Scott Jennings is defending the Trump administration's newly announced Iran deal on CNN, drawing intense criticism from progressive commentators. On Pod Save America, the hosts are actively warning their audience against buying into his spin. Jon Lovett didn't mince words, calling Jennings a CNN regular whom "you know him, you hate him, he's a hack, he's a fool."
The concern among critics is that mainstream outlets will uncritically repeat his talking points to create a false narrative of success. Tommy Vietor expressed worry that the broader press will help Donald Trump sell a deal by "retweeting, you know, Scott Jennings saying, 'This is a win for the Trump administration,'" which he argues distorts a disastrous reality. Vietor later doubled down on this skepticism, labeling Jennings a "Trump mouthpiece" who is trying to claim the U.S. is getting everything it wants before actual negotiations have even concluded.
Meanwhile, the attitude toward Jennings on other shows is more parodic but equally sharp. On On with Kara Swisher, host Kara Swisher floated the idea of bringing the conservative commentator onto her show, jokingly suggesting "Maybe a ritual sacrifice bringing Scott Jennings." The comment was a nod to his past contentious on-air clashes with journalists like Audie Cornish.
As the administration continues to push its foreign policy agenda, Scott Jennings remains a primary lightning rod for liberal media critics who see him as the vanguard of conservative spin. Whether he continues to absorb these blows on CNN or faces more "ritual sacrifices" on the podcast circuit, his role as a chief defender of the right-wing establishment is only solidifying.