CNN panelists had to stifle laughter Tuesday night after watching Democrats protest against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) slashing federal agencies.
CNN NewsNight host Abby Phillip said Democrats "have a piñata in search of a stick" before playing a montage of liberal lawmakers struggling to articulate a coherent and focused message. It included Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) saying, "We don’t pledge allegiance to the creepy 22-year-olds working for Elon Musk." The clip ended with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer holding hands with Rep. Maxine Waters (Calif.), his arms up and shoulders hunched, chanting, "We will win," before awkwardly pausing and pivoting to, "We won’t rest."
BRUTAL: The Democrats' anti-Musk protest gets laughed off the CNN table pic.twitter.com/TJkC1oJddu
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) February 5, 2025
After the montage, several CNN panelists held back laughter, and Phillip chuckled. Scott Jennings couldn’t contain himself.
"I’m so sorry. Can we play it again?" he said, looking at the camera with a beaming smile before bursting out laughing.
Democrats were protesting Musk’s power and influence after the Trump administration abruptly closed the United States Agency for International Development on Monday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio taking the reins as acting head. Musk and DOGE have also taken aim at the departments of Education and the Treasury, as well as the General Services Administration.
Liberal late night host Jimmy Kimmel also poked fun at the protest during his show Tuesday night, saying sarcastically that Democrats would "stand up for what’s right," he said before playing the clip of Schumer chanting.
"Oh, we are so f—ed," he said. "We are doomed."
Journalist Gretchen Carlson told Phillip that Democrats need a "real leader" which "currently does not exist."
More protests against Musk are slated across the country Wednesday.