CNN's Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota fiercely battle conservative Matt Schlapp for his 'selective outrage'

Alisyn Camerota and Matt Schlapp.
(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/atrupar)

Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, has some advice for the "elites" in the press.

Schlapp appeared on CNN's New Day on Monday to slam comedian Michelle Wolf for her monologue at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and gave his opinion regarding the media's role in politics while he was at it.

"The journalist shouldn't be the one to say that the president or that his spokesperson is lying," Schlapp told CNN's Alisyn Camerota, "because what that does to 50 percent of the country is it makes them feel like they're not credible to listen to anymore."

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In talking about Wolf's controversial jokes about White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Schlapp said that journalists should let the public decide whether an official is lying or not. Wolf said that Sanders often lies at press briefings, which Schlapp claimed was over the line for comedians and journalists alike. Camerota coolly fired back that it's the media's job to note when the president is "fact-free."

Schlapp heads one of the largest Republican lobbying organizations in the American Conservative Union, and his wife, Mercedes, is a White House communications staffer. The couple left Saturday's dinner early in protest. After Camerota's interview with Schlapp, her co-host Chris Cuomo couldn't help but weigh in. Cuomo attacked Schlapp for his "selective outrage," prompting a fiery shouting match between the two. Watch it below. Summer Meza

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Summer Meza, The Week US

Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.