CNN wasn’t prepared for this. They’ve been humiliated once again.
And a leading Republican put this CNN host in their place for asking this appalling question.
In a heated exchange on CNN’s The Situation Room this Thursday, Florida Representative Byron Donalds took the network to task, accusing it of downplaying the soaring costs that plagued Americans during President Joe Biden’s tenure. The Republican congressman’s remarks came as host Pamela Brown pressed him on former President Donald Trump’s recent move to postpone certain tariffs on Canada and Mexico, probing whether they might ripple into higher prices for U.S. consumers.
Donalds defended Trump’s strategy, insisting the former president deserved a fair shot at negotiating with the two neighboring nations. He quickly pivoted, however, to jab at CNN’s track record.
“You gotta give him that opportunity because when prices were rising in the United States, I didn’t hear CNN talking about that much,” Donalds stated. “As a matter of fact, you ignored most of it while it was hurting the American people—”
Brown cut in, bristling at the accusation. “We did,” she countered. “We did cover…We did cover that.”
But Donalds wasn’t backing down. He argued CNN’s coverage fell short of what the moment demanded—a charge Brown dismissed as subjective.
“You didn’t cover it the way it needed to be covered,” he shot back. As the debate intensified, Donalds added, “You let the last administration get away with it—”
“That is your opinion, but we did [cover it],” Brown interjected, holding her ground.
Donalds doubled down, framing the issue as more than just a viewpoint. “But the American people suffered as a result. Oh, no, it’s not my opinion. That’s a fact,” he insisted.
“OK, no, it’s not a fact,” Brown replied sharply, bringing the segment to an abrupt close.
🚨 Byron Donalds just EVISCERATED CNN… total smackdown.
"When prices rose [under Biden], I didn't hear CNN talking about that much. You ignored most of it while it was hurting the American people. Let the president negotiate on tariffs."pic.twitter.com/hcQUwidqgN
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 6, 2025
The clash shines a light on a simmering tension over media accountability, especially against the backdrop of Biden-era economics.
Inflation under Biden’s watch hit a staggering 9.1% in 2022—the highest in four decades—driving unprecedented spikes in the cost of groceries, gasoline, and housing. While CNN did report on these trends, its approach has drawn scrutiny over the years.
Take August 2022, for instance. Just two months after gas prices hit the $5-a-gallon mark—a grim milestone for American drivers—CNN ran a piece that sparked widespread ridicule. The article suggested that prices dipping below $4 could be viewed as an “unexpected form of economic stimulus.”
“Next time you stop at a gas station, think of it as a $100-a-month tax cut. Or a maybe $100-a-month raise,” it proposed, prompting eye-rolls from critics who felt it glossed over the bigger picture.
That same year, former CNN host Ana Cabrera waded into the fray, arguing that pinning gas prices on any single figure—like Biden—was off the mark. “Gas prices have hit a record-high again today, $4.25 a gallon, according to AAA, and that’s up a staggering 60 cents in just one week,” she said on air.
“And while there is a lot of understandable anger and frustration over the pain at the pump, there’s also a lot of misinformation going around about who or what is responsible.” Her take? Blaming the president alone was more noise than truth.
Donalds’ dust-up with Brown keeps this debate alive, highlighting a divide not just in politics, but in how the story of America’s economic struggles gets told. For the congressman, it’s a tale of media neglect; for CNN, it’s a question of balance. Either way, the numbers—9.1% inflation, $5 gas—linger as stubborn reminders of a turbulent time under the Biden administration.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
