As scandal-plagued candidate Graham Platner claimed victory within the Democratic Maine Senate main, the Democratic social gathering and media institution shortly warmed as much as their new hope to grab the Senate. On Tuesday evening, CNN’s The Supply host Kaitlan Collins interviewed Congressman Ro Khanna on his stance on Platner and his multitude of scandals. Luckily, Bulldog Award Winner Shermichael Singleton was able to push again.
Khanna was after all fast to defend his potential future ally within the Senate, avoiding point out of the scandals that introduced a lot consideration to the Maine main and as a substitute targeted on attacking his opponent, Susan Collins:
Graham Platner is operating, saying, ‘I served three excursions of obligation and I am opposed to those overseas wars.’ And he is additionally going to tackle Susan Collins by way of being- placing Kavanaugh on the courtroom and rolling again girls’s rights and chopping well being care. And that is why he is resonating.
Singleton set the file straight:
You’ve this man who’s saying he will make a speech to make a con- or draw a distinction towards himself and Susan Collins. He stands up for ladies. She doesn’t, as a result of she voted for Brett Kavanaugh. But we simply had, no more than per week in the past, very severe allegations towards this exact same man who’s now the defender of girls?
He additionally identified the double requirements Democrats have been dedicated to for the previous few weeks: their typical ethical outrage over scandals like Trump’s disintegrating the second certainly one of their candidates is culpable:
However now that there is a political electoral alternative to keep up their majority within the Senate, and Graham Platner may [un]seat Susan Collins, what? It would not essentially matter, the ten-plus years of arguments we have made about morals and ethics towards Trump and Republicans who empower Trump, as a result of we will win a seat.
Khanna tried to deflect from the Democrat double customary, as a substitute attacking Trump and attempting to pity Platner. Singleton shortly drew the difficulty again to the precise subject of debate, emphasizing Collins’ average stances and reinforcing the unfairness of the Democratic hypocrisy. Khanna attacked Collins on her Supreme Courtroom vote as soon as once more, unable to truly grapple with Singleton’s essential level.
KHANNA: My argument towards Donald Trump was that he did not acknowledge a reliable election. My argument was that he is given tax breaks to billionaires, that he has betrayed his promise to the working class and gotten us in overseas wars. He had 4 prison trials towards him.
So, the concept that somebody who served three excursions of obligation had post-traumatic stress dysfunction and is acknowledging it – a darkish chapter in his life, and his redemption, is much nearer to George W. Bush’s story than Donald Trump’s story. I imply, he has stated he was hooked on alcohol, he had an unsightly chapter, and he has redeemed himself. And People love redemption tales.
By the way in which, Donald Trump has by no means said- I have not heard him categorical disgrace or guilt for something.
SINGLETON: However Congressman, if I may simply rebut shortly. Is Graham Platner operating towards Donald Trump or Susan Collins? I perceive PTSD, I do know a variety of troopers, I am a gun man, that is an enormous problem to me, and I care rather a lot about it. And the alcoholism, I do not take that without any consideration, a variety of People take care of that as effectively, and we should always assist those that are recovering from that problem.
That stated, this can be a man who’s attempting to attract a distinction towards a lady who’s been there a very long time. She is, by all accounts, even by a lot of her colleagues on the Democratic aspect, a average, somebody that they will work with, they’ve a- counted on her for a lot of instances in lots of very severe votes towards her personal social gathering.
And but Democrats are making the argument that now, every thing they stated about Trump, about those that supported Trump, like Susan Collins, was unsuitable, but in some way we should always excuse them for saying that Graham Platner is okay as a result of they might win?
KHANNA: Nobody is questioning Susan Collins’ private character-
SINGLETON: How do you preserve any ethical authority while you make that justification?
KHANNA: -because Harry Reid- Harry said- Reid had stated, you may at all times rely on Susan Collins when you do not want her. And the fact is Democrats are very upset that she put Kavanaugh on the courtroom.
On this battle for the reality, voices like Shermichael Singleton are important. So long as the media continues to disclaim, deceive, and deflect, we’ll want individuals like Singleton who’re keen to face as much as them and battle again towards the egregious bias of the media, to defend the integrity of the journalistic establishments so obligatory for American democracy to proceed to operate.
The transcript is under. Click on “broaden” to learn.
CNN’s The Supply With Kaitlan Collins
June 10, 2026
09:09:16 Jap
(…)
KAITLAN COLLINS: I imply, and congressman, you are backing Graham Platner on this race. Clearly we have seen individuals come out and speak about, , the place this stands, whether or not or not they’re nonetheless standing by Graham Platner, it is made a variety of your colleagues uncomfortable, what has come out about him. Why not you?
