Well, folks, if you needed another reminder of how CNN’s version of a “balanced debate” works, Thursday night’s showdown on NewsNight provided it in spades. Picture it: Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, armed with evidence, teaming up with commentators Scott Jennings and Coleman Hughes to lay out what they see as a clear case of Biden family corruption. Their opponent? Not just the usual left-leaning panelists but also a combative host, Abby Phillip, who seemed more interested in cutting off conversations than facilitating them.
The discussion kicked off when Biden’s tone-deaf claim about not having much money—despite decades in government—came under fire. Coleman Hughes didn’t hold back, saying Biden should steer clear of the topic entirely. Why? Because, as Hughes put it, the Biden family has “escaped a lot of close scrutiny” over their foreign business deals. That’s putting it mildly. Whether it’s Hunter Biden’s questionable dealings or Jim Biden’s involvement, the accusations aren’t new, but they’re rarely given much airtime on outlets like CNN.
Then came the predictable pivot. Solomon Jones, a far-left columnist, deflected with a heaping dose of whataboutism, dredging up Donald Trump’s legal troubles as if they had anything to do with the conversation at hand. Classic move: When you can’t defend your side, just yell, “Trump!” louder and hope no one notices the dodge.
Abby Phillip, stepping into her role as referee, made it clear that discussions about Democratic corruption were a no-go unless formal charges existed—despite being reminded repeatedly that Hunter Biden’s pardon conveniently covered the time period in question. How’s that for accountability?
Scott Jennings wasn’t having it. He called out the obvious: money did change hands. He pressed Phillip on why that didn’t count as evidence, only to have her brush it off. “Speculative,” she said. Because, apparently, a direct financial trail isn’t enough proof in CNN’s Thunderdome unless it fits their narrative.
Then came Lawler with the receipts—literally. He detailed how Chinese money allegedly flowed through Biden family shell companies before landing in personal accounts. And yes, part of that trail included a $40,000 check to Joe Biden himself. But rather than engage, Phillip pulled the plug with a hasty, “We have to go,” as if a commercial break was more important than addressing the claim.
It’s hard not to see the double standard here. Imagine if the roles were reversed, and this kind of financial trail was tied to a Republican president. Would CNN demand formal charges before airing wall-to-wall speculation? Of course not. The media circus would be relentless. But when it’s the Biden family? Suddenly, everyone’s a stickler for courtroom-level proof.
Phillip’s final mic-drop moment was her insistence that if anything illegal happened, there’d be charges. Lawler and Jennings quickly reminded her why that hasn’t happened: Hunter’s 11-year pardon and the protections afforded to a sitting president. Convenient, isn’t it?
CNN managed to do what it does best—control the narrative, dismiss inconvenient facts, and keep its audience comfortably insulated from challenging ideas. But for anyone paying attention, Thursday’s exchange was a clear reminder of why so many Americans don’t trust mainstream media. The facts may not matter to CNN, but they do to the rest of us.
