The panel discussion on Thursday’s edition of CNN’s “NewsNight With Abby Phillip” once again derailed, with one guest condemning a conservative pundit’s comments as “disgusting” and “abhorrent.” During a debate over the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier in the day allowing the Trump administration to turn asylum seekers away at the border, Amanda Litman, co-founder of the progressive organization Run for Something, argued the decision was “such a devastating way to go into celebrating 250 years of America, by kicking out the people who make America
great, who make this country what it is.” That is, she said, “the immigrants who come and say, ‘You know what, I’m going to come as a doctor, an engineer, I’m going to bring my talents to Springfield, Ohio, and make that a home.’” Caroline Sunshine, communications director for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, interrupted to ask: “Was the Haitian migrant who killed 11-year-old Aiden Clark making America better with that action?” Sunshine was referring to the Springfield, Ohio, boy who died in a 2023
school bus crash involving a minivan driven by a Haitian immigrant. The tragedy was later seized upon by some on the right as part of their anti-immigration debate, though Clark’s father publicly urged people not to use his son’s death to spread hate. “That was one case,” responded Keith Boykin, a former aide to President Bill Clinton. “You’re gonna kick out 350,000 people because of one case?” he asked Sunshine. “He killed a child,” Sunshine replied. “Is that making America better? I don’t think that’s
my definition of making America better.” Boykin fired back: “You’re gonna kick out 350,000 people because of one stereotype? What about all the white people who commit crime in this country? You’re gonna kick them out of this country too?” “You know what, your comment is just as racist as Donald Trump’s comment,” Boykin added. “The idea that you focus on one Haitian person and use that as justification for a racist foreign policy is disgusting. It’s abhorrent.” “It’s disgusting that an 11-year-old was killed
by a Haitian migrant who rammed his car into a bus,” Sunshine responded. “That is disgusting.” “That shows exactly what MAGA is made of,” Boykin concluded. “It’s made of racism.” Phillip then brought the discussion to a close.
Supreme Court asylum ruling, Trump administration, border asylum seekers, CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, Amanda Litman, Caroline Sunshine, Keith Boykin, Run for Something, Aiden Clark, Springfield Ohio
So they’re saying the Supreme Court ruling lets them turn away everyone? That seems wild.
I’m confused bc it sounds like everyone’s arguing about one tragic case and then acting like it’s proof of something bigger. Also the Haitian guy killed that kid? like… that’s just awful, but not sure why it’s always tied to asylum like that.
“One case vs 350,000 people” is such a weird way to talk about it. Like what are they even counting, because I read somewhere it was way more than 350k. And the guy saying it’s racist… ok maybe? but the other lady kinda talked like she’s ignoring the fact there was a killer involved. I just think they’re all using the same headline to win the argument.
Both sides are disgusting honestly. If a Haitian migrant did that then yeah that matters, but “kick out asylum seekers” isn’t the same thing as punishing one person?? But then again, isn’t Springfield Ohio basically already a mess so they act like turning people away fixes it. Idk, CNN panel folks just throw labels around—racist/abhorrent—like that’s law.