Debate Moderation Is a Thankless Job. Muir and Davis Got It (Mostly) Right
As a seasoned journalist who has covered numerous debates and political events over the years, I must say that Tuesday’s ABC News presidential debate was a breath of fresh air. The fact-checking and accountability shown by co-moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir were long overdue. It was refreshing to see them hold both candidates accountable for their words and actions, especially given the tendency of some moderators in the past to let misinformation slide unchallenged.
On Tuesday night’s ABC News debate, there were many heated exchanges. For instance, Donald Trump referred to his competitor as “She is Biden,” and Kamala Harris retorted that Vladimir Putin would “devour you for lunch.” Despite the dramatic language and exaggerated claims, one of the standout moments was a straightforward statement: “There is no state in this nation where it’s lawful to kill a newborn child after birth.
It’s hard to believe that many people were shocked by the fact that homicide is illegal throughout the United States. The focus was on the speaker – co-moderator and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis – and her response: Trump’s claim that Democrats support killing babies after they are born. This exaggerated misrepresentation of pro-choice views is one of Trump’s favorite arguments. He used a similar argument during the initial debate of this election cycle. However, this time was unique because Trump was debating a new opponent who was particularly articulate on reproductive rights. In contrast to the earlier debate moderators, CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who faced criticism for not correcting such blatant falsehoods, Davis and her co-moderator, World News Tonight host David Muir, consistently fact-checked responses in real time and asked additional questions when needed. Although it may not receive as much attention as Kamala Harris’ impact on the debate stage, their efforts helped maintain the integrity of the discussion.
Davis and Muir’s fact-checks were occasional yet impactful, curbing some of Trump’s most outrageous falsehoods. For instance, a racist and xenophobic rumor Trump spread about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio – “They’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people who live there” – was swiftly debunked. In preparation for this claim, it seemed that ABC News had reached out to the city manager of Springfield beforehand. Muir informed viewers that there were no credible reports indicating any harm, injury, or abuse of pets by immigrants in the community.
The moderators didn’t only challenge Trump’s falsehoods; they also questioned both candidates about their past statements, bringing up topics they might have wanted to avoid discussing. Harris found herself explaining several conflicting or unclear comments she made in the past regarding contentious issues like fracking and the conflict in Gaza. When Trump avoided answering whether he regretted his actions on January 6, 2021, Muir repeatedly asked the question again.
The moderation wasn’t perfect; no live telecast ever is. Sometimes Davis and Muir, who had the ability to mute both candidates’ mics when they didn’t have the floor, allowed responses to ramble on for too long or indulged Trump and Harris in excessive cross-talk. We shouldn’t get too carried away, either, in praising the moderators for doing their jobs. Fact-checking, following up, and holding candidates accountable for past statements are the bare minimum that news organizations hosting televised presidential debates must do to ensure that such spectacles are useful to—rather than just mildly entertaining meme fodder for—the American public. That accountability is what justifies the platforming of politicians with a track record of lying and separates rigorous news coverage from free, prime-time publicity. Anything less would be journalistic malpractice.
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2024-09-11 10:06