CNN's Dana Bash taken aback as Senate hearing devolves into 'Real Housewives' episode

CNN host Dana Bash cracked a joke on Wednesday as the heated hearing for Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) developed into a fiery back-and-forth similar to the popular reality show franchise.

The broadcaster dropped the Bravo reference after Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) faced off with Mullin over whether he was the right person to lead the Department of Homeland Security after the nominee approved of a violent attack against the Kentucky Republican. Mullin, who President Donald Trump has selected to replace outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, was grilled by Paul and other senators in a series of tough questions about his anger, temperament and concerns over his "classified work" outside the United States.

"Back with my panel meanwhile, on the Real Housewives of the U.S. Senate, this is, you know, I mean, it's actually, it is a serious issue that Rand Paul is trying to get at, which he said is, you know, character and that questioning whether he has anger issues," Bash said.

Paul has threatened to cancel his vote to approve Mullin for the DHS job.

"It was also noteworthy that Senator Mullin brought with him his now friend, Sean O'Brien, the head of the Teamsters, who sat right within camera shot because one of the reasons why people first learned of Senator Mullin is when he almost got into a fistfight with Mr. O'Brien when Senator Mullin was asking him questions at a hearing they smoked the peace pipe — metaphorically — they are now friends," Bash said. "And so there's no question in my mind that that's why he had O'Brien back there because he knew what was coming from Rand Paul."