Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) sparked swift backlash after using a Texas Tribune Festival appearance to lecture politicians about the dangers of trying to make presidents or political parties “unsuccessful” for political gain.
Many noted that Schiff’s comments run directly counter to his own record.
Schiff, who won the 2024 race to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) after 24 years in the House, argued that it was a “ruinous idea” to let partisan motives shape national policy.
“That attitude that you can make a president or a party unsuccessful, no matter what damage it might do to the country, because it’s good politics — we have to get past that ruinous idea,” he said.
He claimed Americans must “figure out a way to stop viewing each other as our enemy.”
Schiff went on to blame division on misinformation and advertising platforms.
He continued by saying the country needs to “figure out how to be better consumers of information and how to determine what’s true and what’s not true, how to stop rewarding advertising behemoths for dividing us the way they do.”
WATCH:
Adam Schiff: We have to get past the “ruinous idea" of making presidents unsuccessful because of politics and "stop viewing each other as our enemy."
You can’t make this stuff up. pic.twitter.com/V4aWcl6qvC
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 15, 2025
But critics immediately pointed out the irony, noting that Schiff spent years aggressively working to undermine President Donald Trump.
Among those efforts included Schiff’s promotion of he debunked Russia collusion narrative and his leading of Trump’s first impeachment.
“Schiff’s entire game depends on people not remembering what he said yesterday,” “Dilbert” creator Scott Adams wrote.
Shiff’s and entire game depends on people not remembering what he said yesterday. https://t.co/Oli9cg4TcZ
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) November 16, 2025
Another critic noted Schiff’s well-documented media tour between 2017 and 2019, writing:
“Says the guy who from 2017 through 2019 was seemingly on cable news every day saying he had seen ‘direct evidence of Russia collusion.’”
Says the guy who from 2017 through 2019 was seemingly on cable news every day saying he had seen “direct evidence of Russia collusion.” https://t.co/2emxeu0LFU
— IT Guy (@ITGuy1959) November 15, 2025
Steve Guest summed up the reaction succinctly: “Pot meet kettle.”
Pot meet kettle. https://t.co/kKSLfPuv6g
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) November 16, 2025
During Trump’s first term, Schiff repeatedly claimed he possessed “direct evidence” that Trump had colluded with Russia.
However, Schiff never produced a shred of evidence to support the allegations.
He later served as the House impeachment manager in 2019, presenting a case that many legal analysts warned was dangerously partisan.
At the time, Schiff’s case provoked an angry response from George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley.
“If you make a high crime and misdemeanor out of going to the courts, it is an abuse of power — it’s your abuse of power,” Turley said.
“Fast and narrow is not a good recipe for impeachment.”
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.