Rita Panahi Reacts as Arnold Schwarzenegger Fact-Checks CNN’s Jake Tapper

Sky News host Rita Panahi recently highlighted a series of viral moments in her “Lefties Losing It” segment, with one of the most striking being Arnold Schwarzenegger’s blunt correction of CNN anchor Jake Tapper on the contentious issue of gerrymandering—a practice of redrawing electoral districts to benefit the party in power.

New York City Politics: Identity and Victimhood

Panahi opened the segment in New York City, where Zoran Mandani, a self-described communist, is poised to become the city’s next mayor. Mandani gave an emotional speech about his family’s experience after 9/11, claiming his aunt felt unsafe wearing her hijab and stopped riding the subway. Panahi responded with skepticism, suggesting the narrative was exaggerated and mocking the tendency to focus on identity politics and victimhood.

The discussion escalated when Mandani’s intern, Azu Malik, called for Muslims to embrace “jihad” and “gangster” attitudes, urging commitment to activism regardless of personal risk. Panahi criticized this rhetoric, warning of its radical undertones and the normalization of extreme language in political discourse.

Chicago’s Immigration Debate: Language Wars

Panahi then turned to Chicago, where Mayor Brandon Johnson rejected the term “illegal alien,” likening it to the language of slavery and insisting on more respectful terminology. Johnson’s stance was met with ridicule by the host, who argued that political correctness is overshadowing practical governance and factual accuracy.

Hollywood Virtue Signaling

The segment also featured actress Jenna Ortega, who, when asked about her heroes, praised Palestinians for their activism. Panahi dismissed Ortega’s comments as incoherent virtue signaling, pointing to Hollywood’s tendency for performative activism rather than substantive engagement.

Viral Rants and Racial Double Standards

Panahi showcased a viral video of a woman expressing racist views about white people, accusing them of laziness, violence, and poor hygiene. She condemned the rant and questioned how the public would react if the roles were reversed, highlighting double standards in discussions of race and prejudice.

Schwarzenegger’s Brutal Fact Check: Gerrymandering Truths

The highlight of the segment was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s appearance on CNN, where he delivered a “brutal fact check” to Jake Tapper. Tapper attempted to frame Republican redistricting efforts as a recent and uniquely partisan attempt to “cook the books” and prevent Democrats from retaking the House in upcoming elections. Schwarzenegger interrupted, pointing out that gerrymandering has been a bipartisan tactic for over 200 years:

“There has been gerrymandering going on for 200 years. There is such extreme gerrymandering that in states like Massachusetts and New Mexico, where 40–45% of the population votes Republican, there are zero Republican representatives in the House.”

Tapper’s narrative was dismantled by Schwarzenegger’s cold, hard facts, leaving the anchor visibly deflated. Schwarzenegger’s intervention underscored that both parties have long engaged in gerrymandering, and it is not a new or uniquely Republican phenomenon.

Expert Analysis: Both Parties Play the Game

Josh Hammer, Newsweek’s senior editor at large, joined the segment to elaborate. He confirmed Schwarzenegger’s claims, noting that Democrats have mastered the art of gerrymandering in states like Illinois, California, and New Jersey, often creating absurdly shaped districts to maximize their representation. Hammer explained that while Republicans are now playing catch-up in states like Florida and Texas, the practice remains widespread and deeply entrenched in American politics.

Hammer also discussed the legal limits on court intervention, especially regarding racial gerrymandering, and referenced a recent Supreme Court case that could impact future rulings. Ultimately, he concluded that gerrymandering is a fundamentally political issue, historically exploited by both parties.

Conclusion

“Lefties Losing It” delivered a sharp critique of contemporary politics and media narratives, from identity politics and performative activism to the reality of gerrymandering. Schwarzenegger’s fact check on CNN illustrated the importance of historical context and bipartisan accountability, while Panahi’s segment as a whole highlighted the double standards and emotional rhetoric dominating political discourse in 2025.