CNN host Abby Phillip completely ran out of patience with her MAGA panelist, Scott Jennings, during a tense segment about Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
The Trump administration has ordered Harvard to abolish all hiring and admissions practices that “that function as ideological litmus tests.” At a hearing of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Rep. Mark Takano asked McMahon if Harvard’s hypothetical refusal to hire a Holocaust denier would “count as an ideological litmus test.”
“I believe there should be diversity of viewpoints relative to teachings and opinions on campuses,” McMahon answered.
On Wednesday’s NewsNight, the panel quickly descended into chaos after watching footage of McMahon’s answer. “A diversity of viewpoints about Holocaust denying?” Phillip said in an astonished reaction to McMahon’s answer.
“That’s not what she said,” Jennings immediately replied. “That is not at all what just happened there.”
Phillip patiently read a transcript of the question and McMahon’s answer, as Jennings sat shaking his head. Jennings insisted that McMahon was not actually answering what he viewed as Takano’s “patently ridiculous question.”
“Why on earth would she not be able to answer that question?” Phillip asked, with the to and fro already becoming terse.
Phillip repeatedly pressed Jennings and GOP strategist Brad Todd—who took Jennings’ side in the argument—to answer.
“If somebody comes in and says, ‘I don’t believe the Holocaust really happened,’ will the federal government bring the hammer down on universities for saying, ‘That is not a viewpoint that we are allowing on our campuses?’” Phillip asked. “The answer ought to be ‘no’ but it sounds like neither of you want to give an answer.”
The tension then rapidly boiled over, with Jennings claiming at one point that the panel was accusing McMahon of being a Holocaust denier and proclaiming: “This is outrageous!”
“Oh please, Scott, hold on a second,” a visibly annoyed Phillip interjected, adding: “Excuse me, Scott. Nobody accused her of being a Holocaust denier.”
“You’re implying that that’s what she wants!” Jennings replied.
“It is completely disingenuous for you to sit at this table and say that we accused her of being a Holocaust denier,” Phillip said. “No one—absolutely no one said that. It’s disingenuous, it’s disrespectful, and it’s wrong.”
Todd rallied to Jennings’ defense again, claiming that it was actually Rep. Takano who had asked a “disingenuous” question to McMahon. Phillip replied by pointing out that Takano had also asked if Harvard would be compelled to hire an election denier under the Trump administration’s “litmus test” rules.
After Todd started to answer by asking a different question, Phillip had had enough.
“It is very clear that neither of you want to answer a very simple question...” Phillip said, referring to Jennings and Todd. Jennings interrupted, saying, “So now you’re accusing us?”
“Are you accusing us?” Jennings went on, with a mocking grin. “Go ahead and do it!”
Undeterred, Phillip pressed on with her question.
“Is Harvard allowed, is any school allowed, to say that these are facts, and if you don’t believe in facts, you cannot teach here’?” she said. “Are they allowed to do that?”
“The question is, what is the litmus test today...” Jennings answered, prompting an immediate rebuke from Phillip.
“Scott, do not answer my question with a question,” she said. “When you answer my question with a question, you are dodging. So answer the question!”
He insisted Takano had asked a “disingenuous question” designed to provoke a “gotcha moment.”
“It is very telling that you are not able or willing to even entertain an answer,” Phillip responded.
Todd then bailed him out, finally giving some semblance of an actual answer. “Harvard has the right to give any sort of litmus test they want for their faculty, they are a private institution,” he said.
“Well there’s the answer to your question,” Phillip said, shooting a disapproving look at Jennings, “Thank you, Brad. I appreciate that.”
