CNN reported that X has become more ideologically balanced since Elon Musk took over

When CNN contributor Scott Jennings called Elon Musk’s X “the most ideologically balanced user platform,” his colleague, Cari Champion, accused him of misinformation. What Champion didn’t realize was that Jennings was quoting a CNN segment from a few days earlier.

“I saw a survey this week. (X) is now the most ideologically balanced user platform of any platform,” Jennings said during a CNN panel on Monday night.

“Oh, come on. Scott, stop, stop. It’s too early. I just sat down,” Champion said, speaking over Jennings. ‘You can’t say that. Who is the source?’

“We reported it on this network,” Jennings responded.

“It’s not accurate, and you know it,” Champion said.

Less than a week earlier, on November 19, CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten pointed out that X had become more evenly split between Democrats and Republicans since Musk bought the platform. In 2022, 65 percent of users who regularly got news from X were Democrats, while 31 percent identified as Republicans, according to Enten. In 2024, that shifted to 48-47, with Democrats holding a slight lead.

CNN NewsNight host Audie Cornish had asked Champion to respond to Musk’s joke about buying MSNBC, noting the “power” he has wielded since purchasing X. Champion said she left the platform because she didn’t think it was a “peaceful place.” finds.

“I don’t think we have the luxury of dismissing it as someone being funny,” Champion said Monday.

“And I know if you don’t agree with this current administration, most people can say it’s not a peaceful place,” she added, prompting Jennings to point to CNN’s reporting.

Jennings often serves as CNN’s sole conservative contributor and often faces one-on-five debates against Democrats and journalists. He was more likely to express concern about President Biden’s mental acuity than his colleagues, who still insisted the CEO was fit to stay in office for another four years.

In his Kentucky accent, Jennings compared Biden to Colonel Sanders: “His face is on the bucket, he’s out of the chicken; in fact, he’s not even alive anymore.”