Chris Licht on changing CNN, Don Lemon, and more | Semafor Media Summit

Licht partially defended Don Lemon when asked about how he navigates the outsized role CNN anchor Don Lemon gets in media coverage of CNN in an interview with Semafor Editor-in-chief Ben Smith at the Semafor Media Summit.

"Don Lemon is a lightning rod because he really came to prominence during an era where that was celebrated and encouraged in prime time,” he said. “CNN has moved on from that and Don has moved on from that."

Licht also praised the high ratings Psaki has garnered in her first weeks as an MSNBC host. But asked whether he would hire a White House press secretary like Psaki as a host on CNN, Licht said that she was a "great hire" for MSNBC, but it wouldn't be his strategy.

"I don't know that I would do that... it depends on who it is," Licht said.