Lying and spreading fake news is nothing new for CNN.
For many years they have ferociously spread falsehoods.
And a CNN commentator was just caught red-handed in a major lie.
Sally Kohn is a left-leaning political commentator for CNN.
She recently released a new book titled, The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity.
In the book, Kohn quotes left-wing podcast host Aminatou Sow in a section about dealing with “internet trolls.”
But after being told she was quoted in the book, Sow fired back at Kohn, claiming that she has no recollection of ever saying what she had been quoted as saying.
This is the excerpt in question:
“My friend writer Aminatou Sow has cautioned that there’s a compounding unfairness, even oppression, in expecting the most marginalized among us to take the high road. “Why is it black women are always asked to do the work,” Aminatou chides one day as we’re in a cab and I’m telling her about my book. “Once you’re provoked, the rules of engagement change,” she adds, “and I can f***ing kill you and I’m justified in doing that”—metaphorically speaking.”
After the situation became known, Sow took to Twitter with a barrage of tweets calling out Kohn’s dishonesty.
Last summer, I shared a car service back with a white woman I knew very casually. In fact, this car ride is the first time we were ever alone. We were coming back from Schiller’s [RIP to the only good thing in the LES]
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
She was writing a book about hate. and I guess…unlearning hate? I certainly remember her talking about it and from following her work from afar for years, I was very aware of the reservations I have about her politics in general
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, she casually lets it slide that I’m quoted in her book. Oh? Really. I don’t remember sitting down for an interview or agreeing to be quoted. Let’s look at the quote shall we? pic.twitter.com/wJxcKuaubD
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
Where to even start?
1. she grossly misrepresents our relationship,
2. I would never refer to myself as a writer at this stage of my career,
3. It was a car service and not a cab.
On its face this seems petty, but details matter to me…they should matter to a book writer.— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
This quote is explosive and not only do I not remember saying it or Sally asking for my permission to quote me in the car ride, she has admitted to me that she did not go back to factcheck sources in her book. This has been a real education the book editing process. pic.twitter.com/PKekIwe5Wc
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
When I approached the Exec. Editor and Publisher at Algonquin, I was told that Sally is “a first time book author*” in defense of her process. I am a zero time book author but this feels sloppy to me.
*[Thank you NY state one party consent laws]— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
I asked Sally to see her notes multiple times. She never responded to that query. I am not new to being quoted in books, I media train executives, and tbh if I had said the quote I would own it but I didn’t say it.
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
The quote itself makes no sense in the context of that particular chapter + the thesis of the book is hanging by a thin thread anyway. Hopefully a book reviewer will dig into that. The book has been getting a lot of good press btw but I haven’t read a substantial review yet.
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
What I really want to have a conversation about is how this sausage gets made because I have concerns. This book has all of the markers of a BIG BOOK: healthy book advance, big name blurbs, launch party at the Guggeinheim, impressive publicity roll out, celebrity endorsements … pic.twitter.com/6kPQs2vJun
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
I’m struggling to imagine a woman of color turning in a book without rigorous editing, fact checking and getting the same treatment.
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
I’ve spoken to a few reporters about this and they all agree it’s not a good look…but not enough to write about it. Very instructive media moment for me.
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) April 12, 2018
This entire situation shows just how dishonest left-wing media pundits can be.
Even after being told that the women being quoted can’t recall ever saying what she was quoted as saying, and that she didn’t appreciate it, Kohn doubled down.
Do you think that Sally Kohn should be forced to retract the quote in her book?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
