--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think you could argue that President…" description: "\"I think you could argue that President Obama could have watched a little cable news... I do think that there is value in understanding where the conver..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/jeff-zucker-12561_cable_i-think-you-could-argue-that-president-o_519508.png" --- # I think you could argue that President Obama could have… ![“I think you could argue that President Obama could have watched a little cable news... I do think that there is value in understanding where the conversation is and having a little less detachment where the popular conversation is.” quote by Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/jeff-zucker-12561_cable_i-think-you-could-argue-that-president-o_519508.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/jeff-zucker-12561_cable_i-think-you-could-argue-that-president-o_519508.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/971/jeff-zucker-12561_cable_i-think-you-could-argue-that-president-o_519508.png) > “I think you could argue that President Obama could have watched a little cable news... I do think that there is value in understanding where the conversation is and having a little less detachment where the popular conversation is.” [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding mainstream conversation helps leaders stay relevant and avoid disconnect from public concerns. **In simple terms:** Knowing popular talk keeps leaders grounded. Key Takeaway Stay informed about public discourse. Themes leadership media public opinion Mood thoughtful analytical Type advisory observational When to use this quote - political strategy - media monitoring - public speaking - policy making Key Concepts communication relevance detachment Questions to Reflect On - How does media shape your decisions? - What sources balance popular narratives? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on media can skew perception of deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cable news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cable-news/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) ## Related quotes > [There's discussion in athletics about how sport - where they say 'SportsCenter' has ruined the fundamentals of basketball because it's - it only applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pfeiffer/there-s-discussion-in-athletics-about-how-sport-where-they-say/) [Dan Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pfeiffer/) > [Cable news is nothing more than entertainment, except for the International version of CNN and perhaps the BBC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-seder/cable-news-is-nothing-more-than-entertainment-except-for-the/) [Sam Seder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-seder/) > [I worked in cable news for a long time, but I'm not a pundit. I'm just not. I'm grateful to people that are, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-mccain/i-worked-in-cable-news-for-a-long-time-but-i-m-not-a-pundit-i-m-just/) [Meghan McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-mccain/) > [Now, you watch cable news, and you know what everybody's going to say before they open their mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-neville/now-you-watch-cable-news-and-you-know-what-everybody-s-going-to-say/) [Morgan Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-neville/) > [ It's the nature of cable news that we \[TV hosts\] do a lot of clipping and quoting of other broadcasts and outlets, sometimes to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/it-s-the-nature-of-cable-news-that-we-tv-hosts-do-a-lot-of-clipping/) [Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/) > [The job for cable is to give the news and then also give the 'so what.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/the-job-for-cable-is-to-give-the-news-and-then-also-give-the-so-what/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [Cable news is 24 hours long, so you have to fill it up with something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/cable-news-is-24-hours-long-so-you-have-to-fill-it-up-with-something-2/) [James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/) > [Whether you are liberal or conservative, people seem to know the talking points for whatever the issue of the day is. Very rarely does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/whether-you-are-liberal-or-conservative-people-seem-to-know-the/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [In general, when I watch cable news during the day, it's frustrating because it reminds me of a game show. If I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/in-general-when-i-watch-cable-news-during-the-day-it-s-frustrating/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [Not a lot of people watch cable news, they just don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pelley/not-a-lot-of-people-watch-cable-news-they-just-don-t/) [Scott Pelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pelley/) > [Cable news tends to be talking points - you don't have that much time to substantively unpack an issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/cable-news-tends-to-be-talking-points-you-don-t-have-that-much-time/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Magazines that depend on photography, and design, and long reads, and quality stuff, are going to do just fine despite the Internet and cable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jann-wenner/magazines-that-depend-on-photography-and-design-and-long-reads-and/) [Jann Wenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jann-wenner/) > [Cable news, by its very nature, by its formula, is very guest-heavy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/cable-news-by-its-very-nature-by-its-formula-is-very-guest-heavy/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [I've become very interested in the spectrum of political discourse as seen on the cable news channels that are conveniently right in a row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carter/i-ve-become-very-interested-in-the-spectrum-of-political-discourse-as/) [Chris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carter/) > [But by showing us live coverage of every bad thing happening everywhere in the world, cable news makes life seem like it's just an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-easterbrook/but-by-showing-us-live-coverage-of-every-bad-thing-happening/) [Gregg Easterbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-easterbrook/) ## More by Jeff Zucker > [In an increasingly polarized world, it's hard to know whom to trust. CNN will be the only news channel that doesn't take a side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/in-an-increasingly-polarized-world-it-s-hard-to-know-whom-to-trust/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [I think the Internet has given rise to voices that want to attack others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/i-think-the-internet-has-given-rise-to-voices-that-want-to-attack/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [It's a growing trend. Viewers are our customers, but so are advertisers. And advertisers want different ways to reach our viewers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/it-s-a-growing-trend-viewers-are-our-customers-but-so-are-advertisers/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [Everybody has an iPhone; everyone can be a reporter now. Everybody can tell a story from every part of the world. Why places