Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) struggled through an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper on Sunday, an appearance that left many viewers stunned and critical.
The interview followed Stevens' recent endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers, a move that generated significant backlash. Stevens had previously lost the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate to Abdul El-Sayed and had initially endorsed him, warning against Rogers' support for Donald Trump's agenda.
During the nearly 15-minute interview with Cooper, Stevens attempted to justify her endorsement of Rogers but had difficulty answering pointed questions, at times leading to awkward silences. Cooper described the exchange as "frustrating."
Viewers took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their reactions, with many calling the interview "brutal," "incoherent," and "uncomfortable." Some described it as watching a "horror movie in slow motion."
The controversy surrounding Stevens' endorsement and subsequent interview has also led to resignations among her staff and outrage from within the Democratic party.