Abby Philippe Addresses Controversy Over ICE Comparison

On Thursday, during “CNN Newsnight,” host Abby Philippe intervened as former New York Times columnist Charles Blow faced backlash from Federalist reporter Brianna Reiman and CNN’s Scott Jennings. They criticized Blow for likening U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Nazis.

The situation escalated in Minneapolis, where violence erupted against ICE after the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that agents shot and killed a Venezuelan immigrant during a “targeted” operation. Reiman accused Blow of saying that ICE used “white supremacist propaganda” to recruit their agents.

Blow responded, asserting that ICE’s recruitment tactics invoked Nazi and white supremacist imagery, stating, “They use these cues, and people identify with them. Some may not see themselves as Nazis or white supremacists, but they still respond to this. It’s troubling and frightening political theater.”

Earlier, during a commencement speech at the University of Minnesota Law School, Governor Tim Walz compared ICE to the Gestapo and claimed that President Trump denied “due process” to those deported.

Reiman pushed back, questioning Blow’s assertions, suggesting that he was implying ICE recruits from a dangerous pool. Blow countered, asking if his statements were being misinterpreted.

Philippe then interjected, claiming that certain phrases used by various Cabinet agencies originated from “white supremacist chat rooms.”

In a heated moment, Reiman stated, “So if you drink water, you’re Hitler,” while Blow criticized her for an earlier post that featured George Washington, which she labeled as using “Nazi language.”

The discussion grew intense, with Jennings adding his perspective. “What was the Nazi language?” he asked, as Blow seemed unsure about what had been specifically referenced.

Jennings, seeking clarity, queried the elusive phrase that had been mentioned. Philippe attempted to bring order to the conversation, saying, “Guys, please stop talking. Let’s not get lost in this. To clarify, he was pointing out certain imagery and phrases from DHS on social media that trace back to ideologies associated with white supremacy.”