ATLANTA, Ga – Cable news is a tough business, and CNN is feeling it. The channel that helped build 24-hour news is now dealing with some of its lowest ratings ever. At the same time, it’s facing loud claims of left-wing bias and a parent company that seems more focused on reshuffling assets than protecting CNN’s future. As 2025 wraps up, CNN keeps losing viewers, and the chatter about a sale or spin-off hasn’t slowed. So far, no clear buyer has stepped up.

The audience drop is hard to ignore. CNN spent much of 2025 posting some of its weakest viewership numbers on record. The fall got worse after the post-election slowdown that followed the 2024 presidential race.

In July 2025, CNN averaged just 497,000 total primetime viewers, a 42% decline from July 2024, based on Nielsen data cited by Cord Cutters News. The slide continued into the third quarter, with primetime down 42% year over year. The 25-54 age group fell even faster, dropping 58%.

Every big cable news channel took a hit in 2025 after the election spikes of 2024. Still, CNN’s losses stand out. In many months, primetime sat around 400,000 to 500,000 viewers. Fox News, by contrast, often pulled in audiences in the millions. Some former CNN staffers called the July figures “disastrously bad.” By mid-year, the network had reached fresh lows for the post-inauguration period.

Big trends are part of the story. Cord-cutting keeps growing, streaming keeps expanding, and younger viewers often get news from YouTube and X. Even so, CNN’s steeper fall suggests the problem isn’t just the industry. Many viewers also seem worn out by the network’s tone and editorial choices.

Bias Perception Keeps Pushing Viewers Away

A major driver of CNN’s decline is trust, or the lack of it. CNN has long been tagged as left-leaning by media bias trackers. Outlets like AllSides and Media Bias/Fact Check rate CNN as Lean Left or Left-Center, pointing to editorial framing and on-air commentary that often reads as more liberal.

That view isn’t limited to critics on social media. John Malone, a major Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) stakeholder, has also blasted what he calls CNN’s “embedded” liberal bias.

Polling has shown a sharp partisan split. Many Democrats say they trust CNN. Most Republicans say they don’t, and many see it as hostile to their views. That divide has pushed moderates and conservatives away, and it has helped speed up the ratings collapse. Efforts by past leadership teams to soften the network’s approach didn’t land well either. Those moves drew heat from the left and still didn’t bring back the viewers CNN had already lost.

CNN now has to operate in a time when trust in the news is already low. For a growing group of former viewers, the network’s perceived far-left tilt has become a deal-breaker, and the audience keeps shrinking.

Warner Bros. Discovery Upheaval Adds More Pressure

CNN’s problems aren’t happening in isolation. Its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, has been in turmoil. In late 2025, WBD said it was exploring a full sale after receiving multiple bids.

Netflix surfaced as a buyer for the studios and HBO assets, while leaving out CNN and other cable channels. Those cable properties would be spun into a new company called Discovery Global.

Another bidder, Paramount Skydance, came in aggressively. After finishing its own merger in August 2025, Paramount Skydance launched a hostile takeover bid for the full WBD package, CNN included. Reports said Paramount CEO David Ellison, backed by his father Larry Ellison (a Trump ally), offered signals to regulators and political influencers that CNN could see changes. WBD’s board rejected Paramount’s proposals, calling them too low and too uncertain, and stuck with the partial Netflix deal instead.

President Trump also weighed in, saying it was “imperative” for CNN to be sold separately or included in any deal, while criticizing its current leadership. Even with all the noise, CNN still hasn’t found a clear, committed buyer of its own. That raises a basic question about how much the network is worth in a cable market that keeps shrinking.

CNN: A Hard Asset to Sell

Media analysts say CNN has two big problems as a sales target. First is brand baggage. Second is the steady drop in linear TV money. CNN has promoted its digital reach and points to growth in streaming subscriptions, but the cable side still brings in a large share of revenue, and that part is sliding.

