By Katherine Tinsley
2:23pm PST, Feb 7, 2025
Political commentator Ashley Allison informed her white male peers that despite her being more educated than them, her compensation wasn't the same as theirs.
"I do not have the same opportunity as you. I know I don't," Allison told CNN political commentator Scott Jennings on Wednesday, January 5.
Attorney Arthur Aidala didn't agree with Allison's depiction of the United States.
"But this city, look, I'm a New Yorker," Aidala argued. "Not in this city you cannot say that. You can't say that in this city."
Allison quickly defended herself against Jennings and Aidala, who seemingly supported Trump's "merit" based hiring practices.
"I got a law degree, a master's and two bachelors," the former White House staffer explained.
"Probably more education than all of y'all added up together at this table and I have always been the least paid person on payroll at every institution I've worked in," she revealed.
Allison's confession left the panelists shocked.
"Even in the White House?" Aidala asked.
"Even in the White House," Allison replied.
"Well, whose fault is that?" Aidala fired back. "I don't think you worked for George W. or Trump."
The argument left Allison visibly frustrated.
"Well, guess what wasn't happening when I was there? DEI," the podcaster stated while shaking her head.
Sports broadcaster Cari Champion supported Allison's comments.
"What she's saying is a real-life experience," Champion shared.
"Why is it so hard to understand why something like diversity, equity and inclusion need to be a part of what we do in a system that never even acknowledged a group of people? Never saw us as a human commodity," she noted, referring to the U.S.'s long history of slavery, segregation and economic inequality.
Phillip seemingly tried to de-escalate the situation on-air.
"Access to opportunity is what DEI is supposed to address," she informed her guests.
