'What evidence do you have?': GOP podcaster's claims about crime shocks CNN panel
The panel on CNN's "NewsNight with Abby Phillip" exploded after a right-wing podcaster gave President Donald Trump credit for declining crime rates across the U.S.
Ben Ferguson, host of the conservative talk show "The Ben Ferguson Show," claimed that the decline in violent crime seen across the U.S. was due to Trump's leadership.
Host Abby Phillip cited federal data showing that crime rates reached a 30-year low in 2024 after seeing a significant spike in 2023.
"I agree, and a lot of it is the leadership of Trump," Ferguson cut in.
Phillip was visibly taken aback by the claim.
"This happened before Trump," she explained.
Ferguson then tried to argue that Trump emboldened law enforcement with his rhetoric on the campaign trail, and therefore could be given credit for the declining crime rates.
"What evidence do you have that it was Donald Trump?" Phillip asked.
Federal data shows crime rates decreased by 50% between 2023 and 2024. Ferguson reiterated that law enforcement felt like they could do their jobs again because of Trump, a claim that Phillip and other panelists took issue with.
"Don't let facts get in the way of political talking points," Phillip responded.