A heated exchange unfolded on CNN's NewsNight when a guest equated Israel's actions in Gaza to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prompting backlash from a conservative commentator. Host Abby Phillip struggled to moderate as voices overlapped. The discussion highlighted tensions in U.S. foreign policy credibility.
The confrontation occurred during a segment on CNN's NewsNight, moderated by Abby Phillip. Emma Vigeland, host of The Majority Report, argued that U.S. support for Israel has undermined America's moral authority globally, particularly in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She stated, “I do think that the kind of elephant in the room here is the United States completely losing, and the Biden administration is immensely complicit in this as well, moral standing throughout the world due to our complicity in the genocide in Gaza. Which has made it very difficult for us to speak to Ukrainian sovereignty and having a bully like the Russian government invading their sovereign territory.”
Scott Jennings, a conservative commentator, immediately pushed back, accusing the remarks of anti-Israel bias. When Phillip attempted to move on citing time constraints, Jennings insisted, “We have to debate this, Abby. Oh, we don’t have time for the anti-Israel propaganda?” The panel devolved into crosstalk, with Jennings referencing the October 7th attacks: “Unbelievable. October the 7th was fine? Yeah, unbelievable.”
Jennings criticized Vigeland's omission of Hamas's role, saying, “Israel is our ally. Not a single word in your speech for the atrocities that were committed on October the 7th. Not a single word.” Vigeland responded defiantly: “There shouldn’t be. We should cut off arms tomorrow.” Jennings continued, “Not a single word for the idea that Israel has every right to defend itself,” noting Vigeland's laughter. He added, “Not a single word for the fact that Hamas right now is killing people inside of Gaza—their own people. You seem to lay it all at the feet of Israel. Israel, a democratic ally, and your own country, and you have no negative word for the terrorists who raped and murdered and kidnapped, zero.”
Vigeland cited B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, which has described the situation in Gaza as genocide. Jennings rejected this, repeating, “None, none. And you still don’t. You still don’t!”
The exchange underscored divisions over the Israel-Hamas conflict and its intersections with other international crises, with no resolution reached on air.
