CNN’s NewsNight erupted into controversy on Monday when Trump supporter Ryan Girdusky directed a remark towards fellow panelist Mehdi Hasan that many have condemned as an ethnical slur. Following the program, CNN condemned Girdusky’s remarks, saying that there is zero tolerance for racism and announcing that he will no longer be welcomed back at the network.
What happened?
During a debate about Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, which was widely compared to a 1939 Nazi rally held at the same venue, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made controversial remarks about Puerto Rico, further fueling the rhetoric of fascism against Trump.
Hasan talking about the rally remarked, “If you don’t want to be called Nazis, stop your actions,” but was interrupted by Girdusky, who claimed Hasan was labeled an “anti-Semite” more than anyone.
Hasan countered saying only Girdusky considers him an anti-Semite. Girdusky sharply responded to Hasan saying, “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off,” widely seen as a veiled implication associating Hasan—known for his outspoken stance on Palestinian rights and criticism of Israel’s military actions, particularly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and Israel’s response.
Hasan, visibly taken aback, questioned, “Did you just say I should die?”
The exchange led to immediate censure from fellow panelists and the show’s host, Abby Phillip, who deemed Girdusky’s comment “completely out of pocket.” Girdusky offered an apology in response.
After a commercial break, Phillip announced Girdusky’s removal from the show, saying, “There is a line that was crossed there, and it’s not acceptable to me. It’s not acceptable to us at this network. We want discussion… but when you cross the line of a complete lack of civility, that is not going to happen here on this show.”
CNN says zero tolerance for bigotry; Girdusky doubles down
Phillip later expanded on the incident in a statement posted on Twitter, clarifying that Hasan had been welcome to continue the show but chose not to return. “As you may have seen, Ryan was asked to leave the show, and we put out a statement saying that he’s not welcome back on our air,” she wrote. “We really wanted [Hasan] to come back and finish the show… but I just wanted to make sure that you all knew that was not what happened there.”
Following the show, CNN issued a statement saying it to encourages meaningful discussions and debates, even between individuals who hold strongly opposing views. However, CNN made it clear that they will not tolerate guests being insulted or the boundaries of civility being breached.
“There is zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air. We aim to foster thoughtful conversations and debate including between people who profoundly disagree with each other in order to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding. But we will not allow guests to be demeaned or for the line of civility to be crossed. Ryan Girdusky will not be welcomed back at our network,” the statement by CNN said.
Girdusky, however, doubled down on his actions after the show, tweeting, “You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and have taken money from Qatar-funded media. Apparently you can’t go on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.”
CNN normalising anti-Muslim hate: Rashida Tlaib
The exchange drew condemnation from public figures, including Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who wrote on X, “CNN has played a central role in normalising this kind of open anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian hate.” Tlaib, herself a Palestinian-American, called CNN’s broadcasting of such remarks “totally unsurprising” given recent trends.
Mehdi Hasan – a controversial past
Mehdi Hasan’s past comments have often been a point of contention, especially statements he made over a decade ago regarding non-Muslims, atheists, and LGBTQ individuals. In resurfaced recordings, Hasan compared atheists to “cattle” and included homosexuals in a list of behaviors he described as contrary to Islamic teachings.
At one point, he said, “Once we lose the moral high ground, we are no different from…those who live their lives as animals, bending any rule to fulfill any desire.” In response to backlash over these remarks, Hasan has since expressed regret, labeling them as “dumb offensive ranty stuff” from his 20s, which he no longer supports.
Apologising in 2019, he explained that his remarks were made in an attempt to be bombastic, and he now finds them embarrassing and unrepresentative of his beliefs.
Beeper vs pager
In September, thousands of modified pagers became tools of destruction in an attack on Hezbollah. Israeli operatives embedded explosives in these devices, originally meant for communication, which detonated upon receiving a routine message. This resulted in at least 11 deaths and over 2,800 injuries in Lebanon. The pagers, manufactured by Taiwan’s Gold Apollo, were covertly modified by Israeli intelligence and distributed to Hezbollah, disguised as standard equipment, to ensure effectiveness.
For many, referring to these devices as “beepers” feels dismissive, especially given the deadly consequences of the operation, which left multiple casualties and spread fear across Lebanon. The casual use of “beeper” risks trivialising the incident and its impact, reducing a tragic event to dated technology terminology.