CNN Panel Melts Down In Finger-Pointing Fallout Over Elon Musk’s Role In Derailing Spending Bill

CNN panelists erupted into a shouting match as Democratic strategist Maria Cardona accused MAGA Republicans aligned with President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk of having “no interest in governing.”

The clash occurred shortly after House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) proposed stopgap spending measure failed to gain traction. Trump and his close ally Musk had reportedly derailed a last-ditch attempt to fund the federal government through mid-March.

Speaking on CNN’s NewsNight, Cardona blasted Republicans for having “no ability to govern.”

“There is not even an interest in governing,” continued Cardona.

Her pointed comments set off a torrent of indignation from the Republican side of the panel, including former congressional candidate Gail Huff Brown (R-NH) and trial attorney Arthur Aidala, who quickly fired back.

“Would you rather have a bad bill?” Brown countered.

Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell pressed the GOP voices for clarity: “What’s bad about this bill?”

“What’s bad about a bipartisan bill that they negotiated between the parties for, for congress and the senate?” Cardona asked.

But the Republican panelists scoffed.

Aidala argued that Trump’s gambit to seek Musk’s counsel was a sound approach and referenced the tech mogul’s business record: “I just look at people who they are, who their background, what their record is. And there’s no doubt that Elon Musk has an enormous amount of input in this administration, that’s goes without saying. That’s clear. He also has a pretty darn good track record of running companies…”

Exasperated, Rampell pointed to Musk’s track record at X: “Elon Musk bought Twitter and basically set $44 billion on fire.”

Aidala tried to turn this around, insisting Musk deserved some unconventional praise: “Ok, but he got it to burn! You gotta give him credit for that.”

As Rampell attempted to link Tesla’s stock gains to Musk’s proximity to Trump, Aidala shouted over him: “70 percent of electric cars are Tesla!”

The clamor only intensified when Cardona criticized Musk’s ties to federal contracts.

Aidala accused her of mixed messaging: “You’re contradicting yourself though! You’re saying he knows how the government works.”

Cardona shot back, “That’s not government.”

Watch above on CNN.