‘Are You Ok, Ma’am?’ NewsNation Host Cuts to Break While Democratic Rep. Suffers Severe Coughing Fit

NewsNation host Leland Vittert was forced to cut to a break on Monday after Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) suffered a severe coughing fit and was unable to talk.

On his NewsNation show On Balance, Vittert introduced Clarke before reading a statement from the White House on the crisis at the southern border.

Throughout the statement, Clarke could be heard coughing, prompting Vittert to comment, “Bless you.”

As Clarke continued to cough, Vittert questioned, “Are you ok, ma’am, or should we come back?”

Clarke continued her coughing fit with a pained face, unable to respond to Vittert’s question.

After Vittert asked, “Are you okay?” the congresswoman held her thumb up with a contorted face, trying desperately not to cough.

“Tell you what, get a glass of water, we’re gonna come back to you,” said Vittert. “I hear you coughing. It happens to all of us, no worries there. We’ll talk a little bit about the border when we come back.”

After the break, Clarke returned to the show and apologized for the coughing fit.

“First of all, let me apologize to you and your listening audience for my choking there,” she said. “I’m much better. Little tickle in the throat got out of control, but we got it under wraps now.”

Watch above via NewsNation.