RO KHANNA: I used to be up in Maine. There have been large crowds. I feel the important thing problem right now is the anti-war platform. I imply, on a day we’re retaliating towards Iran, Graham Platner is operating, saying, I served three excursions of obligation and I am opposed to those overseas wars. And he is additionally going to tackle Susan Collins by way of being- placing Kavanaugh on the courtroom and rolling again girls’s rights and chopping well being care. And that is why he is resonating.
Now, if he is over 70 p.c, and clearly it is early, I feel that is going to be decisive. I imply, he is overwhelmed a sitting governor. Granted, she suspended her marketing campaign, however she saved enjoying cute, saying my identify continues to be on the poll. You’ll be able to vote for me. For somebody who has not held elective workplace to beat a sitting governor and be round 70 or greater, I feel can be fairly decisive.
COLLINS: However Jeff talked about the margin that we’ll be watching tonight. Which means, , who does vote for Janet Mills on this race, given she suspended her marketing campaign? If that quantity is considerably excessive, what is going to that inform you about how voters do really feel about what they’ve realized about Graham Platner?
KHANNA: Nicely, if there was an actual protest vote and also you had 40 p.c or one thing, nonetheless voting for different candidates, then people- he’d have work to do. However a sitting governor who’s saying, “I am nonetheless on the poll” goes to get some p.c of the vote. And if he’s wherever close to 70 or above, I feel that is going to be fairly decisive, given the passion. And I feel Democrats will rally round him on an anti-war platform, on somebody who’s going to take out Susan Collins, who put Kavanaugh on the courtroom, and who’s voted to chop well being care.
COLLINS: Shermichael. I imply, you heard Arlette’s reporting about what he will say about Susan Collins.
SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON: I’ve, I discover {that a} bit ironic. For a very long time now, Democrats have lengthy argued that what fueled their passions towards Trump was a way of righteous indignation. They have been standing up for justice. They have been upholding morality that they stated Trump was an affront to. And now what all of us understand is that that was all a facade.
You’ve this man who’s saying he will make a speech to make a con- or draw a distinction towards himself and Susan Collins. He stands up for ladies. She doesn’t, as a result of she voted for Brett Kavanaugh. But we simply had, no more than per week in the past, very severe allegations towards this exact same man who’s now the defender of girls?
So to me, it looks like possibly a defender of girls for my Democratic associates, when it is handy for them. However now that there is a political electoral alternative to keep up their majority within the Senate, and Graham Platner may [un]seat Susan Collins, what? It would not essentially matter, the ten-plus years of arguments we have made about morals and ethics towards Trump and Republicans who empower Trump, as a result of we will win a seat.
It is very Machiavellian in some ways, and to me, any argument that Democrats have framed towards Trump, towards Republicans is now null and void. They’ve revealed themselves to be nothing however hypocrites, nothing however liars.
And I feel as we get into the final election, you are going to see the case made by Susan Collins, made by the NRSC, that Democrats will not be the people who they stated that they’re. Have a look at who they’re supporting: the man with the Nazi tattoo.
KHANNA: My argument towards Donald Trump was that he did not acknowledge a reliable election. My argument was that he is given tax breaks to billionaires, that he has betrayed his promise to the working class and gotten us in overseas wars. He had 4 prison trials towards him.
So, the concept that somebody who served three excursions of obligation had publish traumatic stress dysfunction and is acknowledging it – a darkish chapter in his life, and his redemption, is much nearer to George W. Bush’s story than Donald Trump’s story. I imply, he has stated he was hooked on alcohol, he had an unsightly chapter, and he has redeemed himself. And People love redemption tales.
By the way in which, Donald Trump has by no means said- I have not heard him categorical disgrace or guilt for something.
SINGLETON: However Congressman, if I may simply rebut shortly. Is Graham Platner operating towards Donald Trump or Susan Collins? I perceive PTSD, I do know a variety of troopers, I am a gun man, that is an enormous problem to me, and I care rather a lot about it. And the alcoholism, I do not take that without any consideration, a variety of People take care of that as effectively, and we should always assist those that are recovering from that problem.
That stated, this can be a man who’s attempting to attract a distinction towards a lady who’s been there a very long time. She is, by all accounts, even by a lot of her colleagues on the Democratic aspect, a average, somebody that they will work with, they’ve a- counted on her for a lot of instances in lots of very severe votes towards her personal social gathering.
And but Democrats are making the argument that now, every thing they stated about Trump, about those that supported Trump, like Susan Collins, was unsuitable, but in some way we should always excuse them for saying that Graham Platner is okay as a result of they might win?
KHANNA: Nobody is questioning Susan Collins’ private character-
SINGLETON: How do you preserve any ethical authority while you make that justification?
KHANNA: -because Harry Reid- Harry said- Reid had stated, you may at all times rely on Susan Collins when you do not want her. And the fact is Democrats are very upset that she put Kavanaugh on the courtroom.
COLLINS: And to be honest, Susan Collins as soon as stated, she did not belief Harry Reid when she was attempting to maintain her file by way of voting.
