The Democratic Party’s internal struggle between the establishment and further-left elements has seemingly slipped over onto CNN’s broadcasts. While multiple CNN hosts and their so-called fact checkers were trying to defend or downplay their party’s embrace of extremist Hasan Piker, a small contingent seemed to be pushing back. On Tuesday’s The Situation Room, co-host Wolf Blitzer brought on long-time Democratic politician Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and teed him up to condemn Piker and those who embraced him.
In framing his Piker question to Emanuel, Blitzer pitched his guest as possible 2028 presidential hopeful for the establishment-wing versus the far-left’s Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY):
I know it's no secret you're considering, considering a 2028 presidential run. You've been very vocal in opposing the far-left influencer Hasan Piker’s role in the Democratic Party, especially in the Michigan Senate race. I want you to watch what Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said about that, and we'll get your reaction.
He then played a soundbite of Ocasio-Cortez slowly fumbling an answer where she suggested the communist terrorist was not a real issue: “I do not think that a Twitch streamer is what the people of Michigan are concerning themselves on. So, I think that what they want to hear all of us talk about is how we're going to make their lives more affordable.”
“Does she have a point?” Blitzer asked.
CNN's Wolf Blitzer tees up Rahm Emanuel to condemn Hasan Piker and far-left Dems who embrace him:
WOLF BLITZER: I know it's no secret you're considering, considering a 2028 presidential run. You've been very vocal in opposing the far-left influencer Hasan Piker’s role in the… pic.twitter.com/l4xaz8RegE— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) September 1, 2026
Emanuel agreed that Americans were focused on affordability, but he argued that the party also needed to be conscience of where they were going internally. He noted the far-left was leading them toward a dangerous place:
On the other hand, look, let's step back from the election on this case of Piker. She's not wrong that they don't want to hear, but you have a person, Wolf. Jewish population in America is two percent. It's north of 70 percent of all religious violence. If this happened to any other group in any part of the country, people would be up in arms, appropriately. It's not appropriate to have somebody encouraging violence, as he did the other day.
He then called out Piker for his 9/11 comments. The same comments the liberal elitist media have been trying to ignore and minimize:
Do the problem here, and the challenge here is that other parts of the party has decided to welcome Piker in as a legitimate voice. His hatred, his discussion of 9/11 as welcomed and America earned it is not welcomed in the party and is not welcomed in the public debate in the United States of America because it's filled with hatred.
The interview promptly ended and they went to a commercial break.
It will be interesting to see how this public sniping between CNN factions will play out, especially when they start leaking to outlets that over the industry.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
CNN’s The Situation Room
September 1, 2026
11:43:40 a.m. Eastern(…)
WOLF BLITZER: I know it's no secret you're considering, considering a 2028 presidential run. You've been very vocal in opposing the far-left influencer Hasan Piker’s role in the Democratic Party, especially in the Michigan Senate race. I want you to watch what Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said about that, and we'll get your reaction. Listen to this.
[Cuts to video]
REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): I do not think that a Twitch streamer is what the people of Michigan are concerning themselves on. So, I think that what they want to hear all of us talk about is how we're going to make their lives more affordable.
[Cuts back to live]
BLITZER: Does she have a point?
RAHM EMANUEL (D-IL): Well, I can tell you from being all over the country, people are worried about the fact that their kids go to college and they incur $30,000 of debt, and they end up in their parent's basement, not on their own, in their Independence. Health care went from being a piece of mind to now it's a nightmare. You're taking money out of your savings account to make your paycheck get to the 31st of the month.
On the other hand, look, let's step back from the election on this case of Piker. She's not wrong that they don't want to hear, but you have a person, Wolf. Jewish population in America is two percent. It's north of 70 percent of all religious violence. If this happened to any other group in any part of the country, people would be up in arms, appropriately. It's not appropriate to have somebody encouraging violence, as he did the other day.
So yes, the American people care on about major personal things as it relates to their family, the education of their children. We have bigger problems. 50 percent of our kids can't read at grade level. That's where we should be focused on.
Do the problem here, and the challenge here is that other parts of the party has decided to welcome Piker in as a legitimate voice. His hatred, his discussion of 9/11 as welcomed and America earned it is not welcomed in the party and is not welcomed in the public debate in the United States of America because it's filled with hatred.
BLITZER: Rahm Emanuel, as usual. Thanks for coming in.
EMANUEL: Thanks, Wolf.
