As I noted earlier this month, new CNN head Jeff Zucker is reported to be thinking about bringing back the network’s left-right political debate show Crossfire. Today, Dylan Byers reports that the network seems to have potential hosts in mind:
Sources now tell POLITICO that the network is in discussions with former Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich and former Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter about roles on the show.
“They are talking to Cutter and to Gingrich,” a source familiar with the discussions said. “[Cutter] is in discussions; Newt is in discussions too,” another source confirmed.
Spokespeople with CNN did not respond to a request for comment regarding the news. Both Cutter and a Gingrich spokesperson did not respond to emails requesting confirmation.
Should the talks go through, it is unclear whether the former House Speaker and the former Obama campaign staffer would go head-to-head on a regular basis, or whether they would be part of a rotating cast of co-hosts.
Gingrich would definitely be a pugnacious ideological fighter, but I’m not sure people would tune in on a daily basis to see him say the things he’s been saying for 20 years now. As for Cutter, other than her appearances on television during the campaign I really can’t say I know much of anything about her.
