While attempting to film a segment on CNN, reporter Joe Johns was harassed....by a trash panda.
That's right—the first part of his segment was largely overshadowed by Johns telling a little racoon to "git!" as well as trying to scare it away.
Oh my god. @joejohnscnn telling a raccoon to get lost is giving me life. https://t.co/Pa8GsUD4sZ— Donie O'Sullivan (@Donie O'Sullivan) 1602075526.0
After, he went back to reporting.
The clip then cut to a second raccoon encounter.
"Friggin' raccoons man! Again! God, it's the second time."
@donie @joejohnscnn I would be scared of that raccoon with all the Covid around that place.— Patricia Arquette (@Patricia Arquette) 1602083535.0
@donie @oneunderscore__ @joejohnscnn Do I have this right. Actual wildlife is taking over the WH grounds?— Lynne Fox (@Lynne Fox) 1602075789.0
@donie @joejohnscnn I don’t play with them things either 😭😭😭 but this video is giving me .. https://t.co/K3jagJ3SBP— Janelle (@Janelle) 1602084524.0
@donie @JohnJHarwood @joejohnscnn How come the raccoon has a hard pass for the White House but good hard working jo… https://t.co/mgkhdfqCih— Dogkisser🇨🇦🐾🌸🐩 (@Dogkisser🇨🇦🐾🌸🐩) 1602084893.0
@donie @joejohnscnn Not "Get Lost", just "Git" 🤣🤣🤣 that's an old southern term.— Lomiejoy✊🏾✍🏾👑🧵🪡🎶 (@Lomiejoy✊🏾✍🏾👑🧵🪡🎶) 1602076494.0
Johns later said:
"Raccoons, stand back."
"It always comes around right around when I'm gonna go on TV."
@donie @joejohnscnn What is going at the White House!— Doug Walsh (@Doug Walsh) 1602093838.0
@donie @joejohnscnn I have some gophers that Joe needs to give a talk'n to.— afantz (@afantz) 1602079414.0
@donie @joejohnscnn The scriptwriters for 2020 continue to outdo themselves.— Dr Gail Barnes (@Dr Gail Barnes) 1602109019.0
@donie Stay vigilant Joe! https://t.co/fHouh3zSGQ— DejaBlu (@DejaBlu) 1602083272.0
@donie @joejohnscnn Very funny. Wonder how many crayfish Trump had to offer the raccoon to do that to CNN? 🤣— Mark C. Dowis (@Mark C. Dowis) 1602080653.0
People on Twitter noticed the parallel between Joe Johns' segment and Parks & Recreation.
@donie @joejohnscnn So glad to see that our White House has gone full Pawnee. Where’s Leslie Knope when we need he… https://t.co/EY82SwhLmF— Stanley Von Catnip (@Stanley Von Catnip) 1602077697.0
We've gone full Parks and Recreation https://t.co/LR5X5Q9spA— 💀 damned sinker 💀 (@💀 damned sinker 💀) 1602078824.0
@donie @joejohnscnn Omg I needed this...— Kimberly Atkins (@Kimberly Atkins) 1602076345.0
@MollyJongFast All hail the raccoon overlords!!— THPT (The high Priestess of Truth) (@THPT (The high Priestess of Truth)) 1602082177.0
Johns confirmed no raccoons were harmed.
So it’s the 2d time in two weeks a raccoon has shown up shortly after the @NewDay open. I think they’re attracted… https://t.co/L2ng1EnJhk— joe johns (@joe johns) 1602075693.0
As Autumn advances, small animals like raccoons are foraging heavily to get through the Winter.
Johns should count himself lucky. Instead of Rocket, it could have been Pepé Le Pew.