How CNN Handled First Trump-Biden Debate
variety.comBrian Steinberg Senior TV Editor The media tried to keep the current President and the former one on a short leash Thursday evening, but failed in many ways to keep them in check.
In a unorthodox presidential debate that focused more on optics than substance, a visibly shaky President Joe Biden clashed with a manipulative Donald Trump, who kept his temper but used the time allotted him by CNN to largely avoid moderators’ questions and instead spew a host of inaccuracies.
leaving his opponent ill-matched to combat him on screen. CNN’s moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, did keep both candidates on better behavior than others have in the past.
CNN’s ability to cut the microphones of Trump and Biden assisted the duo in maintaining order. But it didn’t help them prod candidate Trump to answer important questions that were put directly to him, including his stance on climate change or whether he would accept the results of a fair election.
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