CNBC’s Joe Kernen has been an expert in shredding liberal narratives on the network. If there’s one thing former members of the Biden administration or current Democrats should know, it's that this isn’t MS Now—hosts will and do call them out, and it turns sloppy quick. Kernan isn’t the only one, but he was the designated hitter for this segment with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA).
I won’t lie—Warner isn’t the most obnoxious of Democrats, but he got smacked down by Kernen with this simple line regarding the Democrats’ wild turn on immigration. Most of the interview focuses on what the changes were and why, regarding Trump and Barack Obama’s deportation agendas. Obama wasn’t great, but unlike Biden, he did deport a ton of people. It was hundreds of thousands, which earned him the ire of some Democrats and immigration advocacy groups.
Incredible clip that gets to the heart of Democrats' anti-deportation zealotry:
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) January 12, 2026
CNBC’s Joe Kernen asks Sen Mark Warner why Democrats supported deportations under Obama, but not now.
Kernen: “What changed with Democrats? Biden let in 12 million. Is it about VOTES?"
Warner… pic.twitter.com/e9BakOIfJH
Trump is trying to empty the pool of invaders Biden allowed to waltz in, which numbers in the millions. Warner tried to redirect, saying this was about raids committed by ICE agents. He also tried to land a swing, noting why ICE agent training went from five-to-six months to 47 days—it’s because Trump is the 47th president of the United States. Kernen didn’t take the bait and kept asking why the border had been open for years under Biden. He struck a nerve when he asked if it was about votes. He later told the Virginia liberal that he keeps hearing the line that ‘the American people didn’t vote for this.’
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🚨 HOLY CRAP! Sen. Mark Warner EMBARRASSED over Democrats' rabid opposition to deportations by President Trump, but they said NOTHING under Obama
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 12, 2026
WARNER: "The American people didn't sign up for this!"
KERNEN: Obviously Dems didn't have an idea of what people voted for or you… pic.twitter.com/f1OaDZ9UIC
“Obviously Democrats didn't have a good idea of what people are voting for, or you wouldn’t have lost the presidency, and seven swing states, and the Senate, and the House,” he added.
And there it is.
Democratic Party approval is in the toilet, and by that, I mean, it’s sinking into new lows, where its favorables are in the same company as the SS and John Wayne Gacy.
Day in day out @JoeSquawk crushes it. An absolute legend. https://t.co/gnmHxIkuUz
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) January 12, 2026
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