CNN Post Backfires Again, As SCOTUS Weighs Defamation Case

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CNN just got exposed for FAKE NEWS again.

The media outlet posted a story to X claiming that the lives of “two Pennsylvania teenagers” were “drastically change[d]” after “throwing homemade bombs” outside New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence, Gracie Mansion. It omitted the part where the two teens hurled a very deadly explosive device into a crowd, endangering protesters and police alike.

CNN deleted the post and offered a flimsy explanation in its place after federal authorities charged the ISIS-inspired teenagers.

As reported by Fox News:

CNN is facing backlash on social media over a now-deleted Tuesday post on X about the two "Pennsylvania teenagers" who were charged with throwing bombs at a protest near Gracie Mansion in New York City on Saturday.

"Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather," the post read. "But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home. Here's what we know so far."

The suspects, 18-year-old Emir Balat of Langhorne and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi of Newtown, traveled from Bucks County to Manhattan on Saturday, when police said they ignited and hurled explosive devices into a protest crowd outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence.

Federal prosecutors charged the suspects with material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and use of a weapon of mass destruction.

The post has now been deleted. CNN followed up with this explanation on X: "A post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home failed to reflect the gravity of the incident thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting. It has therefore been deleted."

CNN media analyst Brian Stelter was critical of his own outlet, writing in his newsletter Tuesday morning, "The story itself was solid. But the tweet was outrageous – and quickly addressed by CNN management." He added the outlet was "rightly criticized" for the post.

Social media users were also quick to call out CNN's "bizarre" framing of the incident, which failed to mention the words "terror" or "terrorist" anywhere in its post.

According to authorities, the suspects allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before throwing the improvised explosive devices. Miraculously, the devices failed to detonate. Had the bombs exploded, the outcome could have been catastrophic, and this would be a much grimmer report. Investigators say the attackers were inspired by ISIS and had openly expressed admiration for previous terrorist attacks, including the Boston Marathon bombing.

CNN’s framing struck many observers as astonishing. They appeared to show sympathy for the alleged attackers rather than focus on the terror threat. Instead the language suggested two young people’s day simply took an unfortunate turn. However, no part of their day appears to have been an accident – except, perhaps, the fact that their bomb didn’t work.

But for many, this media bias reflects a broader issue: how narratives are shaped before the full facts are considered.

It seems evident that the attack was premeditated. It’s highly unlikely the suspects arrived in New York, randomly happened upon a couple nail bombs, and spontaneously decided to commit terrorism. According to reports, these two would-be terrorists came prepared with explosive devices containing a “highly volatile” chemical explosive and targeted a crowd they expected to find gathered outside the mayor’s residence.

But the controversy didn’t end there. During coverage of the incident, CNN anchor Abby Phillip initially described the attack as targeting New York’s mayor as the intended victim. She later corrected her statement through a social media post on her personal X account, acknowledging the bombs were actually thrown into a crowd of protesters and apologizing for the inaccurate wording.

Inaccurate to be sure. But was it accidental? Or just journalistic laziness? Whether an intentional misdirect or not, the situation has intensified scrutiny of CNN’s (and media generally) creation of narratives.

The ACLJ is battling CNN at the Supreme Court right now over its twisting and manipulation of what a member of President Trump’s legal team argued during his first impeachment trial. They initially tried to ignore our case, hoping the Court would toss it out. That failed and the Supreme Court has ordered them to respond. We’re starting to sense a pattern at the cable news giant.

Today’s *Sekulow *broadcast included more analysis of CNN’s biased coverage of the NYC attempted bombing, our recent win in a teacher prayer case at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, ACLJ’s international work, and more.

Watch the full broadcast below: