Republican commentator Scott Jennings went ballistic on CNN Tuesday during a heated debate with former Biden adviser Neera Tanden over vandalism at Tesla locations. The argument, which quickly escalated, made Jennings trend on social media for all the wrong reasons.
During the exchange, Jennings raised his voice, shouting, “So let me educate you about my position!” as he became visibly upset. Despite the absence of regular host Abby Phillip, the tension continued to rise, with John Berman stepping in as the mediator.
Jennings, who previously worked for President George W. Bush, has gained attention for his fiery opinions. Known for supporting President Donald Trump and businessman Elon Musk, Jennings’ fiery comments are a regular feature of his appearances. But viewers seem to be tuning in for moments like the one on Tuesday, where he clashed with Tanden.
Jennings sided with Trump’s view that the people involved in vandalizing Tesla locations were domestic terrorists. He criticized the left, saying, “That’s the American left right now… an angry mob willing to take things into their own hands, including vandalizing cars and car dealerships.”
Tanden pushed back, pointing out the double standard: “So when they do it to a Tesla dealership, it’s really bad, but when they do it to the halls of Congress, we should pardon them?” she asked.
Jennings snapped back, “I know you haven’t been around for a while, so let me educate you about my position on Jan. 6.” His frustration was clear, and Tanden responded sarcastically, “I’m so sorry.”
The tension built as Jennings continued to argue, shouting, “Let me educate you about my position!” Berman tried to steer the conversation back to Jan. 6, but Jennings wasn’t having it.
Tanden added, “I’m sorry you’re getting emotional,” to which Jennings retorted, “Yeah, I’m sorry you’re a condescending person who hasn’t been paying attention to what I do.”
Jennings continued, shouting that he didn’t support the violence of Jan. 6 but felt the attacks on Musk’s company were unfair.
“This right here, what’s going on with a guy who helps our country… it’s outrageous,” he said. “These people need to be found and put in jail.”
After the exchange, Tanden posted a comment on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Some men are so emotional.”
You can watch the full, tense exchange in the video below.
Scott Jennings blows up at Neera Tanden
Tanden: So when they do it to a Tesla dealership, it's really bad. But when they do it to the halls of congress, we should pardon them. Is that your position? pic.twitter.com/LsNMbGhpHo
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 19, 2025
