CNN host Abby Phillip was forced to intervene when a debate nearly spilled over into a physical altercation. Minutes before podcaster Leigh McGowan went nuclear on MAGA commentator Ben Ferguson, the conservative was involved in another tense interaction with activist philosopher Cornel West. “All right, all right, Dr. West, everyone keep their hands to themselves now,” a concerned Phillip butted in. Continuing his point, West said it was a “rhetorical swing,” however. At this point, host of the Politics Girl podcast Leigh McGowan repeated West’s initial point that the issue of ICE’s tactics had been politicized.

Source: CNN January 22, 2026 08:18 UTC