Veteran journalist Charles Blow and New York Post reporter Lydia Moynihan engaged in a sharp exchange on CNN’s “NewsNight With Abby Phillip” on Wednesday, during which Blow pushed back against Moynihan's comments about his intentions.
The dispute arose after Blow questioned Moynihan about whether she would acknowledge Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election, following comments from Jay Clayton, a nominee for director of national intelligence and a Trump appointee, who had refused to directly state that Biden won the election during a confirmation hearing.
Moynihan suggested that Blow was attempting to create a "social media clip" with his line of questioning. Blow, a former op-ed columnist for The New York Times and political analyst, responded by highlighting his extensive career in journalism, noting he joined The New York Times the year Moynihan was born. He stated, “I really appreciate you lecturing me about what I’m here to do,” adding, “And don’t lecture me, because I won’t be lectured by a child.”
Moynihan had previously defended Clayton's remarks, characterizing the questioning during the hearing as "theatrics." She drew a parallel to a 2022 hearing where Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was asked about the definition of a woman.
This is not the first time Moynihan has faced scrutiny on the program. In December, she was confronted for defending comments made by former President Donald Trump that were criticized as racist.
Trump is scheduled to deliver a primetime address on Thursday to present further claims regarding the 2020 election.