Republican strategist Scott Jennings left CNN anchor Kate Bolduan stammering on Wednesday when he argued that Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Chairman Elon Musk has been “transparent” in his efforts to bring reform to Washington.
Despite Democrats and media framing DOGE as a shadowy rogue effort, its X account frequently shares updates containing specific information regarding how it is cutting costs within the federal government. Bolduan, on “CNN News Central,” claimed that Musk has not been “transparent” whatsoever, prompting Jennings to accuse her of bias.
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“I take him at his word that he wants to be transparent, that he invites transparency. Obviously, everybody in the English speaking world, media is looking into him every single day,” Jennings said. “I would have no fear if I were him about Congress asking questions and looking into it.”
Bolduan repeatedly stammered as she tried to interrupt Jennings. When he stopped talking, she said, “But the definition of it is he’s not been on the front end of this so far. He has not been transparent.”
Bolduan stammered some more before Jennings continued, saying, “They are making routine announcements about the things they are finding and they are inviting questions about the things they are finding every single day.”
“By definition he’s not being transparent. They’re not providing data for the things that they say they have found evidence of,” Bolduan asserted, continuing to stammer. “They just aren’t … You can make announcements and he also did admit that he —”
Jennings then accused the CNN host of denying the reality of Musk’s transparency.
“So you just don’t believe it. I mean, they are providing information. You just choose not to believe that it’s true,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone should just believe that it’s true. Do you think that people have taken kickbacks of tens of millions of dollars from USAID [United States Agency for International Development]?” Bolduan asked. “Do you believe that? No, but you don’t accuse me of just —”
Musk suggested that some USAID officials had taken kickbacks during his Tuesday press conference with President Donald Trump.
“I’m just asking you, do you believe that there is any level of waste, fraud and abuse in the government?” Jennings asked.
“No, no, no, that’s not what you’re asking me,” Bolduan responded. “And I’m going to ask the questions. Don’t accuse me of just like —”
NEW: @ScottJenningsKY leaves CNN host Kate Bolduan stammering as she clings to narrative @elonmusk hasn’t been “transparent” with @DOGE
JENNINGS: “They are making routine announcements about the things they are finding and they are inviting questions about the things they… pic.twitter.com/pxmsIOVgLT
— Jason Cohen
NEW: 
(@JasonJournoDC) Jennings asserted that DOGE is undoubtedly discovering government waste, fraud and abuse.
“That wasn’t my question,” Bolduan said. “My question was by definition they’re not being transparent.”
Jennings scoffed, asking what the CNN host wants DOGE to do. She answered that she wants it to “provide data” in another stammering response.
Jennings expressed agreement, saying he appreciates DOGE making announcements and releasing “regular reports.” Bolduan, however, denied that DOGE has taken such actions.
On Monday alone, DOGE’s X account posted three updates regarding the Department of Education and Department of Agriculture terminating contracts and grants, purportedly totaling nearly $1 billion.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Tuesday that it fired four Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees for distributing $59 million in taxpayer dollars to New York City hotels to house and care for illegal migrants. Musk’s DOGE had highlighted the price tag in a Monday social media post.
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