Scott Jennings taunted Democrat Katie Porter for berating a journalist while campaigning to become California’s governor, but he weaseled out of a question about President Donald Trump’s attacks on the press.CNN “NewsNight” host Abby Phillip played highlights of Porter, a former House member, telling a staffer to “get out of my fucking shot” and scoffing at a reporter’s questions about Trump voters in her state. Porter nearly walked out of that recent interview. Phillip called it an “era of behaving badly” with reporters, prompting panelist Tara Palmeri to note that “people like that nastiness; they think it is a strength.”Jennings chimed in with his take.“Are we sure Katie Porter’s not improving because in her previous negative interactions with other human beings, she once, I think, poured a pot of hot scalding mashed potatoes on someone,” he said, referring to her ex-husband’s allegation that she attacked him with boiling potatoes.“She didn’t even physically assault this reporter, so maybe she’s actually improving,” Jennings continued before looking straight into the camera:“California, are you really going to look at that face in your television screen for the next four years and tolerate this behavior?” Jennings asked.Phillip wasn’t about to let Jennings, CNN’s Republican heel, off the hook.“Are you comfortable with that treatment of reporters from Trump but not from Katie Porter?” she asked him.“I don’t care what Katie Porter does to reporters,” Jennings replied. “I thought it was legitimate questions and any legitimate candidate for governor, especially in a state that size, oughta have a better answer.”Trump, meanwhile, continues his attacks against the fourth estate on an almost daily basis, Palmeri said.On Thursday, the president said of a CNN journalist, “This is one of the worst reporters that you’ll ever see.”Close