Tlaib tears into CNN for ‘normalizing’ 'anti-Arab hate' rhetoric on network

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) is blasting CNN over a segment that aired on the network Monday during which a panelist made an offensive comment Monday toward Muslim journalist Mehdi Hasan.

"CNN has played a central role in normalizing this kind of open anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian hate, and it’s sadly totally unsurprising to see such disgusting statements aired so casually on its network now," Tlaib wrote on X, attaching a clip of the segment.

The segment, which came during host Abby Phillip's prime time program, divulged into shouting as panelist Ryan Girdusky got into a heated exchange with Hasan over remarks made at former President Trump's recent rally in New York City.

“I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” Girdusky told Hasan, an apparent reference the pager bomb detonations earlier this year that resulted in several deaths and thousands of injuries in Lebanon.

“Did you just say I should die? Did you just say I should be killed live on CNN?” the journalist responded.

“Ryan, that is completely out of pocket,” Phillip said attempting to regain control of the conversation. “You know that.”

When the show returned from a subsequent commercial break, Girdusky was not on the panel and Phillip condemned the remark.

CNN in a statement said Girdusky will not be welcome back on its air.

“There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air,” the statement said. “We aim to foster thoughtful conversations and debate including between people who profoundly disagree with each other in order to explore mutual understanding. But we will not allow guests to be demeaned or for the line of civility to be crossed."