be given any credence?”

Phillip then asked what Stephanopoulos thought the most important question to ask was.

“’Who won the last election?’ Very simple,” he replied. “‘Who won the last election?’ Let’s discuss and debate.”

Neither Abby Phillip nor George Stephanopoulos were tabbed by their respective outlets as debate moderators. Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate CNN’s debate. David Muir and Linsey Davis will present questions to President Biden and former President Trump in the September event for ABC News.

Newsmax has announced plans to take the company’s stock public. The company will look to complete the process and implement its initial public offering by the end of this year or in early 2025.

Before that potential IPO, however, Newsmax is offering a private investor offering for eligible investors in an effort to raise a maximum of $225 million before going public. Investors who meet the company’s qualifications can buy into the company for as low as $5,000, according to a statement from the conservative outlet.

“While achieving significant success, Newsmax has stayed true to our mission of providing Americans with honest and real news,” CEO Chris Ruddy said. “Now more than ever, especially in this election year of 2024, America needs Newsmax and you can join with us as an investor.”

The company will investigate its options with both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq before deciding on who to host its IPO with. It currently reaches more than 40 million Americans regularly between its bevy of media entities.