‘Everyone, Just Stop Talking!’ Abby Phillip Warns CNN Panel Going Off the Rails in Wild Immigration Debate
CNN’s Abby Phillip sternly warned a panel going off the rails in an immigration debate on Thursday, barely able to get through the crosstalk and shouting.
On NewsNight, a debate on President Donald Trump’s mass deportations kicked into high gear as comedian John Fugelsang and Jillian Michaels went at it, with CNN commentators Karen Finney and Scott Jennings attempting to join the debate as Phillip continuously tried to shut down the chaos.
“If you’re on our soil, you’re allowed to claim asylum,” Fugelsang told Michaels, arguing at one point that illegal migrants pump billions into the economy and don’t directly affect people like Michaels. “If you’re born here, you are a citizen.”
Things immediately turned into indecipherable crosstalk as Michaels pushed back and Finney and Jennings tried jumping in.
“Scott, hold on,” Phillip said to Jennings. “Scott, just a second, please.”
“Did you have a problem with the millions of people that Obama deported, over 50% of which did not get due process… expedited removal, voluntary return,” Michaels told the panel as Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-CA) jumped in.
“Expedited removal is in the law!” he said. “Follow the law.”
“I believe people had the opportunity to go before a judge and make their case, actually,” Finney said.
“That is absolutely untrue,” Michaels shot back.
“So that makes it okay now?” Fugelsang asked.
“That’s not my point. It’s the selection of outrage,” Michaels responded.
The crosstalk quickly kicked up again.
“Guys, hold on a second,” Phillip said as she tried to single out Michaels to finish her point, warning both the congressman and Finney to stop jumping in. “Guys, guys, hang on one second.”
“Los Angeles is now a sanctuary city. California didn’t have sanctuary cities when Obama was in office, and they cooperated under a program,” Michaels said as Phillips’s words failed to land with anyone.
“How are they making your life worse?” Fugelsang asked Michaels. “How are they hurting you?”
“That’s not the point,” Michaels said. “Illegal immigration hurts everybody.”
“Illegal immigration pumps $5 billion a year into our economy!” Fugelsang shot back.
The debate went off the rails yet again as Phillips tried individually telling people like Jennings, Fugelsang, and Michaels to stop and listen to her.
“Jillian, Jillian, hi,” she said. “Scott, please.”
Phillip then shut down the debate completely.
“Okay, everyone just stop talking for just a second. Jillian, please stop talking,” she said. “You all are all talking at the same time. It’s impossible to hear or understand. When I say stop talking, please stop talking.”
Watch above via CNN.
