On with Kara Swisher

Gloves Off with Scott Jennings, CNN’s Conservative Pundit

188 snips
Nov 21, 2025
Scott Jennings, a longtime Republican political operative and CNN commentator, shares insights from his new book about Trump’s presidency. He discusses his role on CNN's debate panels, likening the format to wrestling, and explains his complex relationship with Trump. Jennings explores the MAGA base's frustrations, the impact of the Epstein files, and the challenges of maintaining Trump's coalition. They also debate what 'common sense' means in Trump’s agenda and reflect on how Trump has transformed the GOP.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Trump, The Saudis, And The Press

  • Jennings defends Trump's handling of the Saudi visit as part of a big-ticket diplomatic push like joining the Abraham Accords.
  • He says Trump's adversarial style with the press is 'situation normal' and driven by perceived hostility.
INSIGHT

Campaign Production Trumped Some Policy Gaps

  • Jennings downplays affordability polling gaps as campaign messaging plus weak opposition helped Trump's victories.
  • He argues Trump's wins owed in part to weak opponents and effective campaign production, not solely to policy substance.
ADVICE

Pair Spending Cuts With Strong PR

  • Jennings supports cutting wasteful spending but warns PR matters; implement changes with strong communication.
  • He recommends matching public messaging and Congress outreach when taking big fiscal actions.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app