A panel on CNN’s State of the Union spiraled right into a shouting match Sunday over GOP Rep. Mike Lawler’s protection of Trump-era tariffs.
The conflict kicked off when Democratic strategist Rebecca Katz blasted Republicans in Congress over the tariff votes—measures Lawler supported earlier than the Supreme Court later ruled much of the policy illegal.
“The Republicans in Congress are cowards,” Katz mentioned, earlier than anti-Trump Republican Margaret Hoover jumped in to argue that MAGA’s “solidification of power” was guilty.
Host Dana Bash then turned to Lawler, jokingly dubbing him “Congressman Coward” as she invited him to reply. “She was saying you’re a coward—I want to let you respectfully respond,” Bash mentioned, shortly stressing that the nickname was meant as a joke.
Lawler, 39, solely infected tensions additional by reframing his help for the sweeping global tariffs as a part of a crackdown on drug cartels.
“With respect to tariffs, the bottom line was that resolution that was put in front of Congress was about ending a national emergency on fentanyl,” he mentioned, happening to reward the reducing ranges of fentanyl deaths underneath Trump.
He additionally took a swipe at Democrats—and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer specifically—saying each events had beforehand backed tariffs.
As Katz tried to interrupt, the New York congressman raised his voice and continued: “And so now that the Supreme Court has ruled with respect to this specific provision of federal law, we are going to have to deal between Congress and the administration with respect to tariffs.”
The panel then turned a frenzied back-and-forth between the duo, with Bash, Hoover, and Van Jones buying and selling shocked glances as their efforts to cease the shouting fell flat.
“You voted for tariffs, the people of your district—” Katz started, with Lawler defending: “No, I voted against ending the national emergency with respect to fentanyl. Be honest about what it was.”
“You voted with Trump,” Katz repeated, earlier than the MAGA devotee blasted: “Be honest about what it was. I know that’s very difficult for you.”
“It’s going to hurt people in your district,” Katz floor out, with Lawler claiming that he “provided a real tax cut” earlier than the Democrat shouted that he was “making costs higher.”
As Jones turned his dumfounded smile to the digital camera, Lawler continued to argue: “We put—no, I‘ve actually cut costs by putting more money back in people’s pockets.”
Bash tried to rein within the feuding duo earlier than giving up with a resigned “wow.”
“I guess we’ll see in November, I guess we’ll see if they believe you in November,” Katz finally challenged, with Lawler mocking: “I guess we will.”
Jones took benefit of the slight concession to jokily announce a change of programming primarily based on the pair.
“We have a new show on CNN, it‘s called ‘The Bickersons.’ After these messages!” he mentioned to the digital camera because the panel laughed.
