“Political malpractice”: the Debate Commission chief thinks Trump blew it
May 17, 2024
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Frank Fahrenkopf, Co-chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates, discusses Biden's decision to bypass traditional debates, potential lawsuits, and captivating behind-the-scenes stories from his debate-producing career. The impact of timing debates, role of moderators, concerns about Rudy Giuliani, and negotiation intricacies offer a deep dive into the world of presidential debates.
Biden's campaign opted for debates outside the Commission due to concerns about format and timing.
Moderators in debates prioritize facilitation over fact-checking to maintain order and adhere to rules.
The proposal of a mute button in debates aimed to ensure candidates follow speaking guidelines rigorously.
Deep dives
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The proposed Basel 3 Endgame will present challenges for consumers looking to purchase houses or cars. Small businesses, reliant on loans for growth, will face difficulties. Moreover, savings for individuals and pension funds could decrease due to the proposed capital requirements.
Biden's Response to Presidential Debates
The Biden campaign decided against participating in the Commission on Presidential Debates due to concerns about the timing and format of the debates. Biden's camp criticized the Commission for not enforcing debate rules in 2020 and opted to negotiate two debates outside the Commission's process, leading to debate scheduling with Trump in June on CNN and September on ABC.
Insights on Debate Moderators and Criteria
The discussion highlighted the role of moderators in debates, emphasizing facilitation over fact-checking during the debate. The commentary shed light on past debates where rule violations occurred, such as time limits for answers and disruptions. Additionally, the demands placed by the Biden campaign for future debates included firm time limits for answers and single-moderator formats with clear subject pods.
Use of Mute Button in Debates
The podcast episode discusses the proposal of implementing a mute button for presidential debates. The idea was to control when candidates speak by muting their microphones if they break the speaking rules. Despite never needing to use the mute button in practice, the concept aimed to ensure that candidates followed the debate rules rigorously, leading both Trump and Biden to adhere to the guidelines even without the actual implementation of the mute feature.
Role of Town Hall Meetings in Debates
The episode highlights the significance of town hall meetings in debates, originally introduced in 1992. These meetings provide a platform for undecided voters to engage with the candidates directly. The process involves selecting participants through Gallup, often individuals unfamiliar with microphone usage. The segment emphasizes the importance of showcasing candidate personalities alongside their stances on key issues, fostering a deeper connection between the candidates and the American public.
On Wednesday morning, Frank Fahrenkopf received a letter from the Biden presidential campaign that ruined his day. Fahrenkopf is co-chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has produced 33 debates since 1988, the first election year it was in business.
He was planning on four more this year: three with Biden and Trump as well as the quadrennial vice presidential debate. But the Biden campaign told Fahrenkopf that the president would not be participating in any of them.
Instead, the Biden campaign announced that it would negotiate with the Trump campaign and individual media organizations to plan two debates outside of the Commission’s process.
By the end of the day Biden and Trump were set to debate in June on CNN and in September on ABC.
On this episode of Deep Dive, Fahrenkopf joins host and Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss the fall-out from this decision, including the roles of Biden, Trump, and Anita Dunn; why he thinks RFK Jr. may have grounds for a lawsuit against CNN and what some of his favorite behind-the-scenes stories are from his decades of producing debates.
Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Frank Fahrenkopf is the co-chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