like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/everybody-has-an-iphone-everyone-can-be-a-reporter-now-everybody-can/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [People are looking for original content in many different places, as are advertisers. This takes us into a whole new ballgame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/people-are-looking-for-original-content-in-many-different-places-as/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [I don't think Vice and BuzzFeed are legitimate news organizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/i-don-t-think-vice-and-buzzfeed-are-legitimate-news-organizations/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [I don't regret putting 'The Apprentice' on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/i-don-t-regret-putting-the-apprentice-on-television/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [If I was on Twitter, I'd probably get in trouble pretty quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/if-i-was-on-twitter-i-d-probably-get-in-trouble-pretty-quickly/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [It is a significant acknowledgment that the way people are watching television is changing and the model is quickly changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/it-is-a-significant-acknowledgment-that-the-way-people-are-watching/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [The critics of Donald Trump are looking for people to blame for his rise. There are many people who are either surprised by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/the-critics-of-donald-trump-are-looking-for-people-to-blame-for-his/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [Just because somebody says you are not trustworthy, that doesn't mean it is so... CNN's brand equity is built over 37 years doing hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/just-because-somebody-says-you-are-not-trustworthy-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [I've said this forever - I've always believed the Today show is more than the sum of its parts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/i-ve-said-this-forever-i-ve-always-believed-the-today-show-is-more/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [Would I consider a run for political office? Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/would-i-consider-a-run-for-political-office-yes/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [Anderson Cooper's on-air reaction to Bob Simon's death; Wolf Blitzer personalizing his experience in going back to Auschwitz where his grandparents lost their lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/anderson-cooper-s-on-air-reaction-to-bob-simon-s-death-wolf-blitzer/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) > [CNN is not and never will abandon our first and fundamental brand equity, which is news and breaking news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-zucker/cnn-is-not-and-never-will-abandon-our-first-and-fundamental-brand/) [Jeff Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) [Explore all 54 Jeff Zucker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-zucker/) ## More Cable quotes > [What Cable is up to is not something that can be done quietly. It will raise the interest of some pretty important people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeph-loeb/what-cable-is-up-to-is-not-something-that-can-be-done-quietly-it-will/) [Jeph Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeph-loeb/) > [The whole cable-TV original programming just changed the nature of television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anson-mount/the-whole-cable-tv-original-programming-just-changed-the-nature-of/) [Anson Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anson-mount/) > [Cable would not translate into the public radio universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/cable-would-not-translate-into-the-public-radio-universe/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [With the recession, people are having to choose between their cable and their internet connection. And think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosario-dawson/with-the-recession-people-are-having-to-choose-between-their-cable/) [Rosario Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosario-dawson/) > [Cable TV? Stressful? Never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-bash/cable-tv-stressful-never/) [Dana Bash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-bash/) > [We are in a time, because of the proliferation of online media and a hundred channels on cable, where teenagers and young adults and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-grayer/we-are-in-a-time-because-of-the-proliferation-of-online-media-and-a/) [Jonathan Grayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-grayer/) > [All three networks have always had a morning show but now cable of course is taking some of that audience away and a variety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/all-three-networks-have-always-had-a-morning-show-but-now-cable-of/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [I didn't have cable growing up. I never saw ESPN or GameDay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-ponder/i-didn-t-have-cable-growing-up-i-never-saw-espn-or-gameday/) [Samantha Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-ponder/) > [There's discussion in athletics about how sport - where they say 'SportsCenter' has ruined the fundamentals of basketball because it's - it only applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pfeiffer/there-s-discussion-in-athletics-about-how-sport-where-they-say/) [Dan Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pfeiffer/) > [Cable is not bound because people pay for it. It's literally a choice, that's the operative word. If you don't like the language, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/cable-is-not-bound-because-people-pay-for-it-it-s-literally-a-choice/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [All of the people who are using their BlackBerries or their iPhones, Facebook, all of the people who are sitting in cafes and hotels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/all-of-the-people-who-are-using-their-blackberries-or-their-iphones/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Cable had a latitude to move which created less censorship and bestowed upon the artists, the writers and the creators, more liberty to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/cable-had-a-latitude-to-move-which-created-less-censorship-and/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [How do you do something where you're able to be specific and edgy enough to compete with what the cable networks are doing and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-katims/how-do-you-do-something-where-you-re-able-to-be-specific-and-edgy/) [Jason Katims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-katims/) > [I didn't have cable, so YouTube was my cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chamberlain/i-didn-t-have-cable-so-youtube-was-my-cartoons/) [Emma Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chamberlain/) > [Look, we can definitively agree that cable is far superior to network. That isn't to say that there can't be a great network drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-lindelof/look-we-can-definitively-agree-that-cable-is-far-superior-to-network/) [Damon Lindelof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-lindelof/) Browse all 245 Cable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think you could argue that President Obama could have watched a little cable news... 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