Rep. Mike Lawler mocked after CNN interview linking gas prices to Iran war

During a live interview on CNN, anchor John Berman asked Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, “Did Kathy Hochul start the war with Iran?” after Lawler blamed New York’s Democratic governor for rising energy costs. He quickly redirected blame toward Democrats. The exchange generated swift ridicule on social media and prompted responses from New York officials and Democratic political groups.

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National gasoline prices were reported at $2.98 per gallon before the Iran conflict and rose to $4.24 per gallon on Wednesday morning, illustrating the price jump highlighted in the interview.

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• Governor Kathy Hochul’s press office answered the CNN query on X with a single word: “No.”

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• Serafina J. Chitika, Hochul’s communications director, described Lawler and Rep.

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• Democratic strategist Mike Nellis labeled the interview “brutal.”

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Author John Long called Lawler a “Trump toady” who would “now face the consequences,” while Heidi MacDonald, editor-in-chief of ComicsBeat, posted a sarcastic “This is so beautiful” about the incident. These reactions underscore the broader Democratic criticism that the GOP’s messaging on energy costs is disconnected from market realities.

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• “Did Kathy Hochul start the war with Iran?” — John Berman — John Berman

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