I think one reason he was so calm is because it was clearly another Black person saying it (Simone?) and it’s an in-group thing.
Agree, the name would suggest that it was another black person and they are cooler with slinging the N-word around. But anyhow, at least Scott used the occasion to not bristle about it but to utter an implied rebuke at its level.
Hey I’m even better than a House “n’er” — I am a Senate one.
Sometimes a sense of humor can save the day... and have the fool who tried to offend you end up being the one gnashing his/her teeth.