'Why don't you let me finish?' Ex-RNC official snaps at CNN regular in blow-up over Trump

A Washington Post economics columnist went toe-to-toe with two Republicans late Friday on CNN.

Catherine Rampell, who has repeatedly clashed with Republicans on the network in recent months, did so again on CNN's "NewsNight" during a discussion about President Donald Trump's promises to fix the economy.

After playing clips of Trump telling the World Economic Forum he's going to ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to bring down the cost of oil — which he said would end the Russian invasion of Ukraine — and would then demand that interest rates drop "immediately."

The panel of guests chuckled after the supercut, with Rampell repeating her assertion that while Trump may have been elected with a mandate to bring down prices, he doesn't have a mechanism to do so.

"As I have said many times, presidents do not actually have the ability to turn the dial up or down on prices. And in fact, Trump doesn't even have concepts of a plan for dealing with inflation," she said, noting he signed an executive order to have his Cabinet draft such plans.

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Rampell said even if OPEC pumps more oil, that won't address stubbornly high inflation.

"To the extent that the American public voted for him to deal with prices, I have seen nothing in the agenda so far that would achieve that goal," she said.

Her points met immediate resistance from Trump ally T.W. Arrighi, who jumped in to declare that lower gas prices will bring down costs.

"Fuel costs impact everything up and down the supply chain," he said.

But as he insisted gas prices are tied to the costs of goods and services, Rampell butted in.

"Gas has come down a lot in the past year," she pushed back.

Indeed, gas prices hit a three-year low last month, with a national average reaching $3.01 per gallon.

But Arrighi insisted gas prices will fall even further if Saudi Arabia "plays ball," which they showed during his first term. As he tried to point to the country's newly announced $600 billion investment in the United States, Rampell again interrupted.

"That's about as much as they committed to buy weapons under Biden," she countered.

The two butted heads again as Arrighi pointed out Trump wants to drill for oil, which Republicans believe will help bring down prices.

"Oil production is already at an all-time high. We are producing more crude oil in this country than any country has in history, ever," Rampell hit back. "The problem is not oil supply. That's not the main issue that consumers are facing."

The main issue, she said, is other categories of goods and services that have high prices that Trump isn't addressing — and may have even undermined by undoing the Biden administration's cap on out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs.

Later in the discussion, Arrighi pointed to other campaign promises of Trump's that they believe will alleviate costs, including getting more people back to work. Rampell again interjected, noting Trump has threatened to deport a large number of undocumented immigrants — and "de-document" people.

"He is cutting off legal pathways to come here," she said, sharing a new report that Trump is ending a parole program that would allow Ukrainians to come to the country.

At this juncture, another Republican jumped in to assist: Madison Gesiotto, national spokesperson for the Republican National Committee.

Gesiotto cut off Rampell to note that most Americans are in favor of deporting undocumented immigrants, only to have Rampell return the favor.

"These are legal immigrants!" Rampell retorted.

"No-no. Why don't you let me finish talking, Catherine," Gesiotto shot back.

"Because you interrupted me," Rampell parried.

"And I'm going to finish what I had to say," Gesiotto replied, adding that Americans also support less immigration as a whole. "Which was something surprising to many people as that poll came out."

Rampell butted in again, chiming in: "This is a bait and switch."

"This is the reality. You just don't want to hear it," Gesiotto fired back.

Watch the clip below or at this link.