It’s high alert in the world of media and politics as it’s announced that Donald Trump and Joe Biden are joining heads for the arguably much-anticipated presidential debates on June 27 and September 10, scheduled with CNN and ABC respectively. Curtis Houck, managing editor for NewsBusters, shared his insights on Fox News @ Night and underlined an absolute requirement for caution, anticipating rigged debates.
Houck was grilled by Trace Gallagher from Fox News about his mistrust in CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash’s ability to give Trump a fair hearing. Being no stranger to such scenarios, Houck highlighted his concerns of potential trickery, drawing parallels with the notorious CNBC debate of 2016. Adding fuel to the fire, Tapper’s past accolades for championing the Trump-Russia collusion story also raised concerns.
The discussion around ensuring an unbiased platform escalated. Ex-local TV anchor Dee Sarton shared a similar warning from Eddie Scarry’s article in The Federalist, proposing that Trump and any Republican campaign should have an insurance policy in place. The aim? To prevent any involvement of moderators playing defense for the Democrats. To maintain the integrity of the debate, Sarton proposed to focus on what Americans, still undecided, want to hear from their prospective leaders.
Challenges for the CNN debate were far from over, as Houck drew attention to the possibility of ‘live fact-checking’. The fear was that Daniel Dale might potentially steal the limelight with his nitpicking. To avoid any manipulation, Houck suggested that moderators Bash and Tapper, and ABC’s Lindsey Davis and David Muir, should be strictly earpiece-less. The objective was to keep the conversation as free-flowing as possible.
As the segment concluded, Sarton brought to light her experiences of moderating debates to contrast the dynamics of having an audience versus none. Despite popular belief, Sarton expressed that Trump could still perform effectively without the energy of an audience. Closing on a thoughtful note, she stressed the uncertainty and unpredictability surrounding the upcoming debates, leaving everyone on edge.
As presidential debates loom nearer, we observe the game of politics transforming into a spectacle of shrewd strategies and calculated moves. Amid concerns of bias and manipulation, questions hang heavy in the air. Who will put up the most convincing argument? Who will hold their ground, and who will falter when the stakes are high? With the promise of an unpredictable performance and Joe Biden being quite susceptible to off-comments, the 2024 presidential debates are set to be unforgettable events with high-value media scrutiny.
