CNN’s “scoop” about VA call centers blows up in their face as Doug Collins exposes their shameless disregard for facts in a scorching takedown of mainstream media bias.
At a Glance
- VA Secretary Doug Collins publicly refuted CNN’s false report about plans to automate VA call centers
- Collins accused CNN correspondent Brian Todd of ignoring facts provided by the VA and running a story based on leaked misinformation
- CNN executives reportedly refused to retract the story despite being informed of its inaccuracy
- The situation highlights growing concerns about journalistic integrity and the spread of misinformation in mainstream media
The Media Malpractice Exposed
When our veterans are used as political pawns, it’s time to draw a line in the sand. That’s exactly what Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins did when CNN published a demonstrably false report claiming the VA planned to automate its call centers, potentially leaving veterans without human assistance.
Collins didn’t just correct the record—he took a flamethrower to CNN’s journalistic credibility, exposing what appears to be a deliberate attempt to push a narrative regardless of the facts. In a time when the mainstream media seems more interested in narratives than news, Collins’ public rebuke represents something we don’t see often enough: a government official willing to call out media malpractice directly.
The confrontation began when CNN correspondent Brian Todd published what he claimed was a “scoop” about plans to automate VA call centers—a report Collins said was entirely fabricated. According to Collins, no such plans exist, and Todd had been provided with accurate information before running the story. Instead of verifying facts, Todd apparently chose to run with leaked misinformation, creating unnecessary alarm among veterans about access to critical services. This isn’t just sloppy journalism—it’s the kind of irresponsible reporting that has real-world consequences for people who have sacrificed everything for our country.
CNN is just airing the Democratic Party's fake opposition research without even fact checking.
No wonder everybody calls them Fake News CNN. https://t.co/4RUBJkzbqX
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) April 1, 2025
A Pattern of Media Manipulation
Collins didn’t mince words in his assessment of CNN’s journalistic practices. In a blistering social media statement, he described Todd as “the target of a disinformation operation designed to generate fake news.” That’s not just an accusation of incompetence—it suggests Collins believes there’s a coordinated effort to mislead the public about the VA’s operations. And if you’ve been paying attention to how the media has treated the Trump administration, this pattern of behavior looks frustratingly familiar. The question isn’t whether CNN got their facts wrong—they obviously did—but whether this was deliberate manipulation or simply the result of journalistic laziness.
“Every few days, a guy named @BrianToddCNN reaches out to us, asking for the department’s response to whatever fake controversy VA’s critics are pushing. I’m not sure what his actual beat is, but his specialty seems to be regurgitating pre-packaged opposition research VA critics prepare for him”, says Doug Collins.
What makes this situation even more egregious is CNN’s response when confronted with their error. According to Collins, VA officials attempted multiple times to correct the record, but CNN’s senior executives refused to retract the story. Instead, they suggested the VA issue a response statement to the false allegations—effectively asking the VA to validate CNN’s fictional narrative by treating it as worthy of a serious response. This isn’t journalism—it’s theater, with CNN seemingly more interested in manufacturing controversy than reporting facts that might not fit their preferred storyline about Trump administration policies.
The Broader Implications for Media Trust
Collins’ public takedown of CNN raises important questions about journalistic integrity in an era of declining trust in media institutions. “What happened to the journalistic principle of verifying something is true before publication?” Collins asked in his statement. “With standards like these, it’s easy to see why a jury recently found CNN liable for defamation and ordered the network to pay $5 million in damages.” That reference to CNN’s recent legal troubles isn’t just a throwaway line—it’s a reminder that there are, or at least should be, consequences for media outlets that play fast and loose with the truth.
“That editor and another CNN senior executive refused to retract the fake story. Instead, they insisted everything would be OK if we just gave them a statement responding to the story’s fake allegations”, again, Mr. Collins
The truly concerning aspect of this saga isn’t just that CNN got it wrong—it’s their apparent unwillingness to correct the record even when presented with contradicting evidence from authoritative sources. This isn’t about a simple mistake or misunderstanding; it’s about a media outlet that seems to have abandoned its responsibility to provide accurate information to the public.
And when that misinformation affects veterans—men and women who have already sacrificed so much for our country—it becomes not just a journalistic failure but a moral one. Whatever your political persuasion, we should all be able to agree that our veterans deserve better than to be pawns in CNN’s ratings game.
