Jennings often riles up his more liberal colleagues and fellow pundits on the news network, stirring up “Jerry Springer” vibes on Phillip’s “News Night.” The pattern seemed to intensify as the election neared.
But Jennings and Phillip found common ground Monday in Ocasio-Cortez’s online reach-out to people in her district who voted for her and Trump. Trump handily defeated Democrat Kamala Harris while Ocasio-Cortez easily won a fourth term. Some respondents said they both came off as “real” and as working-class champions who were outsiders when they arrived in Washington, D.C.
“People are sick and tired of fake, inauthentic politicians who can only operate off of a script, who are being handed things by consultants, whose every movement and facial expression is rehearsed,” Jennings said. “And the thing that Trump and AOC have in common is that they both appear to be authentically speaking what’s on their mind and what’s in their heart at any given time. It’s as plain as day the rejection of the political class in favor of the authentic class. And sometimes they’re contradictory and sometimes they say things that make you lift an eyebrow but that’s the thread.”
“I think you’re spot-on,” Phillip said before showing examples of respondents to AOC’s survey.
“I hear when voters say, OK it’s about populism and the working class, but I think it’s also about the tone, the vibe of the candidate themselves,” Phillip continued. “And how they approach voters, whether they’re believable.”