What we’re reading (9/30)
With the disclaimer that this isn’t a political blog, today’s WWR is exclusively devoted to coverage of last night’s putative U.S. presidential debate:
“With Cross Talk, Lies And Mockery, Trump Tramples Decorum In Debate With Biden” (New York Times). “The first presidential debate between President Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr. unraveled into an ugly melee Tuesday, as Mr. Trump hectored and interrupted Mr. Biden nearly every time he spoke and the former vice president denounced the president as a ‘clown’ and told him to ‘shut up.’ In a chaotic, 90-minute back-and-forth, the two major party nominees expressed a level of acrid contempt for each other unheard-of in modern American politics.”
“Biden Campaign Faces Questions About Whether He Should Skip Next Debates” (Politico). “In the two men’s first head-to-head matchup, Trump bullied moderator Chris Wallace, blew past his time limits and repeatedly and loudly interrupted Biden. It resulted in a mockery of presidential debates, growing so chaotic that it was impossible to follow entire segments. The Biden campaign immediately shot down any notion the former vice president wouldn’t show up to debates in Miami and Nashville next month. But some Democrats wondered whether Biden should only participate if there are more stringent conditions placed on Trump to keep the night from devolving into chaos.”
“Trump, Biden Clash In Contentious First Debate” (Wall Street Journal). “President Trump and Joe Biden clashed over the Supreme Court, the coronavirus and the economy in a debate marked by interruptions and insults from both candidates Tuesday—with the Republican leader telling his rival that for ‘47 years you’ve done nothing’ and the Democratic challenger calling Mr. Trump ‘the worst president that America has ever had.’ The two candidates constantly spoke over each other in a number of contentious exchanges, more notable for rancor than policy nuance.”
“Trump Incessantly Interrupts And Insults Biden As They Spar In Acrimonious First Debate” (Washington Post). “The presidential campaign devolved into chaos and acrimony here [Cleveland] Tuesday night as President Trump incessantly interrupted and insulted Democratic nominee Joe Biden while the two sparred over the economy, the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court and race relations in their first debate.”
“Presidential Debate: Trump And Biden Trade Insults In Chaotic Debate” (BBC). “Mr Trump frequently interrupted, prompting Mr Biden to tell him to "shut up" as the two fought over the pandemic, healthcare and the economy. The US president was challenged over white supremacist support and refused to condemn a specific far-right group. Opinion polls suggest Mr Biden has a steady single-digit lead over Mr Trump. But with 35 days until election day, surveys from several important states show a closer contest.”
“Joe Biden And Donald Trump Clash In Chaotic Presidential Debate” (Financial Times). “The first US presidential debate of 2020 degenerated into an ugly spectacle on Tuesday night as Donald Trump repeatedly interrupted Joe Biden and the Democratic challenger responded by calling the president a racist and telling him to ‘shut up.’”
