A debate between CNN political commentator Scott Jennings and Dylan Douglas, the 25-year-old son of actors Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, turned tense on Monday’s edition of NewsNight after Jennings sharply countered Douglas’s claims about the ongoing government shutdown.

The exchange occurred during a roundtable segment analyzing the Senate’s passage of a funding bill aimed at ending the record-length shutdown, now in its 42nd day.

The measure is expected to clear final procedural steps by the end of the week, reopening the federal government.

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Douglas, who has been active in political commentary and advocacy, blamed Republicans for the shutdown, asserting that they were responsible for the financial strain it caused Americans.

“Scott, with all respect, you cannot put on the American people that Democrats were the one that were hurting people, making this plight,” Douglas said.

Jennings immediately challenged the claim. “Who was casting the votes against opening the government, Democrats or Republicans?” he asked.

Both men began talking over one another before Douglas attempted to redirect the argument.

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“Who was wanting to cut SNAP benefits?” he asked, referring to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Jennings countered with a factual response, noting that Republicans had consistently voted to maintain funding for SNAP throughout the shutdown votes.

“Republicans voted to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 15 times,” Jennings said.

“Democrats voted against it in each instance.”

The figure referenced the number of Senate votes held during the shutdown, with each proposed funding package including provisions for SNAP.

Jennings went on to emphasize that bipartisan cooperation had been required to advance the latest bill, which contained appropriations for multiple federal agencies.

“We had to get eight to join us,” he said, referring to the eight Democratic senators who crossed party lines to vote for reopening the government.

As Jennings spoke, Douglas appeared to struggle to respond, stammering while bringing up expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits — one of the key sticking points Democrats cited for refusing to approve earlier funding measures.

The reason Dems’ shutdown propaganda campaign has failed so miserably is because the entire narrative crumbles with just one question:

“Who was casting the votes against opening the government: Democrats or Republicans?” pic.twitter.com/36aDdRQG9H

— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) November 11, 2025

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has since indicated he plans to hold a mid-December vote to extend those credits, part of the negotiated concessions that helped secure the critical Democratic votes.

The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, is expected to provide full fiscal year funding for several major departments, including Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and Defense.

The White House has signaled it will sign the measure once it clears the House.

The debate quickly gained traction on social media, with clips circulating of Jennings pressing Douglas on the facts of the shutdown vote.

Many commentators noted that Jennings’s detailed rebuttals appeared to leave Douglas visibly flustered.

Dylan Douglas, who works as both an actor and political commentator, has increasingly turned his focus toward progressive political causes.

He hosts Young American with Dylan Douglas on SiriusXM and co-founded the political action committee Make Room, which supports young progressive candidates.

Douglas has also participated in several campaign efforts and previously appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe in September.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, his parents, co-starred in Traffic (2000) and The Mask of Zorro (1998).

Michael Douglas is known for his acclaimed roles in Wall Street and Basic Instinct.

Monday’s NewsNight appearance marked Dylan Douglas’s second televised debate on a major network — one that ended with Jennings’s arguments prevailing and highlighting the political divide over responsibility for the lengthy shutdown.

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