:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/katey-sagal-christina-applegate-031125-9d651238c9284218be137676ab2d96c2.jpg "Katey Sagal wishes Christina Applegate got to be more innocent")
CNN’s NewsNight panel erupted as the network’s political commentator Bakari Sellers slammed Shark Tank entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary’s “whack more” push for additional cuts after the U.S. Department of Agriculture moved to end federal programs that provided $1 billion in funding to schools and food banks to buy food directly from local farms.
The decision made Tuesday, framed by the USDA as a shift toward “long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives,” eliminates $660 million for the Local Food for Schools program and $420 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement. Both initiatives, funded through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, were designed to support farmers and food banks.
The cuts align with broader federal spending reductions under the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Asked about the move by NewsNight host Abby Phillip, O’Leary called for even deeper cuts.
“This issue is not going to go away because it’s very contentious, but when you cut in any organization, government or private, it’s very demoralizing,” he said. “It’s traumatic, and it gets lots of bad press as we’re doing right now. But that’s why you cut 20 percent more.”
He added: “I think Elon is not cutting enough. Cut 20% more. Now get your spreadsheet out. These are the names. Whack everybody and then 20% more, as we do in the private sector every day and have done for 100 years in private equity and higher. Back when the organization gels that way, the demoralization only happens once. You don’t want to cut multiple times, but in that more whacking, more whacking.”
Seller interjected: “Let me just say, can I explain to you that this is when-”
“You need to explain it to me?” O’Leary replied. “I know how it works.”
Sellers began to reply: “But no, you don’t because when…”
“I do, I’ve done it multiple times,” the businessman replied.
Sellers replied: “But yeah, that’s in the private sector and you cannot run everyday government the same way you run-”
“This is worse than the private sector,” O’Leary said. “Fat dripping with waste government.”
Sellers pushed back as O’Leary tried interrupting: “I’m not talking about I’m not talking about fat dripping with waste government. What do we have? I told you in the South right now in red states. Do you know the number one cause for children underperforming in schools right now?”
“Bad educators,” O’Leary said.
“They’re hungry!” Sellers shouted back, with other panelists joining in.
“My whole career was in education,” O’Leary pushed back as the panelists talked over him.
“So, like – no, no, no – let me finish,” Sellers protested.
The commentator continued: “But that’s my point of bringing that up to you. And so yes, you had things like the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. You have the Summer Lunch Program, you have programs that were expanded so kids could actually… So I’m not arguing with you about your expertise in the private sector, but what I am saying is that a 20 percent cut or whack or whack or whack you’re cutting from Allendale Fairfax High School in Birmingham high schools, you’re cutting from places that really matter.”
Watch above via CNN.
