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The Scramble: Are Debates Still Relevant?

Andrew Comings
/
Creative Commons

Everyone was wondering how Donald Trump would handle the 2005 tape of him talking with Billy Bush about sexually-assaulting women because "you can do anything" when you're a star. Republican support wavered this weekend under the strength of the video, with many Republicans in Congress calling for Trump to relinquish his spot at the top of the GOP ticket.

How did Trump respond? He invited women who accuse Bill Clinton of sexually aggressive behavior toward them in the 1990s to join his family at last evening's debate.

The seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858 are often held up as a gold standard of debating. They occurred on the brink of the Civil War and touched on the future of slavery and states' rights, issues that would resonate long after the debates were done. Do debates still hold candidates to the same high standard? If you watched Sunday night's second presidential debate, you may likely think not. 

Last, producer Jonathan McNicol attended the first presidential debate at Hofstra University on September 26. He shares his observations. 

GUESTS:

  • Philip Bump - Writes about politics forThe Fix at The Washington Post
  • David Yalof -  Professor and Department Head of Political Science at the University of Connecticut
  • Jonathan McNicol - Producer for WNPR's The Colin McEnroe Show

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. 

Colin McEnroe and Jonathan McNicol contributed to this show.

Betsy started as an intern at WNPR in 2011 after earning a Master's Degree in American and Museum Studies from Trinity College. She served as the Senior Producer for 'The Colin McEnroe Show' for several years before stepping down in 2021 and returning to her previous career as a registered nurse. She still produces shows with Colin and the team when her schedule allows.

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