CNN Bans Conservative Panelist After He Tells Journalist Mehdi Hasan ‘I Hope Your Beeper Doesn’t Go Off’
ForbesOct 27
CNN Bans Conservative Commentator for 'Beeper' Comment
Above: CNN studios ahead of the first presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Image copyright: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facts
Conservative commentator and 1776 Project PAC founder Ryan Girdusky has been banned from CNN following comments made toward British journalist Mehdi Hasan during Monday's show "NewsNight with Abby Phillip."
After Hasan, editor-in-chief and CEO of media organization Zeteo, stated that he was a "supporter of the Palestinians," Girdusky responded by stating, "I hope your beeper doesn't go off." Girdusky apologized, claiming he thought Hasan said "Hamas" rather than "Palestinians" before being removed at the next commercial break.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Vile comments like Girudsky's have no place on a tolerant platform such as CNN. Debate and disagreement should always be encouraged, but the broadcaster should've known better than to allow a far-right Project 2025 fanatic on live TV. This merely reaffirms that the MAGA movement is underserving of the attention the media continues to provide.
Republican narrative
Having consistently likened Trump and his supporters to Hitler and the Nazis, CNN's double standards were once again on full display. It is clear that, despite being perfectly comfortable using inflammatory language when it suits them, the liberal media cannot handle comments that don't conform to its way of thinking.