The race card is all April Ryan has.
Via Daily Mail:
Tuesday’s White House press briefing nearly devolved into a free-for-all when a reporter who was passed over for a question opportunity cut off another journalist and bellowed at Press Secretary Sarah Sanders anyway, interrupting them five separate times.
April Ryan, a correspondent from American Urban Radio Networks who doubles as a CNN commentator, demanded to be heard about police shootings of black men as Sanders announced that she would take one final question – and called on someone else.
Ryan had already posed a question to economics adviser Kevin Hassett earlier in the same briefing, asking him about black unemployment.
But the news of the day was President Donald Trump’s decision to disinvite the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles from a White House event, and his decision to link that move with the long-stewing National Anthem controversy that roiled last year’s NFL season.
To supporters of Trump, that nationwide quarrel has been about the patriotic act of standing when the Anthem is played. For his vocal critics, it’s a reminder of what she sees as racial inequality in the way police officers treat suspects.
After Sanders called on CBS News Radio’s Steven Portnoy to close out the Q&A session, an out-of-turn Ryan leapt in.
‘Is the president aware that this is about police-involved shootings and not about disrespecting the flag?’ she shouted.
‘Stephen, if you can go ahead,’ the unruffled press secretary continued.
‘I understand you’re going to Stephen,’ Ryan interjected with cameras rolling. ‘But I’m asking – there’s an underlying issue and it keeps going, about disrespect of the flag and soldiers.’
‘There are black and brown soldiers that fight in the military as well, who feel that taking a knee, bringing a tension to police-involved shootings, is something that this White House should deal with. Is the president aware that taking the knee is about police-involved shootings?’
Sanders decided to engage but was interrupted again.
‘The president has made his position crystal-clear, and that it’s about –’ she began, before Ryan stopped her a third time.
‘Is he aware that it’s about police –’
Losing patience as the briefing threatened to spiral out of control, Sanders shifted into lecture mode.
‘I let you rudely interrupt me and your colleague,’ she told Ryan. ‘I’m going to ask that you allow me to finish my answer. I would be happy to answer it if you would stop talking long enough to let me do that.’