Someone in the media finally went too far even for his own colleagues. And that's saying something.
CNN is reportedly implementing strict new rules for the network's stories regarding Russia.
The new restrictions come after CNN on Friday retracted a story that connected Anthony Scaramucci, a prominent ally of President Trump, to a Russian investment fund managed by a Kremlin-controlled bank.
CNNMoney executive editor Rich Barbieri sent out an email Saturday regarding the network's new rules after the network a day earlier issued a retraction on one of its stories.
"No one should publish any content involving Russia without coming to me and Jason [Farkas]," said the email, obtained by BuzzFeed News.
"This applies to social, video, editorial, and MoneyStream. No exceptions," the email added. "I will lay out a workflow Monday."
Sadly, I doubt the Washington Post would have retracted, And we know the New York Times would not have. They proved that recently when they defended a discredited fake news story.
But this comes of turning conspiracy theories into news and then pretending that they're journalism.
The news is supposed to report on actual events. Conspiracy theories just link different elements that appear to have some kind of relationship and turn that it into a story. Pope Francis and the head of Deutsche Bank both wear New Balance shoes.
That proves the New Balance shoe company runs the world.
90% of the Trump-Russia stories either fall into this, Category A or Category B consisting of "An anonymous source close to the investigation told me they're investigating Y".
None of this garbage is journalism. It's conspiracy theories meant to establish the lefty conviction that President Trump can be brought down.
But CNN's retraction, the latest poll and the reaction to the special election setbacks suggest the fever may be breaking. The public isn't particularly interested. While the Washington Post and the New York Times cater to a fanatical left-wing demographic, CNN has to think about a larger audience.
And when you run conspiracy theories all the time, you lose credibility.