CNN's Chris Cuomo during a televised townhall with Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) dedicated to LGBTQ issues in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 10, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake
(New York, New York) – CNN Host Chris Cuomo went after a rival cable news head this week, accusing Scott Jennings of acting like a “tough guy” and a “bully” after a heated exchange on CNN.
The clash centered around a viral clip where gun-control activist Cameron Kasky declared, “You don’t get to say the words ‘illegals’ anymore.” prompting Jennings to flatly dismiss the claim, a response that quickly ignited backlash online.
Reacting on his NewsNation program, Cuomo ripped into Jennings’ tone and approach, accusing him of trying to intimidate Kasky rather than engage in a real debate. Cuomo said Jennings was posturing as a “tough guy,” arguing that shouting down activists only deepens political divisions instead of addressing the substance of the issue.
The moment has become the latest flashpoint in cable news’ ongoing culture war over immigration language, free speech, and who gets to police political discourse. Conservatives praised Jennings for pushing back, while critics sided with Cuomo, calling the exchange emblematic of hostile panel culture on legacy networks.
The CNN panel clip continues to rack up views as the debate spills across social media, with neither side backing down.
