CBS moderators Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan faced a crucial decision ahead of the vice-presidential debate: whether to fact-check candidates live or let them challenge each other. They chose a middle ground, stating that their role was to give candidates the chance to fact-check one another, though they occasionally presented facts themselves. 🔍 At times, they set up opportunities for the opposing candidate to correct misleading statements, creating a more interactive fact-checking process.
Key Moment: Immigration Debate
The most intense moment of the night came during a debate over immigration, specifically regarding Haitian immigrants in Ohio. When Sen. JD Vance made a statement about Springfield, Ohio, claiming that Americans there had their lives "destroyed" by Kamala Harris’s open border policies, the discussion became heated. 🌡️ This back-and-forth between Vance and Gov. Tim Walz escalated to the point where the moderators had to step in and cut off their microphones to regain control of the debate.
Balancing Civility and Facts
Although the debate was largely civil, this fiery exchange over immigration stood out. The moderators successfully threaded the needle between guiding the conversation and allowing candidates to engage directly, creating a dynamic mix of civility and confrontation. 🎙️