Donald Trump has received more coverage on CNN than any other presidential candidate


It's not your imagination: If you turn on CNN and feel like it's All Donald, All the Time, that's because it kind of is.
Although earlier this year CNN President Jeff Zucker told producers not to cover Donald Trump when he was hinting around at running for president, as soon as he made his announcement on June 16, the network went into overdrive. Using the Nexis database, Politico discovered that since then, Trump has been covered by CNN on television and online more than 400 times, giving him more press than major GOP candidates like Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, as well as Hillary Clinton.
There are two vocal contingents of journalists with strong feelings about how Trump should — and shouldn't — be covered by the media. Some believe he should receive minimal attention, arguing he's never going to be the nominee and is only in the race because he loves the spotlight. Others, like Steven Ginsberg of The Washington Post, say that as a candidate, he's part of the news and needs to be covered. "In my view, making decisions solely according to who may win the nomination is the worst way to cover a presidential election," he told Politico. "A whole lot happens on the way to the nomination and you can't explain what's happening with the candidates or the country without being on top of all of it."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There's also the matter of ratings — Politico says that stories about Trump bring in high numbers of viewers and tons of clicks. Some journalists believe that pieces about Trump are being assigned for the sole purpose of attracting lots of eyeballs, and others are afraid the media is legitimizing some of Trump's more wild claims by giving them top billing on programs and websites. Of course, it could also just be the easy way out, giving reporters a chance to enjoy Summer Fridays by slapping together some of The Donald's more outrageous quotes and calling it a day. "I get that it's easier than explaining the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership," an anonymous journalist told Politico, "but come on."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
May 30 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday's political cartoons include the Gipper's message to Russia, the U.S. Constitution, TACOS ruining Trump's parade, and grift at the White House.
-
'Wonder drug': the potential health benefits of creatine
The Explainer Popular fitness supplement shows promise in easing symptoms of everything from depression to menopause and could even help prevent Alzheimer's
-
What's next for Elon Musk?
Today's Big Question The world's richest man has become 'disillusioned' with politics – but returning to his tech empire presents its own challenges
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs
-
Trump pauses all new foreign student visas
speed read The State Department has stopped scheduling interviews with those seeking student visas in preparation for scrutiny of applicants' social media
-
Trump pardons Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery
speed read Former sheriff Scott Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison on federal bribery and fraud charges
-
Germany lifts Kyiv missile limits as Trump, Putin spar
speed read Russia's biggest drone and missile attacks of the war prompted Trump to post that Putin 'has gone absolutely CRAZY!'
-
Tied Supreme Court blocks church charter school
speed read The court upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court's decision to bar overtly religious public charter schools
-
GOP megabill would limit judicial oversight of Trump
speed read The domestic policy bill Republicans pushed through the House would protect the Trump administration from the consequences of violating court orders