CNN Reporter Destroys a Republican Senator’s Lies in Glorious Segment

CNN took another step on the long walk to journalistic redemption in the form of a segment by anchor Kaitlan Collins, in which she meticulously debunked the lies of a Republican Senator whom she recently interviewed.

The three-minute segment was a follow-up and a refutation all in one. Days earlier, Collins interviewed MAGA Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. In that initial interview, when the topic turned to the GOP’s election denialism and schemes, Johnson regurgitated a tired frain.

The Republican Senator claimed Democrats were not only prolific election deniers themselves but frequently engaged in the same type of efforts employed by Republicans. When Collins smartly challenged him to provide examples, an increasingly frustrated Johnson said he wasn’t prepared to litigate this topic and that he’d have to return with sources. 

In the meantime, he snarled, “check the books!”

“Which books?” Collins deadpanned.

Johnson had no answer at the time but responded in a lengthy Twitter thread citing a handful of examples allegedly demonstrating that Democrats were guilty of the same behavior as Republicans. In her three-minute-long followup, Collins calmly but relentlessly debunked Johnson’s spurious claims. 

She highlighted one example in particular he cited: the 1960 election between then-Vice President Richard Nixon and JFK. Then, Hawaii Democrats sent an “alternate slate of electors” to Washington, D.C. to be certified—which may seem glancingly similar to what Republicans plotted to do in 2020.

But not really, Collins explained. In 1960, a recount was in progress which successfully flipped Hawaii’s electoral votes to Kennedy. A judge subsequently ruled the electors were legitimate for that reason. And, perhaps most importantly, even Nixon (as the presiding officer of the January 6th, 1961 election certification) recognized their validity and certified Kennedy’s victory.

Collins concluded her segment by reminding the audience of Johnson’s suspected involvement in his state’s fake elector scheme on behalf of Donald Trump, cheekily suggesting that will also be in the “books” of the future.