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Former New York Times An opinion columnist mocked a young reporter’s age and said a child “wouldn’t lecture him” during a televised spat over his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday.
Charles Blow, 55, launched an insult during a heated argument with New York Post financial correspondent Lydia Moynihan, 31, discussing Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next director of national intelligence.
“I have been doing journalism for a very long time. In fact, I joined the New York Times the year you were born,” Blow said. “So I would choose… I suggest you pick your own lane and stay in it and don’t lecture me because the kid won’t lecture me.”
Blow’s statement came after CNN anchor Abby Phillip asked Moynihan about Clayton’s refusal to directly answer Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff’s question about who won the 2020 presidential election, which Trump falsely claimed was “rigged” against him.
“He was softening his words, and I wish he would have just said yes and ended the discussion, but there is a lot of theatricality in hearings like this,” Moynihan said. “Jon Ossoff got his quote and the Republicans are doing the same. They like to ask: “What is a woman?” But Ketanji Brown Jackson could not answer. Many people still cannot answer this question. So for me it’s theatricality.”
Charles Blow, 55, became offended during a heated exchange with New York Post financial correspondent Lydia Moynihan, 31, as they discussed the actions of Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next director of national intelligence. (CNN)
As another panelist began to speak, Blow turned to Moynihan and said, “Do you accept that Joe Biden won the election?”
When she answered, “Yes.” Blow countered, “So you can do it right now, but he couldn’t?” according to the transcript released intermediary.
Moynihan then accused Blow of “trying to get a misspelled clip on social media” and added, “I already answered your question and I’m not here to answer you.”
The beat that got away Times last year and is now a freelance journalist and future fellow at Harvard University, did not immediately respond to a request from Independent on Thursday.
But on his Substack account, Blow posted a video clip of a conversation he said Moynihan was “trying to avoid but ironically created.”
Blow’s statement came after CNN anchor Abby Phillip asked Moynihan about Clayton’s refusal to directly answer Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff’s question about who won the 2020 presidential election, which Trump falsely claimed was “rigged” against him. (AP)
Blow also said that “she felt like she was *faltering* when she said that weak line she’d been practicing in front of the mirror all day.”
“Wrong move. The difference between me and you, ma’am, is age, experience and an evil tongue, sharp as a knife,” he wrote. “I don’t have to practice the line. I am an experienced collector. I do it as easily as I breathe.”
Moynihan did not immediately respond to a request for comment Independent but posted an excerpt from the conversation on social media, adding: “Honestly, flattered, he thinks I look so young?!”
A Mail The representative declined to comment and referred Independent to Moynihan’s statement on social media.
Representatives for CNN and Harvard’s Hutchins Center for African and African American Studies, which named Blow as its Langston Hughes Fellow for the fall 2027 term, did not immediately respond to requests Independent.