Heated Debate Erupts on CNN Over Scientists Saying Men Can Get Pregnant
A contentious discussion unfolded on CNN’s “NewsNight” Thursday when Republican strategist Scott Jennings clashed with host Abby Phillip and fellow panelists over the credibility of a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) official. The debate followed the dismissal of CDC Director Susan Monarez and the subsequent resignations of several agency officials.
The exchange centered on remarks made by Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Jennings argued that Daskalakis’ use of inclusive language undermined his credibility. “I mean, look, the reason, Scott, I said what I said is because rather than you seriously answering a question about the real concerns that were raised by these officials about the bending of science to the will of that guy, you decided that the most important thing to you was their lack of credibility because they used the word ‘people?’ I mean, I just think — I understand the rhetoric and the political —” Phillip said, before Jennings interjected, “You realize that you’re accepting some politicization of science, but not others, right?”
When Phillip pressed Jennings to clarify, asking, “What’s the politicization of science that’s been accepted?” he responded, “Can men get pregnant or not?” This prompted a defense of Daskalakis’ phrasing from Phillip and panelist Dr. Chris T. Parnell, who argued that Jennings was applying a double standard.
“It’s a question of whether your scientists are going to politicize or not. And you accept some and not others,” Jennings said. Phillip countered, “That has nothing to do with the conversation that we are having,” to which Jennings replied, “I disagree. It’s a credibility issue.”
The debate grew heated as Parnell accused Jennings of spreading “misinformation and disinformation” that contributed to violence, referencing a shooting at the CDC’s headquarters. Jennings pushed back, stating, “There’s attacks on ICE agents every day —” Parnell responded, “A police officer is dead. There are people rejecting the fact that people are being kidnapped on the street.”
Jennings accused the panel of selectively addressing violence, saying, “You seem to reject the idea that violence is being incited before. Now, you’re blaming this for violence? You just cherry pick these things like —” Phillip interrupted, asserting, “Hold on a second. Scott, there is nobody who is justifying attacks against ICE officials. There — and nobody should justify or diminish somebody shooting hundreds of bullets —”
Recent incidents involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were referenced during the discussion. In July, a suspect fired at ICE agents during a raid on a California marijuana farm, prompting the FBI to offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction. Additionally, since July 4, two separate shootings targeted ICE or Border Patrol facilities in Texas, with ten individuals charged with attempted m*rder in one of those cases.
Panelist S.E. Cupp attempted to steer the conversation back, asking, “No, but why do we have to get derailed by this political BS when you could just say, yeah, that’s garbage and we shouldn’t politicize science and CDC?” Jennings responded, “Because some scientists are allowed to politicize things and some aren’t.”
