MAGA pundit cornered after trying to twist Dems' words on CNN: 'That's not what she said!'

A MAGA pundit was cornered on CNN Monday after he tried to twist a Democrat senator's words about investigating corruption in the Trump administration.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a former CIA officer, sparked a MAGA uproar after she said she hoped investigations into the Trump administration would deter young conservatives from serving in government. Slotkin later clarified those remarks with Jake Tapper on CNN's "The Lead," and explained that she was talking about convincing people not to associate with criminal behavior.

However, Slotkin's statement caused a stir among the MAGA faithful, many of whom sought to portray the comments as advocating for removing Trump supporters from government altogether.

Jason Rantz, a Seattle-based conservative radio host, argued on CNN's "NewsNight with Abby Phillip" that Slotkin's comments were "sloppy" and revealed she "thinks there's a problem with young conservatives who might want to work in government."

Rantz's argument sparked an uproar on the panel.

"That's not what she said!" Neera Tanden, CEO of the Center for American Progress, shot back. "The question she was asked was about illegal activity by the president."

Host Abby Phillip pointed out to Rantz that Slotkin was asked specifically about the Trump administration, not about serving in government as a whole, as he claimed.

Rantz retreated and argued that Slotkin was emblematic of a long-standing Democratic policy that "anyone who works for this president, not this term, but last term, should be harassed, should not be able to go out into public."

"Is it wrong to say that maybe people should be deterred from going into a system that encourages this kind of corruption?" Phillip asked.

Rantz agreed, but argued that Slotkin didn't say those words.

"That is what she said!" Phillip shot back.