CNN contributor and political commentator Scott Jennings joined Chicago’s Morning Answer with Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson for a spirited discussion about his role on the cable network, the upcoming election, and his new book A Revolution of Common Sense: How Donald Trump Stormed Washington and Fought for Western Civilization.
Jennings, who has built a reputation as one of the few prominent conservative voices regularly featured on CNN panels, shared some behind-the-scenes insights into the network’s newly popular debate-format programming. Since last summer, CNN has leaned into a show format reminiscent of classic programs like The McLaughlin Group, where multiple panelists argue their positions in real-time. According to Jennings, the show is one of the fastest-growing and most-watched programs on the network.
Despite often being the lone conservative voice against multiple liberal panelists, Jennings said he enjoys the challenge. “That’s fair—one conservative, four liberals,” he joked. He also noted that the format is helping CNN reclaim some of its traditional debate-oriented heritage and is generating viral moments that resonate with viewers across the political spectrum.
Asked about what happens when the cameras are off, Jennings revealed that many of his on-air counterparts, including Abby Phillip and Van Jones, are collegial behind the scenes. The more contentious relationships, he said, tend to come from panelists who aren’t part of CNN’s regular staff. Regardless, Jennings emphasized the importance of debating without personal animosity, lamenting that the country has lost the ability to “disagree without being disagreeable.”
The conversation turned to some of Jennings’ recent debates on CNN, including discussions about Trump’s trade policy with China and the recent arrest of LaMonica McIver, a prominent left-wing activist involved in a clash at a federal facility. Jennings defended the arrest based on clear video evidence and challenged his liberal colleagues to imagine the response if a Republican had done the same. “There’s tape,” he said simply, pushing back against claims that the arrest was politically motivated.
Jennings also weighed in on the mounting controversy surrounding President Joe Biden’s health and the recent revelations from a new book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. The book suggests that the country was effectively being run by five unelected individuals while Biden served as a figurehead. Jennings called the situation a “constitutional crisis” and “the biggest scandal in modern American political history,” criticizing Democrats and members of the media who, in his view, covered up the president’s condition for years.
He took particular aim at First Lady Jill Biden, noting that she was often seen in decision-making roles during Biden’s term. “She got what she wanted—power, magazine covers, control,” Jennings said, adding that many agents of the Biden administration’s actions have yet to be held accountable.
On the question of whether Democrats might try to pivot to someone like Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear in 2028, Jennings was unequivocal. He dismissed Beshear’s reputation as a moderate, describing him as “one of the most committed cultural ideologues” and warning that he is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” whose progressive agenda has only been tempered by a Republican legislature.
Jennings also discussed his new book, A Revolution of Common Sense, which takes its title from a recurring phrase in Trump’s speeches and outlines the former president’s branding of the Republican Party around simple, widely-supported ideas. The book includes exclusive interviews with Trump, Elon Musk, Marco Rubio, and other senior administration figures, and reflects on the major political shifts in the early days of Trump’s renewed presidency.
Jennings described Elon Musk as a particularly fascinating interview subject, revealing that the tech mogul is deeply pessimistic about the future of Western civilization. Other interviewees, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, contributed to Jennings’ thesis that Trump’s political appeal lies in his ability to champion 80/20 issues that unite large swaths of the electorate.
As the 2028 campaign season begins to take shape, Jennings—praised for his ability to hold his own in a hostile media environment—remains a central figure in the national conversation. And while he joked about launching a Senate campaign in Kentucky by announcing it on Chicago radio, he left listeners with a clear message: don’t forget what the last four years have revealed.
Scott Jennings’ book, A Revolution of Common Sense, is available for preorder now.