Delaware Sen. Chris Koons said that funding CNN host Michael Smerconish for the “Sesame Street” show in Iraq is a way to teach Iraqi children “value” I agreed that taxpayer funds could be used successfully.
Smerconish said on Saturday's title show that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) gave $20 million to a nonprofit called the Sesame Workshop, calling it “Ahlan Simsim Iraq” a show called “Inclusion, Mutual Respect and Mutual Respect.” I commented on the report that they produced a show called “Promote.” Understanding across ethnic, religious and sectarian groups. “The show begins in 2021 and runs until 2027.
He asked viewers everywhere if he believed this was an effective use of “soft power,” despite the backlash from conservative lawmakers.
“This isn't just funding children's shows for millions of children in countries like Iraq,” Coons said. “It helps to teach values, teach public health, prevents children from dysentery and illness, pushes values such as collaboration, peace, ISIS, extremism, terrorism, and social cooperation. It will help you to do it.”
Senator Chris Coons gave his opinion on CNN's “Smerconish” Saturday. (CNN screenshot)
The Rwandan president praises “unconventional” Trump, saying “we may learn some lessons” with the USAID shutdown
He continued. “And in your point, it's a dollar penny. The US Department of Defense has an annual budget of around $850 billion. USAID was spending around $30 billion. [political scientist Joseph Nye] Often you'll say, it's not just soft power, it's smart power. ”
Smerconish also appeared to defend the funds for the show as he voted their viewers.
“Nai himself said that in the short term, hard power is usually better than soft power, but the long term effect may be against it. Or, the sender of my Sirius XM radio show said yesterday. So who teaches children in Iraq? Birds or al-Qaeda help us all and teaches us against extremism.”
USAID is accused of providing $20 million to Sesame Workshop for its program in Iraq. (Getty Images)
Near the end of his show, Smerconish revealed that 72% of viewers support taxpayers funding the international series. He argued that the political debate surrounding it likely came from “soundbite” politics rather than from the program itself.
“Now, is that a better political issue than the beginning of the program? No, it took me five minutes to explain exactly what the Iraqi program is for 'Sesame Street'. I hate America,” Smelconish said. “And like I told Chris Koons, as you know, it's much easier for us to live, they're blank EV cars that make all this money Can you imagine it being spent filling in? In Vietnam?”
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The Iraqi Children's Show was one of several examples that Elon Musk's Ministry of Government Efficiency (DOGE) used to condemn wasteful spending and abuse.
Elon Musk, Doge and the Trump administration are targeting USAID for wasted spending and abuse. (Getty Images)
The Doge and Trump administrations were aiming to shut down the agency as a result, but a federal judge thwarted President Donald Trump's efforts to leave thousands of USAID workers on Friday.
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Emma Colton from Fox News contributed to this report.
