'Left-wing narrative': OK schools chief accuses CNN host of 'gaslighting' on pro-Trump prayer video

18 November 2024

In Oklahoma, MAGA Republican Ryan Walters — state superintendent of public instruction and a far-right Christian nationalist — has ordered schools to show a pro-Donald Trump prayer video. Walters defended his position during a Monday, November 18 appearance on CNN, but he got some vehement pushback when host Pamela Brown repeatedly debunked his claims.

Walters declared, "I've continued to hear the gaslighting from the left, and frankly, even from this network pushing lies about what's going on across America. President Trump has a clear mandate. He wants prayer back in school. He wants radical leftism out of the classroom. He wants our kids to be patriotic want parents back in charge with school choice, we are acting upon that agenda here in Oklahoma."

But Brown pushed back against Walters' claim that CNN is "gaslighting" viewers, telling him, "I'm not going to take the bait about gaslighting on this network" and demanded to know where his "authority is specifically coming from."

During their testy back-and-forth exchange, Brown told the Oklahoma education superintendent, "As you know, thousands of people, including parents — who signed a petition to impeach you, with more than 14,000 signatures…. say this is government overreach, and you're taking control away from local parents, local school boards, and parents over their kids. What do you say to that, and where is your authority coming from to enforce this prayer video to be played in schools?"

Walters maintained his antagonistic tone, accusing Brown of pushing a "left-wing narrative." And he dodged her question about the petition, saying, "The Constitution is crystal clear on religious liberty. I know the left doesn't want our kids to know anything about the role the Bible played in American history. They don't want any of our kids to know about the Constitution. Our religious liberties are protected, and the left has driven the Bible out of schools — driven prayer out of schools."

But Brown set Walters straight, noting that the Constitution "doesn't have God in it" and that the First Amendment's Establishment Clause "requires the separation of church and state."

The First Amendment, Brown reminded Walters, promises freedom of religion but states that government shall not favor one religion over another.

"There are many cases where the Supreme Court has routinely ruled on that," Brown told Walters.

Watch the full video below or at this link.

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