In recent years, revenue has fallen by hundreds of millions of dollars, tied to weaker ad sales and lower carriage fees. That makes CNN a harder bet for buyers who don’t want to inherit a declining business model.

There are also a number of complications. Pairing CNN with CBS News under Paramount has raised concerns about antitrust issues and newsroom independence. If CNN stands alone, experts expect more restructuring, deeper cost cuts, or another spin-off plan down the road.

What’s Next for CNN?

CNN’s path forward is cloudy. CEO Mark Thompson has tried to push a stronger focus on digital, including subscription options and a bigger emphasis on online growth. CNN also says it remains the top multiplatform news brand, pointing to strong digital engagement and solid performance from some original programming. Partnerships, including work with prediction market Kalshi for data integration, show the company is still trying new ideas.

Still, the pressure is rising. If the WBD split moves ahead, Discovery Global (with CNN inside it) could face demands to cut spending fast or find a buyer later. Layoffs have hurt morale, and the network has to balance a deeply polarized audience without driving away the viewers it still has.

Some insiders think a sale could reset the brand with new leadership and a more even tone. Others worry CNN will keep sliding as streaming pulls more attention away from cable. One former executive summed up the core challenge: CNN needs to reach people where they already are, online, or risk fading out.

CNN’s story now reads like a warning for legacy media. A network that once defined breaking news is fighting to stay relevant while politics, technology, and public trust keep shifting. In 2026, more disruption looks likely for a channel that used to feel untouchable.

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The IRS mileage rate 2024 stands as a pivotal benchmark for small businesses, marking not just a figure on a tax form but a crucial factor influencing their financial strategies and daily operational decisions. This rate, set at 67 cents per mile for business travel, reflects not only the cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance but also broader economic trends and regulatory shifts that impact businesses of all sizes.

For small businesses, where every expense matters, the IRS mileage rate directly affects how they allocate resources. It shapes budgeting decisions, tax planning strategies, and even employee compensation policies. Understanding and effectively applying this rate can mean the difference between maximizing tax deductions and facing unexpected financial liabilities.

Moreover, the IRS mileage rate serves as a barometer for economic conditions affecting transportation costs. Changes in this rate can prompt businesses to reassess their logistics and supply chain strategies, explore alternative modes of transportation, or renegotiate contracts with service providers.

Thus, the rate extends beyond a mere tax calculation, becoming a catalyst for strategic adaptation and operational efficiency. The 2024 IRS mileage rate is not just a number—it’s a critical factor that small businesses must navigate strategically to optimize financial performance and maintain compliance with tax regulations.

A crucial adjustment for small businesses impacting various aspects

The 2024 IRS mileage rate plays a pivotal role in shaping financial strategies and operational efficiencies for small businesses. Adapting to these changes proactively can help businesses navigate challenges, optimize tax benefits, and maintain competitive advantages in their respective markets.

Cost Management and Budgeting: Small businesses often rely on accurate mileage tracking to calculate transportation costs. The updated IRS rate affects budgeting forecasts, requiring adjustments to financial plans to accommodate higher mileage expenses.

Tax Deductions and Reimbursements: The IRS mileage rate directly affects tax deductions and reimbursements for business-related driving. Small businesses can deduct eligible mileage expenses from their taxable income, reducing their overall tax liability. Therefore, understanding and correctly applying the updated rate is crucial for maximizing tax benefits.

Employee Compensation: For businesses that reimburse employees for mileage, the IRS rate serves as a benchmark. Compliance with the standard rate ensures fair reimbursement practices while simplifying administrative tasks related to expense reporting.

Strategic Decision-Making: Changes in the IRS mileage rate prompt strategic evaluations regarding transportation logistics. Businesses may reconsider vehicle leasing versus reimbursement policies or explore alternative transportation methods to optimize cost-efficiency.

