© CNN
The topic at hand? State Secretary Mike Pompeo's tense interview about Ukraine and Marie Yovanovitch with NPR host Mary Louise Kelly, after which she said he yelled the f-word at her.
"[Pompeo] also knows deep within his heart that Donald Trump couldn't find Ukraine on a map if you had the letter U and a picture of an actual physical crane next to it," Wilson said, prompting Lemon to burst into laughter. "He knows that this is, you know, an administration defined by ignorance of the world. And so that's partly him playing to the base and playing to their audience. You know, the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump."
By then, Lemon was laughing too hard to speak so Wilson continued in a mock Southern accent, apparently imitating people who voted for the president: "Donald Trump's the smart one — any y'all elitists are dumb!"
Ali joined the mockery with: "You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling!"
And then the pair went back and forth, while Lemon chortled, dabbing his eyes with a tissue.
"Your math and your reading!" Wilson said.
"Your geography, knowing other countries, sipping your latte," Ali added.
"All those lines on the map!" Wilson exclaimed.
"Only them elitists know where Ukraine is," Ali said as Wilson laughed as well. He then apologized and said jokingly, "You know what, it was Rick's fault. I blame Rick."
Lemon, who was at this point nearly out of breath from laughing, asked the pair to "hold on," adding, "That was a good one. I needed that."
When Trump heard about the panel discussion, he took to his social platform of choice to castigate Lemon.
Ivanka Trump also entered the fray, calling the conversation "disgusting."
Donald Trump Jr. surfaced a sexual assault charge that a former Hamptons bartender brought against Lemon.
And Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo) deemed the conversation a new "low, even for CNN."
For their part, Twitter users are split. Some, including Steve Krakauer, an ex-CNN digital producer, were critical of the trio, saying such instances fuel Trump's base and reelection chances.
Others believe what CNN said to be true. They noted too that Trump supporters are quick to judge, but can't handle being on the receiving end of such comments.
Ali was among them — and he stood by his comments, while the vitriol poured in.
Meanwhile, actress Mia Farrow joined others who pointed out that Trump ridiculed Lemon, while it was Wilson who actually made the jokes.
Comment: Nothing new in this behavior from CNN. They have an agenda and stick to it.