Watch: CNN host navigates heated debate with Republican Scott Walker
CNN's Abby Phillip struggled to get a word in Wednesday night while sandwiched between former Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and the state's Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler, as the trio discussed the economy, including whether it was better for Black Americans under former President Donald Trump.
"I'm talking about Wisconsin," said Walker. "The economy was much, much better four years ago."
Phillip broke through the exchange and stated: "I just want to clarify that the unemployment rate for Black Americans, for example, in the country was lower than under President Biden than it was under Donald Trump."
The numbers support Phillip's claim — there have been record-low unemployment rates for Black Americans at 4.8 percent, which was set under Biden in April 2023, defeating Trump-era lows of 5.3 percent set in August 2019 and September 2019.
That same unemployment rate as of May 2024 has climbed to 6.1 percent.
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But Walker chose to focus his argument on anecdotal evidence.
"People don't need me to tell them and they can see it when they go to Quick Trip to fill up their gas tank, they can see it when they go to the grocery store and it costs them two to three times what it cost them just a few years ago. They can see it when they go to get a mortgage payment like my kids are as first-time homebuyers," he said. "They can see what is happening."
In Biden's first term, the Dow grew 28 percent since his inauguration in January 2021. Even so, Walker doesn't believe those benefits have been felt by average Americans.
"Anybody who's telling you the economy's better because the stock market might be ticking up a little bit, just isn't talking to people here in Wisconsin and real life Americans across the country," he said.
Wikler suggested his panel mate was off-base.
"I appreciate your view, Governor, and everyone is infuriated by high grocery prices, by high gas prices," he said. "The question is, what are you gonna do about it?"
He then accused Trump of being prepared to sell out the country's interest for political expediency.
"He wants to give away the store to special interests," Wikler continued. "He met with oil company executives and told them that if they gave him $1 billion for his campaign, he'd give them whatever they wanted."
He then plugged Biden's promises and suggested he is going to go "toe-to-toe with special interests" to bring costs down.
Watch the tense exchange below or at this link.