A list of CNN (TV) Headlines, 8/4/16

This is not scientific in any way, shape or form. But it is an attempt to show what On-Air CNN Television personalities talk about.

Are they critical of the President? Or only of Trump? Is it critical of government? Or are the headlines mainly approving of government? Or -- are the headlines deflective of government malfeasance? Does it omit stories critical of those in power? Do the headlines tend to come from a liberal angle, conservative angle, a libertarian angle, a communist angle, or is it balanced? Are they critical of mostly Republicans? Or are they critical of mostly Democrats? Is the channel generally pro-religion or anti-religion? Pro-Christianity or anti-Christianity? Pro-Islam or anti-Islam? Pro-atheist or anti-atheist?

I want to know.

Given that I was creating this list while busy, I couldn't catch every single headline that flashed across the TV screen. However, I do think it is very representative as I probably looked at the television screen every other minute or so from about 12 PM to 4 PM.

What I found is that CNN focused on Trump at least 22 times; President Barack Obama 10 times; House Speaker Paul Ryan 10 times; and Hillary 2 times.

Now, as I said, this wasn't scientific. However, I did look at the screen a lot from that time. I did not keep my eyes glued to the screen....

...but I really don't think I missed Hillary Clinton that many times.

Looking at the headlines we see that....

1. RYAN NOT READY TO PULL TRUMP ENDORSEMENT
2. RUSSIA: WE BELIEVE 270 OF OUR ATHLETES CLEARED TO COMPETE
3. NEW BATTLEGROUND STATE POLLS GIVE CLINTON THE EDGE
4. CNN/ORC POLL SHOWS OBAMA WITH 54% JOB APPROVAL
5. POLL: OBAMA APPROVAL RATING ON THE RISE
6. NEW BATTLEGROUND STATE POLLS GIVE CLINTON THE EDGE
7. NORTH CAROLINA MAN ACCUSED OF SUPPORTING ISIS
8. TRUMP MEETS WITH FAMILIES OF 6 FALLEN SOLDIERS
9. OP-ED: TRUMP SUPPORTING IS "INDEFENSIBLE"
10. CLINT EASTWOOD TALKS RACISM AND TRUMP
11. SOON: OBAMA FACES QUESTIONS ON $400 IRAN PAYMENT
12. WHITE HOUSE: $400M CASH TO IR
13. OBAMA GETS POST-CONVENTION BUMP IN POLLS
14. CAN A RISING OBAMA HELP HILLARY CLINTON?
15. EASTWOOD: 2012 "EMPTY CHAIR" STUNT "WAS SILLY"
16. CLINT EASTWOOD APPLAUDS TRUMP'S RHETORIC
17. PREGNANT WOMEN IN MIAMI RUSH TO GET ZIKA TESTS
18. EXPECTANT MOTHERS IN MIAMI SCRAMBLE TO GET ZIKA TESTS
19. SOON: DONALD TRUMP SPEAKS LIVE AT RALLY SOON (?)
20. CHARLESTON CHURCH SUSPECT ASSAULTED IN JAIL
21. YOUNG GYMNAST RETURNS TO SPORT AFTER LEUKEMIA
22. GYMNAST CONTRACTS LEUKEMIA, FACES COMPLICATIONS
23. ANY MOMENT: TRUMP SPEAKS AFTER RYAN RETURNS FIRE
24. RYAN WON'T RULE OUT YANKING TRUMP ENDORSEMENT
25. PAUL RYAN ON TRUMP: MY "DUTY" TO DEFEND GOP
26. NEW POLL: CLINTON TOPS TRUMP IN 3 KEY STATES
27. SOON: HILLARY CLINTON HOLDS RALLY IN LAS VEGAS ***
28. CLINTON SLAMS TRUMP DURING TOUR IN LAS VEGAS
29. NEW POLL: CLINTON TOPS TRUMP IN 3 KEY STATES
30. RYAN WON'T RULE OUT YANKING TRUMP ENDORSEMENT
31. POLLS: CLINTON TOPS TRUMP IN THREE KEY STATES
32. ANY MOMENT: TRUMP SPEAKS AFTER RYAN RETURNS FIRE
33. RYAN (AGAIN) USES “BEYOND THE PALE” REACTING TO TRUMP
34. OBAMA GETS POST-CONVENTION BUMP IN POLLS
35. SOON: TRUMP, CLINTON HOLD COMPETING EVENTS
36. U.S. OFFICIALS: NO IRAN “ULTIMATUM” TO SEND $400M CASH
37. TRUMP COMMENTS ON U.S. PAYMENT TO IRAN
38. TRUMP AGAIN CLAIMS HE SAW VIDEO OF IRAN PAYMENT
39. TRUMP SPEAKS AFTER RYAN SLAM POST-RNC CAMPAIGN
40. TRUMP: “HOW STUPID ARE WE” TO PAY IRAN
41. BRAZILIAN COUPLES DELAY PREGNANCY DUE TO ZIKA
42. OBAMA: MY DAUGHTERS DESERVE A FEMINIST DAD
43. CLINTON REPEATS FALSE CLAIM FBI DIRECTOR SAID SHE WAS “TRUTHFUL”
44. OBAMA: IRAN NUCLEAR AGREEMENT IS WORKING
45. OBAMA: WE DO NOT PAY RANSOM FOR HOSTAGES
46. OBAMA UPS ATTACK ON TRUMP AS APPROVAL RATING RISES

Where is the focus on the issues? A few comments.

#46 OBAMA UPS ATTACK ON TRUMP AS APPROVAL RATING RISES

First of all. I think this is a made-up connection here. I really don't think Obama is consciously taking advantage of this approval ratings here. But the headline gives the connection that he is.

# 42 OBAMA: MY DAUGHTERS DESERVE A FEMINIST DAD

Why is this national news? This doesn't belong on national television, but on niche sites, cultural sites. 

#14 CAN A RISING OBAMA HELP HILLARY CLINTON?

Can a discussion of the platforms that she and Donald Trump are running on help their campaigns. Can a substantial report on Donald Trump's sane position on Russia hurt Hillary Clinton? Can we discuss their ideas? Can we hold politicians accountable? Can we move away from "He said, She Said" stories? Can we #bringbackjournalism? 

I'm not going to go on. But I am biased towards stories that highlight government corruption, and I really don't like celebrity stories, or stories that advance the "conversation" in a destructive way.