The mainstream media is desperately trying to claw back ratings. But this isn’t going to do them any favors.
Because a CNN interview descended into chaos for one hilarious reason.
A Pronoun Slip Sparks Online Frenzy
The internet lit up with reactions after CNN anchor Anderson Cooper stumbled into a pronoun controversy during a Bernie Sanders town hall on Wednesday.
While introducing Democratic activist Grace Thomas, Cooper said, “She’s a local civil rights attorney. She’s a Democrat,” unaware that Thomas uses “they/them” pronouns.
The correction came swiftly: “It’s they/them pronouns, actually,” Thomas interjected, prompting a brief “Oh” from Cooper. The moment, though fleeting, unleashed a torrent of commentary online, exposing broader tensions around gender identity and political optics.
Social media didn’t hold back, with users seizing on the exchange to highlight what they see as Democrats’ disconnect with everyday voters.
“The best part is that right after scolding Anderson Cooper for not calling her ‘they,’ she asks a question about why Democrats are losing men,” one X user quipped, suggesting the incident encapsulates the party’s struggles to resonate with young male voters. The viral clip fed into a narrative that CNN, often eager to amplify progressive talking points, tripped over its own framing.
Social Media Piles On with Mockery
The backlash wasn’t limited to anonymous posters. “Anderson Cooper just misgendered a civil rights attorney,” another X user jabbed, adding, “They are not serious. Keep on putting the pronoun police on camera, we will win every election.”
The sentiment reflects a growing frustration among some Americans with what they view as overly rigid identity politics—an area where CNN’s coverage often leans hard into progressive ideals, sometimes at the cost of broader relatability.
Riley Gaines, the former college swimmer who became a conservative firebrand for opposing biological males in women’s sports, jumped into the fray with biting sarcasm: “Calling for Anderson Cooper’s immediate resignation for believing what his eyes were telling him he saw. Bigot.”
Her jab points to a pushback against media outlets like CNN, which critics argue prioritize niche ideological battles over issues that resonate with the mainstream, like fairness in athletics or economic concerns.
Political Fault Lines Come Into Focus
The incident dovetails with a larger political divide exploited by figures like Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign. His ad slogan, “Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you,” struck a chord by contrasting Democratic focus on gender ideology with a populist appeal to everyday Americans.
Pew Research Center data backs this up: while many Democrats embrace progressive gender policies, most voters reject extreme measures like providing irreversible medical treatments to minors or allowing trans-identifying males in women’s sports.
Even some Democrats are treading carefully. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, eyeing a 2028 presidential run, recently told Charlie Kirk that men in women’s sports is “an issue of fairness” that’s “easy to call out.”
The comment drew fire from liberals for backpedaling and from conservatives for seeming opportunistic. Meanwhile, CNN’s spotlight on moments like Cooper’s gaffe risks amplifying a progressive echo chamber, alienating viewers who feel the network is more focused on policing language than addressing their day-to-day concerns.
