“You Cannot Just Invent a Connection”: CNN Anchor Abby Phillip Shuts Down Debate on George Floyd’s Death
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A heated debate on the effects of George Floyd’s death led CNN anchor Abby Phillip to intervene and correct a Republican guest on her show, Newsnight. The argument unfolded on Tuesday night when Ryan Girdusky, founder of the 1776 Project PAC, made a controversial claim about the aftermath of Floyd’s death.
Girdusky suggested that the riots following Floyd’s death in 2020 “resulted in excess of over 15,000 black male deaths in this country.” His statement quickly sparked a response from CNN contributor and former Democratic South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers.
“How?” Sellers immediately asked, pressing Girdusky to explain his assertion.
Girdusky attributed the figure to what he called “a surge of violent crime,” which he described as “the Ferguson effect” — a theory that claims a rise in crime occurs when law enforcement pulls back from proactive policing in the wake of high-profile incidents of police violence. This theory, named after the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri, has been widely debated.
As Girdusky attempted to clarify, he argued, “After the Floyd riot, policemen – in fear of their jobs many times and political coverage – pulled back from their jobs, resulting in an increased level of homicides…”
Phillip, sensing the conversation was veering into speculative territory, stepped in to break up the exchange. “Hold on Ryan, listen, I got to stop you there…hold on,” Phillip interrupted. “We’ve got to stop you there because you’re literally making a connection out of your own conjecture…you cannot do that.”
Girdusky doubled down, insisting that his claim was valid. “No, it’s a real thing,” he responded. “Look it up, look up the Ferguson effect, look up the Floyd effect. It is a real term. I didn’t make it up.”
However, Phillip wasn’t convinced. “You cannot just invent a connection between two things, just because you want that connection to be there,” she retorted, underscoring the importance of evidence-based discussion. As Girdusky continued to push his argument, CNN political commentator and Democrat Ashley Allison chimed in, stating, “It doesn’t mean it’s right. It can be a real thing, but it doesn’t mean it’s accurate.”
The debate grew more tense, with multiple voices speaking at once, prompting Phillip to intervene again. “Hold on, hold on, hold on,” she urged. “I just want everyone to settle down because people cannot hear at home if everybody’s talking at once.”
Despite the escalating argument, Phillip successfully steered the conversation back to order, highlighting the complexities of discussing sensitive topics like the long-term effects of George Floyd’s death and its impact on American society.
