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Alice Stewart, a prominent political commentator for CNN and former adviser to numerous GOP presidential candidates, passed away at the age of 58 on Saturday. Her body was discovered outside in Bellevue, Washington, with no signs of foul play according to police. Stewart’s career spanned a wide range of roles, from local reporter to communications director for several presidential campaigns. She joined CNN as a political commentator before the 2016 election and frequently provided insights on political developments. In addition to her work in journalism, Stewart co-hosted the podcast ‘Hot Mics from Left to Right’ and served on the senior advisory committee at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics.

Alice Stewart, a well-known CNN political commentator and GOP adviser, passed away unexpectedly at 58 on Saturday, May 18. She was found outdoors in the Bellevue neighborhood of northern Virginia, and law enforcement officials believe she suffered a medical emergency. No foul play is suspected.

Stewart was a respected figure in the political realm and had contributed to various GOP presidential campaigns. Her career spanned local reporting and production in Georgia, news anchoring in Arkansas, and significant roles as communications director for several high-profile candidates, including Mike Huckabee, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Ted Cruz.

CNN’s CEO, Mark Thompson, expressed deep sorrow over Stewart’s passing, praising her political expertise, kindness, and invaluable contributions to the network’s coverage. Stewart’s sudden death has left a void in the political commentary and has deeply affected her colleagues and those who knew her.

During a live interview on CNN, Trump’s lawyer, Will Scharf, faced scrutiny over payments referred to as “grossed up” by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. Scharf appeared visibly unsettled and struggled to provide a coherent explanation, leading to further questioning and discomfort. The incident highlighted the challenges Trump’s legal team faces as they navigate ongoing legal inquiries.

After months of uncertainty, President Joe Biden and Republican nominee Donald Trump have agreed to participate in two general election debates. The first debate will be held on June 27, 2024, at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, while the second debate will be hosted by ABC on September 10, 2024. The debates will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, and ABC anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis, respectively. The first debate will take place before either candidate becomes their party’s official nominee, and will cover a wide range of topics including Trump’s criminal hush money trial, Biden’s foreign trips, and the Supreme Court’s term. The second debate will occur before most states begin early voting. Both campaigns have outlined their preferences for the debates, with Biden’s team favoring muted microphones and no live audience, while Trump’s team is pushing for more debates and prefers a stand-up format with a live audience. The deal between the campaigns sidelines the Commission on Presidential Debates, the nonpartisan group that has organized the debates for over three decades. It remains unclear whether third party candidates will qualify for the debates. However, CNN and ABC have set a threshold of 15% in four national polls for candidates to qualify.

Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have agreed to two presidential debates, with the first set to take place in June hosted by CNN. Trump has accepted the challenge, stating he is ready and energized for the debates. Biden’s team stipulated that the debates be hosted by certain networks and without an audience, indicating concerns about Biden’s health and stamina. The CNN debate will be held in Atlanta, raising concerns about the network’s potential bias and the ability to provide a balanced discussion. Trump has also suggested releasing a list of potential national security team members, following his successful strategy of releasing a list of possible Supreme Court justices in the past. Biden’s response to the debate proposal will reveal his confidence in his ability to handle such events, and any weakness shown could raise concerns within the Democratic party.

Former CNN stars Jeffrey Toobin, Don Lemon, and Brian Stelter have made a return to the network, marking a shift away from the less partisan approach implemented by former CEO Chris Licht. Toobin has made multiple appearances as a guest commentator, while Lemon has spoken about his feud with Elon Musk and Stelter has covered the Trump hush money trial. Licht’s decision to cancel shows and fire staff, including these three personalities, sparked an open revolt among employees. Licht’s efforts to revitalize CNN’s morning show and launch new shows have been largely unsuccessful, with both programs being scrapped after poor ratings. This rollback of Licht’s decisions signals a rebuke from current staff and a return to the more liberal, anti-Trump stance that had characterized CNN under previous leadership.

A group of prominent legal commentators, united in their dislike for former President Donald Trump, have been holding regular secret Zoom calls to coordinate their strategies and discuss his legal situation. These calls have raised concerns about potential media bias and groupthink, as the participants include many high-profile contributors to liberal media outlets.

Jon Stewart criticized the media’s coverage of Donald Trump’s hush money trial, calling it irresponsible and excessive. He mocked news networks for their past mistakes in covering Trump and for their tendency to create a spectacle out of mundane details.