WATCH: CNN Host Challenges Mike Johnson on 'Rights' of Pro-Hamas Demonstrators - Any Guesses?

I've always been fond of the old adage, "Never fight a battle of wits with no ammunition." Or, in the case of CNN host Erin Burnett, "Never debate First Amendment 'rights' of pro-Hamas demonstrators threatening Jewish students with a former First Amendment attorney." AKA: House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Yet, that's exactly what Burnett did during an interview with Johnson when he traveled to Columbia University on Wednesday to call for President Minouche Shafik's resignation.

The blatantly biased host previewed the interview before Johnson came on thusly:

They were, and I'm going to show you here, this is my cell phone video, chanting "Free Palestine," heckling, booing when Johnson called for the president of the school to resign. They were not friendly. They couldn't actually hear the Speaker, which I can tell you is a good thing, because much of what he said would have incensed that crowd.

Of course it would've incensed "the crowd," Ms. Burnett; the mob was and remains antisemitic as hell.

Burnett made a fool out of herself as soon as the interview began, kicking off the festivities with this:

All right. So let me ask you about that because when it comes to that, the NYPD, at least as of Monday, said they've not received a single call from Columbia University of reports of any physical harm.

As Johnson began to respond, Burnett cut him off to reiterate: "No physical harm." Johnson was unaffected, saying:

Right. But you have to speak to these Jewish students who are in fear of their lives, who are cowering in their apartments right now, who are not coming to class. In fact, the administration recognized the threat was so great, they canceled classes.
Now they've come out with this hybrid idea, “Well, if you're Jewish, maybe you do want to stay at home. Maybe you'd be better off for you.” It is so discriminatory. It's so wrong in every way. The responsibility of a university administrator is to keep peace on campus and ensure the safety of students — job number one. If they're incapable of doing that, they need different leadership. I think this is time for a really strong hand.

Feigning confusion, Burnett kept pushing.

I'm trying to understand, though, why as Speaker of the House, this is an issue you would want to get involved with? It's a private university. It's an issue happening here. Why is this something that you are choosing to get involved in calling for the removal of the president of a private university?

The Speaker hit that notion over the left-field wall on the first pitch (assuming he's right-handed).

Well, they receive federal funding as well. And Congress is looking at all of these aspects to determine how they're using those funds. Is that appropriate? If they can't fulfill their basic obligations, I don't think the American taxpayers want to be funding this kind of thing.
We know that professors are engaging in this as well, some of their professors. Some have been supportive of the Jewish students, but I believe it's a small subset from what I'm told. They've allowed this to go on and it is not okay with the American people. This isn't a partisan issue. This is about right and wrong, and we've got to call it for what it is.

One would think that Erin Burnett, being the intrepid "journalist" she is, would be aware of the federal funding issue. Then again, one (this one, anyway) might be keenly aware that liberal media lapdogs like Erin Burnett are likely aware of many issues they ignore or dismiss in favor of left-wing narratives.

Undaunted, Burnett kept digging her hole deeper and deeper.

And so, when — when people talk about genocide and say that Israel is engaging in genocide, do you think that that is a legitimate conversation that they should be allowed to have as part of First Amendment rights here, or no?

Johnson responded:

Of course, look, I was a First Amendment lawyer for 20 years, I went to the courts and defendant the -- our First Amendment freedoms, religious expression, the right of free speech on campus. I litigated those cases.
Of course, the university is supposed to be the free marketplace of ideas. But when you shout down and physically threatened with intimidation and threats of violence the other side, that is not a peaceful expression, as peaceful — peaceful exchange of ideas.
That's something very different and that's what we're saying that they need to get control of. When they camp out around the campus and they prevent students from exercising their rights, that's the problem.

Game, set, match: Mike Johnson.

Fool's game losers: CNN and Erin Burnett.

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