Rahm Emanuel Says D.C. Is Denying Oxygen To Chuck Todd’s Brain

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks to members of the Safe Passage program during a training session at Chicago State University in Chicago, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Scott Eisen)
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Things got a little testy between Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) and MSNBC’s Chuck Todd during an interview on Thursday.

At one point, while Todd was asking Emanuel about charter schools, the MSNBC host asked if public schools would one day all be application-based.

“Is this where public school is going, everything application-based? You have to apply to whatever school you want to go to?” Todd asked.

Emanuel replied “No. You know, Chuck, I’m going to get you a one-way ticket out of Washington. You need to get out of the thin air. It’s affecting your brain.”

“Wow,” Todd responded.

“No, I mean, your debate reflects what happens in Washington, which is you really miss what’s going on in the ground,” Emanuel said.

Later, when Todd tried to pivot to discussing the Illinois gubernatorial race and the new GOP nominee, Bruce Rauner, he circled back to the ding.

“Let me move to a couple of political questions, since I’m in the thin air of charter schools,” Todd said.

“No, no, you’re in the thin air of Washington,” Emanuel said.

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