House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) took a swipe at CNN during an interview with anchor Jake Tapper because the network hosted a town hall with two progressive lawmakers, whom Johnson described as "socialist."
On Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) hosted a live town hall on CNN, where the duo heaped criticism on Johnson and the Republican caucus for the government shutdown.
"They need to pick up the d--- phone," Ocasio-Cortez said. "They’re saying that they’re doing all this work – they are twiddling their thumbs and talking to each other. It is actually an unconscionable abdication and refusal to work."
Tapper asked Johnson about Ocasio-Cortez's comments on Thursday.
"I am always open to negotiating, but we had the negotiations in the House, and the mutual agreement by Republicans and Democrats, who were appropriators, was to extend it for seven weeks to November 21st, so they would have time to finish the appropriations process," Johnson shot back.
"AOC engaged in a political stunt, as did Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and voted against it for their own partisan political purposes," he continued. "They have created this mess."
"So, it doesn't matter how many hours you give her in a town hall," he added. "The first-ever socialist town hall on CNN. I'm glad it was aired. You got to hear their real views, and it's pretty dangerous for the future of America."