In a Sunday segment on so-called “Reliable Sources”, media janitor and host Brian Stelter proved how much of a clown show CNN was by trotting out disgraced journalist Dan Rather to talk about, of all things: why the “truth still matters.” At the same time, Stelter wanted Rather to talk about how the “truth is closing in” on President Trump, and how the President apparently runs a cult.

“So let's talk more about the truth and why it matters and what's been happening in the impeachment inquiry coverage,” Stelter proclaimed as he introduced his panel of liberal journalists, which included the washed-up Rather, who he sucked up to: “And I’ve got to start with you Dan because you are our senior correspondent today. You’ve been watching history, along with the rest of us. Do you feel that anything changed after these first two days of televised hearings?”

Rather was adamant that “one thing has changed” during the Democratic-led impeachment hearings. “It's becoming increasingly apparent that truth is closing in. Truth does matter,” he said.

Someone should really tell Stelter that Rather was fired from CBS News because he rode a fake news story about President George W. Bush to the destruction of his career. But considering how often Stelter invites the serial liar on, it’s clear he’s trying to help rehabilitate Rather’s image. Rather still claims his lies about Bush were true.

“I think we've seen the last few days, as to say, truth has begun to close in. Facts are beginning to matter. The difference between facts and the truth, people under oath and the false narratives that have been put out in way of defense is beginning to tell,” Rather continued. The irony was lost on both of them.

Rather also took a shot at Fox News, claiming: “And there's been this feeling for a long time that well, the White House with this alternative narrative, a false narrative and with its allies in primetime on Fox was at least in a standoff with truth.”

After playing a clip of NBC’s Saturday Night Live mocking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Stelter treated Rather’s unhinged rambling on Twitter with reverence:

Dan, you tweeted something that might be related to this. You said the other day, “I have covered many cults. Some end with a bang, others with a whimper, but they invariably end. The question is how much damage they leave in their wake.” Is Mitch McConnell part of the Trump cult?

That’s right, the guy who was opining about how “truth still matters” wanted his guest to talk about how the President runs a cult, of which there was no evidence.

Along with the ominous note that “cults generally don’t end well,” Rather agreed with his host’s notion about McConnell and claimed that all of Trump’s supporters were members of the cult and others knew it too:

And I’m not the only one making this observation that increasingly President Trump's support seems cultish. It's all about him it’s not about the policy, it’s not about the standards of politics. Ronald Reagan had a very solid following but he stood for something in terms of policy. Franklin Roosevelt, same way.

The segment was concluded with Rather suggesting he had his “doubts” that the impeachment hearings would break the cult’s hold.

Only “#FactsFirst” on CNN.

The transcript is below, click "expand" to read: