CNN Panel Caught Defending Tim Walz—Ouch
Scott Jennings didn’t hold back on CNN. He’s the lone conservative on the panel. He pushed back when others tried to paint Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as a calming voice.
Host Abby Phillip played clips of Walz urging peaceful protest and rejecting violence. But Jennings accused the panel of cherry-picking. He called them out on the spot.
“Okay, you cherry-picked a handful of comments,” Jennings shot back. “Did you play the comment where he said, ‘We’re under a federal occupation?'”
Phillip tried to move past it. She asked whether calling Minnesota occupied territory actually constitutes inciting violence. Jennings answered bluntly.
“Of course it is,” Jennings responded. “What does that language sound like to you? You have Walz and Frey and Flanagan and the rest of these Democrats in Minnesota radicalizing and propagandizing their constituency, telling them things that aren’t true.”
He then tied that rhetoric to real-world consequences. He listed instances he said followed the heated language — violent and chaotic moments that, in his view, weren’t happening in a vacuum.
“And what has happened?” Jennings continued. “One lady went out and got into a very, very sad and unfortunate situation.”
He recounted other incidents: “Three Venezuelan illegals came out and tried to beat an ICE agent to death with a shovel,” he said. “Hordes of people on the street vandalized and raided ICE vehicles and stole weapons, Kevlar, and documents, and […] dox people on the internet last night. Do you believe they are listening to Tim Walz when he talks about peace? Or do you think they’re listening to Tim Walz, who says we’re being occupied by the federal government?”
The exchange was sharp and aired live. Jennings called the panel’s selective presentation dishonest. He accused local officials of stirring fears and anger for political effect.
Whether you agree with him or not, the moment was notable. A conservative voice pushed back hard against colleagues who framed Walz as a pacifying figure. The clip has been shared online, and it’s kicking up debate about rhetoric and responsibility from elected leaders.
BREAKING: An entire CNN panel was just left EMBARRASSED when @ScottJenningsKY CALLED OUT just what Tim Walz said that they’re DEFENDING!
“You CHERRY-PICKED a handful of comments. Did you play the comment where he said, “We’re under a federal occupation? Is THAT inciting… pic.twitter.com/kVxPEjdwSM
BREAKING: An entire CNN panel was just left EMBARRASSED when @ScottJenningsKY CALLED OUT just what Tim Walz said that they're DEFENDING!
"You CHERRY-PICKED a handful of comments. Did you play the comment where he said, "We're under a federal occupation? Is THAT inciting… pic.twitter.com/kVxPEjdwSM
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) January 16, 2026