CNN's Abby Phillip silences MAGA columnist defending 'anti-Muslim bigoty' from GOP

CNN host Abby Phillip silenced a MAGA columnist on Tuesday's broadcast of "NewsNight" who was defending recent comments from two GOP lawmakers that Phillip described as "anti-Muslim bigotry."

Phillip and Lydia Moynihan, a correspondent at The New York Post, got into a heated back-and-forth during a panel discussion about recent anti-Muslim remarks from two GOP lawmakers and Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) refusal to condemn them. Earlier in the day, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) posted on X that "Muslims don't belong in American society." Those comments followed Rep. Randy Fine's (R-FL) remarks about the "Islamification of America."

Moynihan argued that Johnson had addressed the issue when he spoke out against people with radical ideologies who refused to assimilate into American culture.

"I think it is a great tactic to try to answer a different question than was asked, but the actual question is, is there a line, anywhere, right now, on Capitol Hill or elsewhere in the Republican movement, when it comes to anti-muslim sentiment?" Phillip asked.

Moynihan pointed out that there have been two terrorist attacks over the last week and a half. Phillip was not amused by her answer.

"What does that have to do with Muslims?" Phillip asked.

"There is a radical strain of Islam that has led to these attacks," Moynihan responded.

"What does that have to do with whether muslims belong in American society as a group?" Phillip asked.

Moynihan sat in silence.