CNN Host Abby Phillip Does Darndest To Inform Lawmaker That GOP Lied, And It’s Kinda Funny

CNN host Abby Phillip went full throttle Monday to inform a Republican House member that a GOP claim she was regurgitating was false.

In an exchange that bordered on the comical, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) appeared to support Elon Musk’s controversial infiltration of government agencies as the administration tries to cut spending. But she veered into the debunked Trump White House allegation that $50 million had been earmarked for condoms in Gaza.

“You have these bureaucrats sitting at these agencies,” the lawmaker said in a video shared by Mediaite. “They come before Congress. We have hearings. We try to get to the bottom of where this money is going. Fifty million for condoms in Gaza, for example.”

Phillip immediately tried to shut down the falsehood, but Malliotakis wouldn’t have it.

“But these are real things,” the House member said.

“These are actual line items,” she insisted amid crosstalk.

Said Phillip: “Congresswoman, we know that there was not $50 million spent on condoms in Gaza.”

Malliotakis appeared incredulous that “the White House put that out there as a false statement” and asked where the money went.

“Congresswoman, I’m gonna blame the president who upped the dollar amount to $100 million. It is false,” Phillip said.

“It was $50 million as far as I know,” the congresswoman shot back.

“It is false,” an exasperated Phillip said. “The answer is zero. … So you cannot use that as an example.”

Several outlets have investigated the claim and found no evidence of such a budget item ― and the White House hasn’t offered evidence either.