Compliance and Documentation: Accurate record-keeping is essential for IRS compliance. Small businesses must maintain detailed logs of business miles driven and associated expenses to substantiate deductions during audits. Failure to adhere to IRS guidelines can result in penalties and additional scrutiny.

Impact on Profit Margins: Fluctuations in mileage rates directly influence profitability margins for businesses heavily reliant on transportation. The increased rate may squeeze profit margins unless offset by corresponding adjustments in pricing or operational efficiencies.

Operational Efficiency: Efficient mileage tracking and management systems become more critical with higher IRS rates. Adopting digital tools or mileage tracking apps can streamline reporting processes, ensuring compliance while reducing administrative burden.

Everlance as a tool to facilitate compliance with the IRS

Everlance serves as a robust tool to streamline compliance with IRS regulations, particularly regarding mileage tracking and reporting for small businesses.

Automated mileage tracking

Everlance provides a sophisticated solution for automated mileage tracking, which greatly simplifies the process of documenting business trips. This feature allows users to accurately record each drive and link it to relevant business activities, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data required for IRS reporting.

Integration with IRS standards

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Using the Everlance platform allows small businesses to effectively manage their driving expenses while ensuring they are in compliance with IRS requirements without significant administrative effort

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the global economy on shaky ground, President Donald J. Trump’s second-term economic plan reads less like a standard policy outline and more like a bold bet on American strength. The Federal Reserve now expects US growth of just 1 percent in the second half of 2025, down from the 3.5 percent average during the Biden years.

In that setting, Mr. Trump’s mix of broad tariffs, permanent tax cuts, and strict immigration rules is praised by conservatives as the key to avoiding a deep recession. But as markets swing, and consumer confidence falls to its weakest level since the 2022 inflation surge, the big unknown remains: is this a recovery in the making, or a risky roll of the dice?

Trump Tariffs at Center Stage

Mr. Trump’s main economic tool is a flat 10 percent tariff on all imports, rising to 20 percent on rival nations such as China. The move helped trigger an 8 percent drop in the S&P 500 in April, followed by a rebound as talk of carve-outs and exemptions spread.

Supporters point to a recent Federal Reserve Bank study that looks at 150 years of US and European data. They say it shows that higher tariffs tend to cool demand, and that a 4 percent increase in tariffs can cut inflation by about 2 percentage points in the short run while lifting unemployment by only 1 percentage point.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a former hedge fund chief, argues the new tariff plan is not a blunt barrier but a flexible ceiling that Washington can adjust in talks. He claims it has already pushed companies to commit about $4 trillion in US-based projects, as large tech and energy firms plan new plants and reshored production.

Skeptics see a very different picture. Goldman Sachs economists, who now put recession odds at 35 percent, describe the policy as a “wrecking ball” for global supply chains. Their models suggest the economy could be 1.3 percent smaller by 2028 if the tariff structure stays in place without major changes.

Conservatives, though, see early results as proof of concept. The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which made the 2017 tax cuts permanent and trimmed the corporate tax rate to 15 percent, is credited with lifting second-quarter GDP growth to 3.8 percent, above pre-inauguration estimates.

“This isn’t disorder, it’s controlled combustion,” says Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council. He predicts diesel prices will fall below $2 a gallon by mid-2026, helped by restarting the Keystone pipeline and opening drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Golden Boom, or a Hard Fall

The Trump team says the plan may not just prevent a slump, but could launch a strong expansion. Forecasts from inside the administration describe a sharp upswing over the next two years.

By the fourth quarter of 2026, Hassett expects unemployment to settle near 4 percent, with consumer spending up 5 percent from a year earlier. He also projects that the trade deficit will shrink by half, to about $600 billion, thanks to what the White House calls “reciprocal” trade deals with the EU and ASEAN.

Some Wall Street optimists go further. Analysts at Fundstrat anticipate a sharp V-shaped rally in stocks, with the Dow climbing past 50,000 as deregulation helps unlock around $1 trillion in delayed corporate capital spending.

