\n<\/p>\n
CNN attempted to do a little damage control on Tuesday after a post coddling two New York City terror suspects \u2014 both of whom swore allegiance to the Islamic State after being taken into custody \u2014 drew fierce criticism.<\/p>\n
The post, which was deleted on Tuesday amid the backlash, read, \u201cTwo Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could\u2019ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather. But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The network was roundly mocked for characterizing the pair \u2014 one of whom said his goal had been to execute an attack more deadly than the Boston Marathon bombing that killed three in 2013 \u2014 as regular teenagers who\u2019d just happened to pick Saturday to throw improvised explosive devices (IEDs) into a crowd of civilians.<\/p>\n
\u201cClassic Pennsylvania teenager behavior: throwing IEDs and pledging allegiance to ISIS. Boys will be boys!\u201d The Daily Wire\u2019s Michael Knowles commented.<\/p>\n
\nClassic Pennsylvania teenager behavior: throwing IEDs and pledging allegiance to ISIS. Boys will be boys! pic.twitter.com\/KfcMFBXdxK<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) March 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) added<\/a>, \u201cCNN got this headline wrong. It should be: \u2018Two radical Islamic terrorists came to NYC pledging allegiance to ISIS with bombs meant to kill Americans\u2019\u2026There. Fixed it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat on Earth? CNN acts like they were sightseeing and accidentally found some bombs. NO. They bought chemicals, made the bombs and went to NYC to commit a terrorist attack,\u201d another comment said<\/a>. \u201cCNN is an unfunny version of the Onion designed to misinform.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another post from @honestreporting<\/a> criticized the outlet for \u201cinfantilizing\u201d the people who carry out violent crimes driven by ideology.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow. ISIS-inspired perpetrators commit a literal terrorist act, and this is what CNN comes up with? Oh, those poor \u2018Pennsylvania teenagers,\u2019 whose lives have \u2018drastically changed\u2019 because they made the conscious decision to throw bombs. When will the media stop employing narrative storytelling to infantilize perpetrators of ideologically motivated crimes?\u201d<\/p>\n
After deleting the post, CNN attempted to explain it away with a follow-up: \u201cA post regarding the two individuals arrested for throwing homemade bombs outside of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edits were also made to the story itself, which had initially included the same descriptions of the perpetrators. The accompanying editor\u2019s note<\/a> read, \u201cA previous version of this story included a summary that does not reflect the gravity of the incident, thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting. It therefore has been changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
A post from Brian Stelter\u2019s \u201cReliable Sources\u201d newsletter conceded that the X post was problematic but claimed that \u201cthe story itself was solid\u201d \u2014 but critics pointed out that the post had been lifted directly from the story.<\/p>\n
\nThis morning\u2019s @ReliableSources<\/a> newsletter has the context >>> https:\/\/t.co\/v9NLjgs75l<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/S5pR7kirMB<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201c\u2018The story itself was solid. But the tweet was outrageous,’\u201d Jerry Dunleavy quoted<\/a>, adding, \u201cThe tweet in question ***was also the lede of the story*** before the article was stealth edited.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n