'Way out over your skis': CNN host intervenes as Republican Scott Jennings lashes out

A discussion revolving around tech billionaire Elon Musk and his potential government conflicts quickly went south when longtime GOP strategist Scott Jennings put his fellow CNN guests – and host Abby Phillip – on blast for what he claimed were inappropriate suggestions.

The on-air moment unfolded Tuesday as Phillip introduced reports that staffers at Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency had greater access to government databases than previously reported.

“That's why the questions about real transparency truly – who are these people?” Phillip asked. “What are they authorized to do? What exactly are the programs that are being cut and why, and which ones are not being cut? We don't have the answers to any of those things.”

That’s when Jennings seized the opportunity to call out the CNN host and other guests, including former Democratic state lawmaker Bakari Sellers, with whom he also clashed.

“A couple of things – number one, you guys are way out over your skis with accusations and innuendo,” Jennings said. “I mean what you're essentially alleging would be the biggest corruption in any of our lifetimes. You have no way in the world of making those accusations in a credible way, but yet you're out here doing it, number one. Number two…”

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But before he could get to his second talking point, Phillip jumped in to defend herself.

“Just to clarify, because I also think you're accusing me of saying that these things are happening,” she said. Jennings, Sellers and Phillip all continued talking over each other but Phillip ultimately broke through.

“Hold on Bakari – Scott, what I said was that Elon Musk's companies were being investigated by the government. The people investigating him have been fired, their offices disbanded. Those are both facts. So, the question is, how do we know that Elon is not benefiting from it? And the answer is we don't know.”

While Phillip addressed Jennings, Sellers repeated “facts, facts.”

Watch the clip below or at this link here.