“You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi and took money from the Qatari funded media,” he said in a post on X (where else?). “Apparently you can’t get on CNN if you make a joke. I’m glad America can see what CNN stands for.”

I am too. Because in this case, it represented doing the right thing — refusing to let a partisan hack try to intimidate another guest with racist threats just to score points with Trump’s base. However, Girdusky inadvertently showed the American what he also represents.

Opposing views matter, on cable news and everywhere else. But as civilization dwindles to a depth by increasingly racist and bigoted behavior from Trump on down, there must be consequences for actions. Otherwise, the bullies have their way. If calling someone a terrorist doesn’t set off alarm bells, what will?

Girdusky’s comments were shocking but not surprising

That being said, if you get someone like Girdusky on the air, isn’t it just a matter of time before something like that happens? If you reach into a cage of marauders, chances are you’ll get bitten. That doesn’t make the bite hurt any less, but it does make it less surprising.