A discussion on CNN’s “NewsNight” turned heated Wednesday after former New York Times columnist Charles Blow and New York Post financial correspondent Lydia Moynihan sparred over the confirmation hearing of President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Director of National Intelligence.
The panel was discussing the Senate confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, the current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, whom Trump nominated for the intelligence post. During the hearing, several Democratic senators questioned Clayton about the 2020 presidential election, asking him who won. Clayton responded by saying Joe Biden had been “certified” as the winner but did not directly say Biden won the election.
CNN host Abby Phillip questioned Clayton’s response, suggesting it reflected poorly on the nominee.
“That’s kind of embarrassing,” Phillip said to Moynihan. “If he can’t just state a fact, how can he do that other job?”
Moynihan acknowledged that Clayton had been asked the question multiple times and had “minced words,” but argued the exchange reflected the political theater that often accompanies confirmation hearings.
“I mean, he’d been asked, I think, three times at that point, and he did mince words,” Moynihan said. “But there’s a lot of theatrics at these kind of hearings. Jon Ossoff got his soundbite, and Republicans kind of do the same thing. They love to ask, ‘What is a woman?’ And Ketanji Brown Jackson couldn’t answer. A lot of people still can’t answer that question. So to me, it’s theatrics.”
As Moynihan continued explaining her position, Blow interrupted to ask her directly whether she believed Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
“Can you acknowledge that Joe Biden won the election?” Blow asked.
Moynihan answered, “Yeah.”
Blow immediately followed up by pointing out that she had answered the question directly while Clayton had not.
“So, you can do it just now, but he couldn’t do it?” Blow asked.
The exchange quickly escalated.
Moynihan accused Blow of attempting to create a viral moment during the broadcast.
“I know you’re trying to get a social media clip, Charles,” she said before adding that she believed he was looking for a “gotcha” moment.
Blow rejected the accusation and responded sharply, saying he appreciated being told why he was supposedly on the program before defending his own journalism career.
“I really appreciate you lecturing me about what I’m here to do, because I’m here because Abby’s show invited me here,” Blow said.
He then pointed to his decades of experience in journalism, noting that he joined The New York Times the year Moynihan was born.
“In fact, I came to The New York Times the year that you were born,” Blow said. “So, I would choose—I would suggest that you choose a lane that is your own and stay in it.”
The exchange concluded with Blow telling Moynihan he would not “be lectured by a child.”
The tense back-and-forth unfolded during a broader discussion about confirmation hearings for Trump administration nominees. According to the discussion, Democratic senators have repeatedly questioned nominees about the 2020 election during recent hearings. Those nominees have generally acknowledged that Biden served as president after the election while avoiding directly stating that Biden won or that Trump lost.
The panel’s disagreement highlighted the continuing political disputes surrounding questions about the 2020 election and the contentious atmosphere that often accompanies high-profile Senate confirmation hearings.
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