‘I’ll Have To Speak Up’: Scott Jennings, David Axelrod, Get Into Verbal Brawl Over Minnesota Abortion Law

Republican strategist Scott Jennings and former Obama administration official David Axelrod clashed Tuesday night over a Minnesota law regarding abortion following the vice-presidential debate between Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.

Walz signed a bill in 2023 stating a right to abortion was recognized by the state constitution with no restrictions, and also signed a bill that year reversing requirements that physicians provide care to infants who survive an abortion attempt. “The View” co-host and former Trump administration official Alyssa Farah Griffin bemoaned Republicans accusing Democrats of supporting infanticide, after which Axelrod and Jennings dove into a debate over the impact of the legislation.

“I wish that Republicans would stop saying, ‘Oh, they’re allowing babies to be killed once they’re born,’” Farah Griffin said. “Why not talk about the fact, which is actually a valid point, babies are now being resuscitated at 23 weeks, they’ve lived in the NICU at that point. That’s where you could start the conversation if you want some restrictions on abortion. I feel like J.D. Vance is actually right to say Republicans are completely in the wrong space around the issue of reproductive rights, But he didn’t offer the right solutions.”

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Axelrod said Vance showed “solicitude” for “victims” of pro-life policies supported by the Republican ticket. Jennings then brought up infants who survived attempts to carry out late-term abortions.

“There were eight deaths among infants who survived abortion attempts during Tim Walz’s tenure as governor, it happened, they don’t want to talk about the fact that it happened but there were children-” Jennings said.