CNN anchor Kate Bolduan told conservative colleague Scott Jennings to “zip it” during an on-air dispute with a Democrat-supporting pundit who claimed that “prices are going down.”
Bolduan hosted a segment ahead of the certification of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory on Monday in which she, Jennings and Bakari Sellers debated President Joe Biden’s legacy and the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
Jennings, a former aide to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), pushed back when Bolduan expressed amazement that Trump was re-elected despite his role in the events at the US Capitol four years ago.
“They looked at what happened on January the 6th, they looked at all the things Democrats claimed about Donald Trump. And they also analyzed every single decision that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris made. And they delivered Donald Trump a convincing four years,” Jennings said.
The comments were reported by the news site Mediaite.
Sellers, a former Democratic state lawmaker and longtime pundit, said that Trump “is inheriting one of the best economies that a president has inherited in a very long period of time.”
He also claimed that “net migration at the border is lower than it was even before Donald Trump took office.”
“Okay. I mean, I recognize that was the argument that was made during the election,” Jennings countered.
“And I would also like to recognize that the American people soundly rejected that argument.”
Sellers then incorrectly claimed that “prices are going down” — despite the rate of inflation continuing to stay well above targets.
“They’re not going down,” Jennings said, noting that “inflation is still going up.”
“It’s plateaued,” Sellers replied.
Bolduan then interjected and backed up Sellers, stating: “It’s decreasing in rate, which is the entire goal of the Federal Reserve.”
“Are prices going down or not, just to be clear? No, they’re not and they’re…” Jennings said before being interrupted by Bolduan.
At this point, Bolduan appeared to get annoyed, stating: “They are down from their sky high rates, yes. Wait, wait, wait. Stop! Let’s move on…”
Jennings and Sellers continued the discussion, talking over one another as the conversation grew tense.
“You guys are trying…”
That’s when an exasperated Bolduan told Jennings: “Zip it!”
Jennings then tried to conclude his thought, saying: “…to paint a picture of a country that doesn’t exist! I don’t understand!”
“I’m not painting anything, I’m painting stop talking! That’s what I’m painting,” Bolduan said.
Last month, Jennings, who is often the lone conservative voice on CNN panel discussions about politics, scolded Sellers for touching him as the two clashed over Trump’s campaign promise to help bring down grocery prices.
