Republican CNN contributors promote anti-LGBTQ Libs of TikTok account

On CNN, conservative contributors Scott Jennings and Margaret Hoover recently voiced support for the anti-LGBTQ account Libs of TikTok. 

Libs of TikTok is a right-wing Twitter account run by Chaya Raichik that targets educators and businesses that support LGBTQ rights, inspiring harassment from followers. Raichik has expanded the Libs of TikTok brand to Facebook, Instagram, and a personal Substack account, though Facebook reportedly suspended the account for less than 24 hours last week after it led an anti-trans campaign against Boston Children’s Hospital.  

On August 17, conservative political commentator Margaret Hoover boosted the account, saying that “gets traction because it's in response to, you know, a changing of the curriculum to diminish some of the core themes of American civics education and that is, that is actually a real thing.” Hoover went on to suggest parents are supportive of Libs of TikTok because their kids aren’t learning enough about the Constitution.

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Citation From the August 17, 2022, edition of CNN Tonight

On August 18, after a panel of parents discussed their anxieties about their children returning to school in the fall, conservative commentator Scott Jennings referenced a parent comment about Libs of TikTok, saying, “They’ve gotten quite famous posting videos of people from schools.” Democratic strategist Maria Cardona called out the misinformation and disinformation around online videos in classrooms and argued against Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Stop WOKE” law. Jennings replied, “You can't deny, there have been some anecdotes, some examples, of teachers who have tried to inject some of these things.” 

Anchor Alisyn Camerota and Cardona were quick to call out Jennings for citing Libs of TikTok, with Camerota saying, “You can’t use that as your source.”

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Citation From the August 18, 2022, edition of CNN Tonight