CNN contributor Scott Jennings got a dressing down and a lecture on Saturday morning after defending cuts the Donald Trump administration is making to the national suicide hotline, singling out the “Press 3” option on the national 988 hotline aimed at the LGBTQ+ community for shuttering.
On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced the shutdown planned to go into effect on July 17.
On CNN's "Table for Five," host Sara Sidner turned to Jennings and asked, "I guess the question is why do this to a population who has a very long history of having more suicides than the general population?"
"Well, a couple of things," he offered. "Number one, as you pointed out, the hotline, the 988 service still exists –– that's number one. Number two, the only thing happening here is that they're cutting ties with this group, the Trevor Project, which a lot of conservatives have problems with because of the way they handle some of their interactions with youth who call them, and the ideology that they push out."
That led conservative S.E. Cupp to interrupt.
"So you're admitting it's political," she accused.
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"I'm admitting that what they did is cut ties with the Trevor Project and keep the 988 service open, so anyone can call that," he parried. "So I don't see that any services have been cut. They are against this Trevor Project, I guess, that has been operating this particular silo. but you can still call the thing and ––,"
"But the services being cut, a specific service where if you're LGBTQ, you don't get then transferred to someone who, let me finish," she continued as Jennings tried to talk over her.
"You interrupted me, but go ahead," he complained. "Your favorite thing to interrupt me and then say I'm interrupting you."
"No, no," Cupp protested before continuing, "Who a member of the community can speak to these issues to a group of people who are disenfranchised, in many cases, ashamed and don't feel comfortable talking about their depression, their suicide, their sexuality to their parents, to their friends, to their teachers."
"This was a lifeline for a very specific group of people who have very few people –– If I called in, I could talk to basically anyone, that's true. But this is a group of people who need a certain kind of advisor and counselor to understand the unique problems that they are confronting and so this just feels cruel and, as you said, political," she lectured.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis and needs emotional support, help is available 24/7 via call or text at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
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