Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

GOP strategist Ana Navarro unleashed hellfire on CNN over Trump. It’s must-see TV.

Ana Navarro, a Nicaraguan American commentator and Republican strategist, went on an incredible tirade on CNN Friday night against Trump supporter Scottie Nell Hughes, after Hughes objected to Navarro using the word “pussy” on air.

Navarro and Hughes were on a panel discussing the leaked comments that featured Donald Trump effectively bragging about sexual assault in 2005.

“Every single Republican is going to have to answer the question, ‘What did you do the day you saw the tape of this man boasting about grabbing a woman’s pussy?’” Navarro said.

“Please stop saying that word,” Hughes said. “My daughter is listening.”

“You know what, Scottie?” Navarro shouted, after some loud crosstalk. “Don’t tell me you’re offended when I say ‘pussy,’ but you’re not offended when Donald Trump said it. I’m not running for president. He is.”

Host Don Lemon cut to a commercial break shortly thereafter, and Navarro wasn’t on for the next segment. Lemon said on air, and Navarro confirmed on Twitter, that she had to leave because she was tired after a long day.

Navarro had also spoken out against Trump fiercely earlier in the segment.

”How many times does he get away with saying something misogynistic before we call him a misogynist?” she asked. “How many times does he get away with saying something sexist before we acknowledge that he is a sexist? It is time to condemn the man.”

Later, Lemon pressed Hughes over the exchange with Navarro. Hughes clarified that she was in fact offended by the word “pussy” when Trump said it, and claimed CNN had run the video with the word bleeped out. (That wasn’t true, Lemon said; CNN had in fact run the video all day uncensored.)

After Hughes started talking about Hillary Clinton, Lemon pressed Hughes on how she felt, personally, as a woman, about defending Donald Trump after this.

“I wish those comments didn’t exist in our society,” Hughes said. “But I also know ... in the presidency, words matter, but more importantly actions matter.”

The problem with Trump’s remarks, though, is that they do connect to actions.

It’s possible Trump was boasting in 2005 — but he was still boasting that he, personally, had committed sexual assault, which is vile enough. And more disturbingly, Trump has actually been credibly accused of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape by multiple women.

Trump’s remarks weren’t just an isolated gaffe. They epitomized decades of derogatory and disturbing sexist comments and actions.

That’s why Navarro was so righteously angry, and why every decent American should be.

More in Politics

Podcasts
The Supreme Court abortion pills case, explainedThe Supreme Court abortion pills case, explained
Podcast
Podcasts

How Louisiana brought mifepristone back to SCOTUS.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
Politics
Trump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expectedTrump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expected
Politics

As Trump heads to China, attention and resources are being shifted from Asia to yet another war in the Middle East.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Are far-right politics just the new normal?Are far-right politics just the new normal?
Politics

Liberals are preparing for a longer war with right-wing populists than they once expected.

By Zack Beauchamp
The Logoff
Flavored vapes doomed Trump’s FDA headFlavored vapes doomed Trump’s FDA head
The Logoff

Why Marty Makary is out at the FDA, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
Virginia Democrats’ irresponsible new plan to save their gerrymanderVirginia Democrats’ irresponsible new plan to save their gerrymander
Politics

Democrats just handed the Supreme Court’s Republicans a loaded weapon.

By Ian Millhiser
The Logoff
Can Trump lower gas prices?Can Trump lower gas prices?
The Logoff

What suspending the gas tax would mean for you, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters