'Show some respect': MAGA lawmaker scolded as Dem stares him down on CNN
A heated clash broke out live on CNN Wednesday when Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) publicly scolded Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) during a segment on Medicaid cuts – snapping at the Republican to “show some respect” after Flood interrupted him.
The fiery exchange unfolded during “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” as the two lawmakers debated GOP-led proposals to scale back Medicaid spending, which Democrats argued could cost tens of thousands of Americans, including children, their health coverage.
Flood insisted Wednesday that the projections of lost coverage were overblown and tried to pivot the conversation to fraud, waste, and “illegals” receiving benefits, as he attacked so-called blue states like New York and California.
“And that should not happen,” the MAGA Republican said Wednesday.
But when Ryan was asked to respond, Flood laughed out loud at the Democrat’s answer and talked over him almost immediately.
“There are so many – so much B.S. in that answer – I don't know where to begin,” Ryan said. “The reality is, you can throw out stats that are made up. You can hold up a chart that who knows where it came from.”
When Flood fired back to say where he obtained the chart he held up moments earlier for viewers, Ryan quickly scolded him.
“I'm happy to speak if you'll show some respect, please, as I've done for you,” Ryan said as he stared directly at Flood. He then went on to cite figures showing that nearly 200,000 people in his district – half of them children – stood to lose coverage under the GOP's proposed Medicaid changes.
“That is an objective fact,” the New York Democrat added. “And the fact that this is being spun as anything else is really just pathetic.”