"Jim Acosta Challenges Trump—Is CNN Moving Him to Late Night?"

Fans of Jim Acosta may soon have to wait until midnight to see their favourite CNN anchor — or perhaps not at all.

Acosta, a regular on the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network since 2007, is considering a proposal from CNN Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson to leave his daytime job and relocate to Los Angeles to anchor a two-hour nightly newscast that begins at midnight Eastern time.

A CNN representative and Acosta declined to respond.

However, two sources involved with the conversations confirmed the talks, initially reported last week in Status, a newsletter authored by former CNN media correspondent Oliver Darcy.

According to people familiar with the situation, Acosta has yet to decide on taking the post but was not authorized to speak publicly. CNN has informed him that a move to Los Angeles is not required, and that the new program might originate in Washington, where he lives with his family.

If CNN goes ahead with the decision, some will regard it as a sign of capitulation to President Trump by lowering the stature of a journalist recognized for his robust coverage of Trump's first term. If Acosta decides not to take the assignment, he may leave the network, according to people familiar with his thinking.

Several media, entertainment, and technology firms, including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Amazon, and Facebook parent Meta, have been accused of attempting to avoid offending Trump, who has demonstrated a readiness to retaliate against his opponents.

CNN has been working to re-engage conservative and Republican viewers since its acquisition by David Zaslav's Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022.

During his time as a White House correspondent, Acosta intensely disliked Trump. In November 2018, the White House suspended his press credentials following a heated disagreement with Trump during a news conference. At one point, Acosta refused to give the microphone to an aide who attempted to take it from him.

During his suspension, Acosta garnered widespread support from the rest of the press corps, including Fox News, which is typically critical of CNN and protective of Trump. A federal court judge ruled that his credentials be reinstated.

Throughout his "CNN Newsroom" hour, Acosta remains a steadfast sceptic and fact-checker of Trump. He hasn't let up since management proposed his future role.

On Wednesday, Acosta pressed Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., on Trump's decision to pardon or shorten the prison sentences of the Jan. 6 rioters, including those who perpetrated violence against police officers.

CNN wants Acosta to change to accommodate longstanding anchor Wolf Blitzer, who is slated to quit his late-afternoon show, "The Situation Room," and take over Acosta's current shift at 10 a.m. Eastern.

Thompson is pushing the plan to provide a live prime-time newscast to West Coast viewers. Acosta's broadcast would also air on CNN International, with him appearing in the morning in Europe.

CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC air replays after 11 p.m. Eastern.

However, there is a reason why networks do not invest in live programming around and after midnight. Approximately 80% of US audiences live in Eastern and Central time zones. When the clock strikes twelve, much of the TV audience falls asleep, particularly elderly viewers, who comprise most of the news audience.

While social media can circulate interview video clips at any time, live news broadcasts have a higher influence during the day because they become part of the national debate. A CNN program running at midnight would likewise face the difficulty of hiring live guests.