CNN Debate Crew Hammers Pro-Trump Analyst Over Abortion Claim In Post-Debate Brawl

CNN’s VP debate crew hammered pro-Trump CNN analyst Scott Jennings over what they saw as a cruel suggestion in his claim about infant deaths following unsuccessful abortion procedures.

Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), and Harris’s running mate, Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), met Tuesday night for the one and only vice-presidential debate, moderated by CBS News anchors Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell and simulcast across cable and broadcast news platforms.

The two candidates battled on a variety of issues, including abortion. In one exchange, Walz objected when Vance misstated the details of a Minnesota law that Walz signed.

During CNN’s Debate Night In America post-debate coverage, anchor Anderson Cooper presided over a panel that included Jennings, David Axelrod, Ashley Allison, and others.

Things got heated when Jennings cited “eight deaths among infants who survived abortion attempts during Tim Walz’s tenure as governor” — and got hammered by Axelrod and Allison:

JENNINGS: I just had — this thing in Minnesota, there were eight deaths among infants who survived abortion attempts during Tim Walz’s tenure as governor. It happened. They don’t want to talk about the fact that it happened. But there were children —

ALLISON: What’s the source of —

(CROSSTALK)

AXELROD: First of all, let me ask you a question since you’ve deeply researched this. What were the condition of these babies when they were born? What was the participation of the family —

JENNINGS: They tried to abort the babies and they survived the abortion then they died.

AXELROD: And you think that families casually tossed them aside?

JENNINGS: No, I think —

AXELROD: Tell me what their conditions, Scott?

(CROSSTALK)

AXELROD: Could they have survived and was it a case of families not wanting children to suffer who were — when they were told that they are doomed?

ALLISON: Yes.

AXELROD: Is that —

ALLISON: And that is the reality of the case.

AXELROD: So that seems important to me.

ALLISON: But you know what, here’s what I will say. Keep talking about that because when you all talk about abortion like this, it is when women and that gender gap continues to divide, not in your favor, because women, it is disrespectful to pretend like women are making choices about abortion that is the intent to just let a baby die at nine months.

Let me finish it here. And it is dishonest for J.D. Vance to go up there and try and push that narrative. And that is what I am saying when I said he presented well, but his policies and what he was saying was not truthful. It just wasn’t. And that is why the overwhelming American people, since Roe has been overturned, you guys are not winning. You are not winning. And if you run on this issue, you will not win in November.

JENNINGS: They’re not running on this issue. They’re running on —

ALLISON: They’re lying on this issue.

JENNINGS: They’re running on its up to the states. And they’re running on Donald Trump’s moderate position of some reasonable restrictions. Rape, incest, and life of the mother.

ALLISON: They’re lying.

AXELROD: Can I say something?

JENNINGS: IVF support. Moderate.

ALLISON: They’re lying.

AXELROD: You are — one of your frequent go-to points is Kamala Harris said this in 2019. That’s her position. Donald Trump said women should be punished if they had an abortion. Why shouldn’t we hold him to that? You talk about his moderate position. His moderate position has been adopted over the course of this campaign for purposes of this campaign, after he put the justices on the Supreme Court who overturned Roe, who’ve created a crisis for women who live in 20 states in this country.

JENNINGS: His position is moderate and it is in line with what I think most Americans —

AXELROD: Do you believe him when he said — when he said that women should —

JENNINGS: And I think Harris and Walz have proven they cannot discuss even a single restriction that they want.

AXELROD: Do you believe when he said women should be punished? Do you believe that?

JENNINGS: I don’t believe and no Republican wants to —

AXELROD: Do you believe — no, but he said.

ALLISON: But he said it.

AXELROD: Do you believe him when he said it?

ALLISON: And at that time it was roundly criticized by other Republicans.

AXELROD: Did you believe him when he said it?

JENNINGS: I can tell you what Republicans believe, which is —

AXELROD: I’m just asking you what Trump believes.

JENNINGS: I’m telling you what he’s running on right now.

AXELROD: I know what he’s running on right now.

ALLISON: No, but he’s running on is interesting because he’s running on to win.

AXELROD: I know what he’s running on right now.

ALLISON: He’s not running on it because it’s what he actually believes.

JENNINGS: Look, I get it. I would — if couldn’t articulate a single restriction, I would have attacked Trump, too.

ALLISON: This is what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz believes is that it’s none of your business what women do with their body and so stay out of our doctors’ offices and stay out of our bed.

JENNINGS: Well, I guess I’ll have to speak up for the babies. They’re not here to speak for themselves. Lord, have mercy.

COOPER: Let’s check back in with Jake in D.C. — Jake.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Anderson, Lord, have mercy.

The report Jennings mentioned is often presented as support for the false claim that Democrats allow people to “execute the baby” after it is born.

All of the examples Jennings cited — from compulsory State of Minnesota annual reports — consisted of babies being treated in accordance with the state law that requires “reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice shall be taken by the responsible medical personnel to preserve the life and health of the born alive infant.”

These are the examples from 2019 and 2021:

For the calendar year of January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019, three (3) abortion procedures resulting in a born-alive infant were reported.
• In one instance, fetal anomalies were reported but residual cardiac activity was present at 2 minutes. Care of fetus was transferred to the second medical doctor. No measures taken to preserve life were reported and the infant did not survive.
• In one instance, comfort care measures were provided as planned and the infant did not survive.
• In one instance, the infant was previable. No measures taken to preserve life were reported and the infant did not survive.

For the calendar year of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, 5 abortion procedures resulting in a born-alive infant were reported.
• In one instance, fetal anomalies were reported resulting in death shortly after delivery. No measures taken to preserve life were reported and the infant did not survive.
• In two instance, comfort care measures were provided as planned and the infant did not survive.
• In two instances, the infant was previable. No measures taken to preserve life were reported and the infant did not survive.

In the four years prior to Walz’s tenure, 16 such cases were reported. All were treated in accordance with the law.

Watch above via CNN’s Debate Night In America post-debate coverage.