The panel on CNN's "NewsNight with Abby Phillip" erupted with laughter after GOP strategist Scott Jennings failed to define communism after claiming New York Democrat Zohran Mamdani is a member of the political party.
Jennings' comments come at a time when the GOP is actively trying to brand Mamdani as a communist. Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and has said he wants to implement programs to provide free child care and transportation to New Yorkers.
Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist, asked Jennings why he thinks Mamdani is a community.
"Because he uses the phrase 'seize the means of production,'" Jennings said.
The panel laughed as host Abby Phillip said, "That's not the distinction between socialism and communism."
Neera Tanden, CEO of the Center for American Progress, brought up the hypocrisy in Jennings' attacks. She mentioned that President Donald Trump controls the so-called "golden share" power in the U.S. Steel-Nippon deal, the Associated Press reported. That means Trump has the power to appoint a board member and make decisions about the business activities of the two companies following their merger.
"Can I just give an example of a person who has seized the means of production?" Tanden said. "It is a fascinating thing that the federal government has a stake now in a steel company. That has never happened before. It was actually Donald Trump who decided to have the government own the production of a company."
"Usually, conservatives would have criticized that, but I guess not anymore," Tanden added.
