Staff Reports
Steven Crowder announced this week that he is suing CNN, Jubilee Media, and Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico over CNN and Jubilee’s use of the phrase and segment label “Change My Mind” during a CNN/Jubilee town hall. The town-hall segment, moderated by CNN anchor Erin Burnett, repeatedly used the “Change My Mind” label on air. Crowder says his company, LWC IP Assets LLC, owns the registered trademark and that the networks ripped off his idea. This is the new development every conservative watcher should be tracking.
What Crowder is claiming: trademark and brand theft
Crowder points to a registered service mark for CHANGE MY MIND held by LWC IP Assets LLC. The registration lists entertainment services — webisodes and political commentary — which is exactly the territory Crowder’s “Change My Mind” series lives in. His argument is simple: CNN used his brand and format for their one-on-one voter segment, they profited from it, and that is trademark infringement. For readers searching for “Steven Crowder lawsuit,” “Change My Mind trademark,” or “CNN sued,” this is the core claim driving the story.
Legal obstacles the networks will use
CNN and Jubilee have defenses that are common in media law. They can say the phrase was used as a descriptive or newsworthy label, invoke nominative fair use, or argue the phrase is too generic to function as a source-identifier in this context. The First Amendment and news-reporting doctrines often protect how outlets label political coverage. Important caveat: as of now, Crowder has publicly announced the suit but I did not find a filed complaint or court docket in public records. That formal filing, if and when it appears, will show the actual legal claims and the relief he seeks.
Beyond law: politics, publicity, and who wins the narrative
This is as much a political fight as a legal one. CNN and Jubilee are big media brands; Crowder is a loud conservative personality who knows how to turn controversy into clicks and donations. If you’re watching for headlines, expect both sides to jockey for the court of public opinion while lawyers set up in the court of law. Republicans and conservative audiences will cheer Crowder for standing up; CNN will likely call it a reporting label and shrug — until a judge says otherwise. Either way, it’s a reminder that branding matters in modern media and that even a phrase can become a battleground.
What to watch next
Keep an eye out for a formal complaint, the jurisdiction it’s filed in, and any rush to seek a temporary injunction. Watch for statements from CNN, Jubilee Media, and the Talarico campaign — their explanations about why they used “Change My Mind” will matter. Look also for video screenshots showing the on-screen graphics and promos that used the phrase; that visual evidence can sway both public opinion and a judge. Until a complaint lands on a docket, this story is equal parts legal question and media spectacle — and conservatives should follow both the law and the show.
