‘We Are Not Doing That’: CNN Host Tries To Stop Scott Jennings As He Shares His Thoughts About Political Violence

CNN host Kasie Hunt tried to interrupt Republican strategist Scott Jennings Tuesday during “The Arena” as he pointed out that Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro failed to mention the political ideology of the suspect who attempted to burn his house down.

Earlier on Tuesday, Shapiro spoke at the Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh, saying that political violence “has no place in our society, regardless of what motivates it.” Shapiro briefly mentioned the attack on his home in April. Hunt asked Jennings if Shapiro “has got a point” advocating against political violence. (RELATED: Democrat Rep Tells CNN That Labeling GOP ‘Fascist’ Or ‘Hitler’ Doesn’t Incite People)

“Well, I think his point would be strengthened if he were honest today about who burned his house down. It was a free Palestine leftist who came and burned down the governor’s mansion. He left that out. He left that out of his tweet today,” Jennings said. “He’s talking about cherry picking political violence. And we’re talking about where there might be political violence. The violence against the governor of Pennsylvania and his family came from the left.”

“I think there’s a rush by Democrats who want to be president in 2028 to try to turn. Somehow Donald Trump’s friend gets shot,” Jennings added. “Now everybody wants to blame Donald Trump for it. I guess that’s what you have to do to get elected president as a Democrat.”

In April, officials arrested a self-proclaimed socialist who supported the Black Lives Matter movement, Cody Balmer, after he turned himself in for attempting to burn down Shapiro’s official residence. Balmer was charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and burglary.

Hunt then cut in as Jennings spoke, saying, “We are not doing that sitting here,” and directed CNN’s Kate Bedingfield to respond. Jennings pushed back, however, asking, “Is that not what’s happening?” Bedingfield replied and said “it doesn’t matter where the violence came from.”

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“To sit here and suggest that somehow him not mentioning it was some sort of sleight of hand to try to make it seem like it was … you missed the entire point of what he was saying,” Bedingfield said. “And it’s a message that is badly, badly needed in this country at this moment.”

Jennings responded.

“Look, I think that if we cannot be honest, if I were him and somebody tried to burn my house down,” Jennings said. “I think I’d be honest about who did it and why they did it. And it would matter for people to know that, would it not?”

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated last week. Hundreds of leftists, including educators, have been fired after publicly celebrating his murder. Some Democrats — along with others who ridiculed Kirk’s supporters — were quick to blame President Donald Trump and Republicans for the crime.

Hunt asked Jennings if his message wasn’t one that encouraged people to “rise above,” adding, “because anyone that is committing an act of political violence, who is trying to kill someone else for what they believe in, it’s like it is inherently wrong and awful.”

“Why are your two impulses mutually exclusive? Why can’t we all say all political violence is bad, which I wholeheartedly believe, and also be honest when people have clear intentions?” Jennings asked. “I think there’s a difference between people that have clear intentions and clearly deranged people. But in the case of Shapiro, and I think in the case of Charlie Kirk, we know the intentions, the political intentions, [from] the people at play.”

“When we sort of skirt around it, and we’re not honest about it, we let it off the hook. And I don’t think we should let people with clear political intentions to commit violence off the hook,” Jennings said. “So I like what he said about condemning violence. I just would like it a little more if we could just be a little bit honest about what happened at his home.”

Tensions between Republicans and Democrats increased during the 2024 presidential election cycle. Corporate media and the campaign of former Vice President Kamala Harris escalated their rhetoric against Trump. Trump was called a fascist by Harris, with former President Joe Biden saying Trump should be locked up.

According to a recent Napolitan News Service poll, data shows 26% of those aged 18 to 34 believe America is “better off now that Charlie Kirk has been killed,” despite saying “it is always difficult to wish ill of another human being.” Among Democrats, 24% agreed with the sentiment.

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