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Earlier this week, author Ryan Girdusky was removed from the CNN primetime program hosted by Abby Phillip after a racist comment toward Mehdi Hasan. Phillip has now defended the decision to remove him from the panel.
While discussing the incident, including the decision of CNN to ban Girdusky from appearing again in the future, Phillip said the moment wasn’t indicative of what transpires on her program.
The NewsNight anchor shared that she understood the feeling that Ryan Girdusky shared that Republicans being called “Nazis” wasn’t conducive for productive dialogue, but said he overstepped the line when he mockingly accused Mehdi Hasan of being a terrorist.
“Most of the time when we see Republicans and Democrats talking on TV, they’re not that far apart,” said Phillip while speaking on a panel during a session at MediaWeek. “But there are lines that, when they get crossed, there’s going to be a penalty. We can not have gratuitous voices at the table. It really poisons the conversation and doesn’t serve anyone.”
Abby Phillip added that while this moment in American history is filled with vitriol, having a discussion remains a priority for her CNN show.
“This is a charged time for the country and a charged time in our politics. We want to talk to each other, but people have to be able to hear you.”
