Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

5 Times Scott Jennings Duked It Out With The Left In 2025

[Screenshot/CNN/"Anderson Cooper 360"]

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings spent 2025 doing what he’s known for best: creating viral moments in which he dueled with the left.

Jennings, a former George W. Bush administration official and supporter of President Donald Trump, launched a new radio show in 2025. But Jennings still made time to duke it out with the left on television.

Oct. 23: Abby Phillip Tries To Downplay Mamdani Cozying Up To Radical Islamist

During his ultimately successful mayoral campaign, Democratic Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani made a campaign appearance at Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Masjid At-Taqwa mosque on Oct. 17, where he praised Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center attack, and posted a photo with the imam on X. “CNN NewsNight” host Abby Phillip tried to downplay the appearance, but Jennings didn’t let that happen.

WATCH:

“I can only tell you what I see on my phone. I see a picture of Mamdani with a guy who was an unindicted co-conspirator from a terrorist attack in New York City,” Jennings said when Phillip repeatedly questioned Jennings about if he thought Mamdani would have celebrated the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack that destroyed the World Trade Center.

Nov 3: Scott Jennings Explains To David Hogg Why Republicans Don’t Own Obamacare

As the partial government shutdown extended into November, former Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg defended congressional Democrats who wouldn’t support the continuing resolution, claiming they would be “complicit” in allowing enhanced Obamacare subsidies to expire.

WATCH:

“David, you would admit that the ACA was a Democrat legislation, yes? And you would admit that the subsidies that we’re talking about now were passed by Democrats, yes? And you would admit that the sunset provision in the subsidies, which comes up at the end of the year, was in place because of Democrats, yes?” Jennings responded. “Now, you want to make it a Republican problem.”

Nov.18: Pollster Plays The Race Card, Jennings Calls It ‘Ridiculous’

After left-wing filmmaker Franklin Leonard implied the files on registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein implicated Trump during a “CNN NewsNight” panel, Jennings grilled Leonard, calling the impromptu grilling an “IQ test.”

WATCH:

After Joshua Doss brought the exchange up later, and tried to claim Jennings was being racist, Jennings hit back.

“You’re ridiculous,” Jennings said. “You want to make it racial? Go ahead. But it’s ridiculous.”

Dec. 8: Jennings Delivers A Four-Word Reminder About Inflation Under Biden

Trump’s approval on the economy is down to 40.6% while his disapproval is up to 55.5%, according to the RealClearPolling, and Democrats swept high-profile November elections in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City, by focusing on the issue of “affordability.” However, Jennings didn’t let a left-wing panelist pin the issue on Republicans.

WATCH:

“I would note that the inflation that occurred under Biden was in part naturally occurring due to supply chain bottlenecks, and because the COVID, once-in-a- lifetime pandemic, occurred,” podcaster Emma Vigeland claimed, prompting Jennings to ask, “Natural, like they were on trees?”

“Policy choices were made,” Jennings added later.

Dec. 11: Scott Jennings Calls Out A Democrat’s Race-Baiting

After the Indiana state Senate voted down a congressional map that would have eliminated two Democratic-leaning seats in the United States House of Representatives, Democratic strategist Ameisha Cross claimed the Republicans were trying to suppress black votes. Jennings disputed Cross’s claim immediately, before giving the Democratic strategist a history lesson.

WATCH:

“In this country, I hate to — I hate to remind you of our history, but it was the Democratic Party that tried and tried and tried to suppress black votes in this country, not the Republican Party,” Jennings told Cross.

“I think you need to reread your civil rights history. The Democratic Party doesn’t have a clean record on this.”