The downside risks are just as dramatic. Pantheon Macroeconomics warns that the tariff shock could push the economy toward a “stagflation trap,” where growth slows while prices keep rising. Their research suggests tariffs could raise core goods inflation by about 1.9 percent, while policy uncertainty and stop-start governance, highlighted by the 43-day government shutdown, could cut half a point from fourth-quarter growth.

If trade tensions with Beijing worsen, JPMorgan estimates the chance of a recession could reach 40 percent by next summer, with household incomes stuck near 2024 levels in real terms.

“We’re betting the farm on American grit,” says a Republican aide on Capitol Hill. “If the bet goes bad, we’re talking breadlines by 2027.”

Conservative Push to Tighten Immigration

Among conservatives, no part of Trump’s agenda stirs stronger support than his immigration crackdown, which they frame as a matter of public finances, not race.

Since January, illegal crossings have reportedly dropped 90 percent, with monthly apprehensions down to about 8,000. The administration credits a series of executive orders that declared a border emergency, brought back the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and ended catch-and-release practices. These actions have cut asylum case backlogs by around 40 percent.

The Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of migrant felons, has led to 1.5 million deportations since Trump returned to office, according to ICE figures. Supporters argue this has freed about $16 billion a year in welfare and emergency Medicaid spending that had supported undocumented households.

Think tanks on the right call this the purest form of America First policy, a barrier against what the Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates as a $182 billion yearly cost to taxpayers from illegal immigration.

“Open borders aren’t compassion, they’re economic sabotage,” says Simon Hankinson, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He credits the tougher stance with lifting wages for native-born workers by about 2.5 percent in border states.

Key figures behind Project 2025, such as Ken Cuccinelli, argue for an even firmer line, including more military help with border patrols and ending so-called “sensitive zones” that limit immigration enforcement in schools, churches, and hospitals. The administration has already moved in this direction, with National Guard troops now stationed along key stretches of the Rio Grande.

Even more moderate Republicans give their backing. A Pew survey shows 88 percent of GOP voters now support expanding the border wall, up from 79 percent in 2019, and 79 percent approve of stepped-up deportations.

Opponents highlight the human toll, pointing to roughly 700,000 people with Temporary Protected Status who could face removal. Conservative lawmakers respond that national control of borders is non-negotiable and argue that weak enforcement quietly worsens the deficit.

Fiscal Fortress or Inviting a Fall?

Economists remain deeply split over the long-term results, but right-leaning voices have grown more supportive as early data comes in.

Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute, who has often been cautious about Trump’s policies, agrees that tariffs can slow growth over time. Even so, he says they have created a short-term “sugar high” in domestic investment.

“Lower immigration shrinks the labor pool, yes, but when you match that with tax breaks for new plants and equipment, you can get higher productivity instead of wage cuts,” he argues.

Joseph Brusuelas of RSM US offers a warning of his own. Without quick and broad tariff exemptions for key imports, he says, the first quarter of 2026 could see output contract by about 2.4 percent, based on Atlanta Fed nowcasts.

Yet he also points to early signs of fiscal improvement. “This administration’s volatility is its advantage,” he says. “Firms adjust, spend more at home, and the deficit has already fallen to about $1.7 trillion, compared with fears of $2.5 trillion.”

For die-hard America First supporters, this is a live contest, not a dry policy debate. Traders are watching for changes to H-1B visas to keep some skilled workers coming in, while manufacturers pin their hopes on a new push for nuclear power and heavy industry.

“The fight is fiscal: back the tariffs, build the walls, or watch deficits eat the American dream,” Hassett wrote in a recent CNBC piece.

According to reporting from the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Trump has told advisers he expects “pain,” but not catastrophe. “Recession? Maybe. Depression? Never,” he reportedly said in private.

In his view, economic rescue demands bold moves and a hard stomach for risk. For now, the United States is all-in on that bet.

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