CBS News Aims for a Smoother Vice Presidential Debate After ABC Controversy
Following the intense backlash against ABC News over biased moderators in its recent presidential debate, CBS News is looking to steer clear of similar criticism as it prepares to host the upcoming vice presidential debate. Unlike the ABC moderators, CBS has decided not to allow its moderators to “fact check” the candidates live on stage, hoping to prevent another media storm.
The 90-minute debate, scheduled for Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, will take place at CBS studios and be moderated by outgoing “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell and “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan. Both will be tasked with maintaining order as JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, faces off against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democrats’ choice for VP.
ABC’s earlier debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced significant criticism, particularly due to the actions of moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. Their repeated interruptions to “fact check” Trump not only drew backlash but led to factual errors on their part. One notable mistake involved their claim that full-term abortion was not permitted in any U.S. state, despite former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s endorsement of the practice. Another instance involved their dismissal of reports about pets and local wildlife being killed by illegal immigrants in Ohio, despite evidence from police reports and local testimony.
Meanwhile, Vice President Harris was allowed to make several false claims without correction. Among them were her statements about police officers being killed during the January 6 Capitol riot and her repetition of the debunked “very fine people” hoax related to Trump’s comments on the Charlottesville rally. Harris also made misleading claims about her past positions, which the ABC moderators failed to challenge.
In stark contrast, CBS seems to be aiming for a more balanced approach. According to reports, the network will leave it to the candidates themselves—Vance and Walz—to issue corrections or rebuttals as they see fit during the debate. Moderators will facilitate opportunities for these rebuttals during the candidates’ allocated time.
However, CBS isn’t entirely stepping away from fact-checking. The network’s “misinformation unit” will be providing real-time updates and corrections through blogs and social media, ensuring that viewers can access fact-checked information without interrupting the live debate.
In another shift from the presidential debates, the vice presidential candidates’ microphones will remain on while their opponent is speaking, allowing for potential back-and-forth exchanges. CBS does reserve the right to shut off a “hot mic” if necessary, ensuring that things don’t get out of hand.
Both Vance and Walz will also have the opportunity to deliver two-minute closing statements, with Vance going first after winning a virtual coin toss.
With CBS taking a more hands-off approach compared to ABC’s contentious debate, viewers will be watching closely to see if this strategy results in a fairer, more informative discussion—or whether the candidates themselves will escalate the back-and-forth exchanges that are sure to come.