'That's crazy': GOP strategist loses cool in heated debate over 'literal poison'

Two panelists on CNN sparred Tuesday night during a heated discussion on the impact of President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threat.

Scott Jennings, who served in the George W. Bush administration, told panelists on "NewsNight" that Mexico needs to stop people from illegally entering the United States, and it needs to stop the flow of illegal drugs.

"It's coming right over the southern border. They're a terrible neighbor. They have been a terrible neighbor. And Donald Trump needs to get their attention," said Jennings.

Trump's tariff threat on Mexico is a negotiation tactic, he added, and not just for the economy.

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"It's national security. And it's poison that is killing American people all over this country," said Jennings, noting China — also threatened by Trump with tariffs — is also part of the problem.

At that moment in the discussion, Catherine Rampell, an economics columnist, noted the U.S. had bipartisan legislation aimed at tackling the problems, including improving fentanyl detection technology at the border. Trump, she noted, killed that bill.

"That was the bipartisan border bill that Trump basically unilaterally killed," she said.

Her statement led Jennings to shoot back, "You keep fighting these old battles."

"And you're not over it," he added, as the two began talking over one another. "Donald Trump won and he wants the border secured."

As Rampell tried to push back that the bipartisan bill is a solution to the border crisis, Jennings insisted it's not the only solution.

"Mexico has to do something," he insisted. "It's coming from their country and right over our border. They do nothing! It's a crisis! They do nothing."

Rampell highlighted that border crossings have fallen over the last year, but Jennings was having none of it.

"It's a crisis. If you want to argue that it's safe and secure your — that's crazy! They've got to act," he said.

Later in the segment, Jennings lost his cool again over remarks there's a market for drugs in the United States.

"I'm sorry," said Jennings. "I've heard this all day long. 'Oh, there's a demand for it,' like we're talking about candy bars. This is literal poison that will kill you almost instantly. We talk about it like it's some piece of candy."

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. In 2022, more than 73,000 people died from fentanyl overdoses in the United States, more than double what it was in 2019.

Watch the clip below or at this link.