CNN Map Mislabels Alabama as Mississippi in Hurricane Dorian Coverage

(INSET: A CNN map mis-identifying Alabama as Mississippi) ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 28: A
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images, CNN screenshot
Joshua Caplan

CNN erroneously labeled Alabama as Mississippi during its weekend coverage of Hurricane Dorian — an error for which White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham mocked the left-wing network Thursday.

The network presented the graphic Sunday as part of a segment regarding Dorian’s path as it inches up the United States’ East Coast. The hurricane, which killed at least 20 people in the Bahamas in recent days, is presently lashing the Carolinas as a Category 2 storm.

Grisham pointed out CNN’s error on Twitter, writing: “Hi @CNN, I know you guys are busy analyzing lines on a map, but perhaps you use your time to study up on U.S. geography?”

CNN responded directly to Grisham’s taunt, saying: “Thanks, Stephanie. Yes, we made a mistake (which we fixed in less than 30 seconds). And now we are admitting it. You all should try it sometime.”

The back and forth comes as President Donald Trump repeated his claim that “certain models strongly suggested” that Hurricane Dorian could hit Alabama. On Wednesday, the president showed reporters a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) map in the Oval Office with semicircle seemingly drawn with a black marker to show Alabama is in the storm’s path.

“Alabama was going to be hit or grazed, and then Hurricane Dorian took a different path (up along the East Coast). The Fake News knows this very well. That’s why they’re the Fake News!” President Trump wrote earlier Thursday of his previous prediction.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect that CNN’s incorrect map appeared on Sunday — not this Thursday, when Ms. Grisham brought the mistake to wider awareness.

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