Following recent news that veteran CNN host Chris Wallace will be leaving the left-leaning news network, conservatives have weighed in. Conservative commentator Rob Smith recently shared a video on X, providing his opinion that Wallace’s venture into the world of podcasting might not play out as expected. Smith suggested that things may play out better for Wallace if he were to stay on CNN.
Smith pointed out that Wallace attempting to break into the world of podcasting might not be a good move for the long-time journalist, suggesting it could be a career-ending move. “Chris Wallace is like 77 years old, and he once again in the podcasting because it seems like that’s where all the action is. I had to tell you, this is literally the worst idea ever. Okay, this is how a career will end,” he said.
Building on his point, Smith maintained that the podcasting format will not work well for all. “And I will tell you something, podcasting, and new media, and all this stuff is not for everybody. Somebody like Chris Wallace should have just taken that CNN set, he done made all this money. They’re probably gonna cut his contract as they should. But, you know, take the money, stay on the CNN set. You know, do your thing.”
Citing Don Lemon’s failed attempt to kickstart a successful venture into “new media,” Smith noted that in order to be successful, one must have the proper personality and provide interesting commentary. “New media does not work for everybody. You can see Don Lemon flailing in new media now, because nobody really cares what he has to say, because he never really took the time to develop any kind of personality, or a worldview,” he said.
Providing an example of a successful move into podcasting, Smith outlined what has made Megyn Kelly thrive in the space. “The reason that, like, say, a Don Lemon, is failing a new media as opposed to a Megyn Kelly, who is absolutely thriving, is because that is an interesting person, that is somebody that is putting their thoughts out there, and they’re also not afraid to be themselves,” he said.
Concluding his commentary, Smith said, “Chris Wallace has for decades and decades on cable news, just basically pretended to not have an opinion or pretended to be objective. It just does not work in this era, so. Grandpa, have fun doing the whole podcast thing I don’t think it’s gonna work out for you.”
Users on social media reacted in agreement with Smith, that it takes a unique personality to build a thriving podcast. “It’s so disingenuous and insulting to people to think they can just pick up a microphone and pretend they’re Joe Rogan. He really should just stay at CNN,” one person commented. Watch Smith’s opinion below:
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However, some disagreed with Smith’s assertion about Wallace being too old for podcasting, citing Trump, who is the same age and would presumably host an excellent podcast. “The only thing I disagree with is your focus on his age. If DJT decided to do a podcast instead of being President of the USA, he’d crush it. It’s not age; it’s personality,” one user wrote.
Featured image credit: Maryland GovPics, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chris_Wallace_2015.jpg