‘You’re talking to a public health physician’: Expert smacks down ex-RNC official on CNN

A CNN segment revolving around reports that the Trump administration is preparing to let go thousands of government health workers led to an on-air smackdown Thursday night when a prominent physician repeatedly clashed with a former Republican National Committee spokesperson.

The tense TV moment unfolded when Dr. Chris T. Pernell, a fellow and regent-at-large for the American College of Preventive Medicine, launched into her experience battling the COVID-19 pandemic with President Donald Trump in the White House.

“We had a then-Trump administration that fomented anti-science, fomented misinformation and disinformation, and flatly, we were not prepared,” Pernell said, adding that looking back, “it looks like we haven’t learned our lessons.”

“It doesn't make sense,” she said of the reports that federal employees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were facing an imminent purge. “It's actually, frankly, stupid.”

That glum characterization didn’t sit well with former RNC spokesperson Madison Gesiottto, who went toe-to-toe with Pernell in a heated exchange on CNN’s “NewsNight.”

“I think there are some legitimate questions, though, to be had here,” Gesiotto said. “And we see trust across the country has declined following Covid in public health officials.”

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“But why did trust decline?” Parnell asked before proceeding to answer her own question. “Trust declined because of misinformation.”

Things quickly went south and both guests continued to talk over each other.

“…Because we were told repeatedly that masks work, that social distancing works," Gesiotto said.

“Masks do work,” Parnell swiftly replied while turning to face Gesiotto. “You’re talking to a public health physician. Masks do work.”

Parnell continued: “We also had a president who told people they could do bleach. We also had a president that talked about drugs that weren’t proven.”

The two guests continued to parse out their positions while talking over each other before the passionate back-and-forth concluded when host Abby Phillip jumped in.

“Madison, give me a second, because, look, we can't hear when everybody's talking at the same time,” Phillip said. “And we also have to go.”

Watch the clip below or at this link: