Key Takeaways:
– CBS News presents the only debate between running mates Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance on Tuesday, starting at 6 p.m. Pacific.
– Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan will moderate, making this the first time two women have moderated in a general election presidential or VP debate.
– CBS will make the debate available on all cable news channels, major broadcasters, and streaming platforms, including Paramount+ and CBS News 24/7.
– Moderators won’t fact-check the candidates during the debate but will allow candidates to fact-check each other. CBS News will provide real-time fact-checking on its live blog and social media.
– The moderators, veteran journalists in national politics, have rich experience working as White House correspondents and covering global stories for CBS.
The Historic Vice Presidential Debate: A Closer Look
CBS News gears up to broadcast a one-of-a-kind vice presidential debate on Tuesday. Featuring Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic candidate from Minnesota, and Republican Sen. JD Vance from Ohio, the event promises to offer insightful discussions starting at 6 p.m. Pacific.
Steering the Debate: A Dynamic Duo
In a historic first for general election presidential or vice presidential debates, two women – veteran journalists Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan – will guide the discourse. Both seasoned in covering national politics, their contribution promises to be a masterclass in political journalism. O’Donnell and Brennan are no strangers to the White House’s intricacies, having served as correspondents for CBS in the past.
Easing Audience Access: Availability Across Platforms
To ensure total accessibility, CBS is making the debate readily available across all cable news channels and major broadcasters. Tech-savvy, cord-cutting viewers can tune in to streaming platforms like Paramount+ and CBS News 24/7. The debate, lasting for 90 minutes, will include two four-minute commercial breaks to provide audiences with a continuous, uninterrupted experience. Importantly, there will be no live audience, akin to the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump.
Fact-Check Procedures: A New Approach
Unlike the recent presidential debate broadcasted on ABC, moderators will not employ in-debate fact-checking. The approach allows candidates to maintain the discourse’s flow and conduct their own fact-checks. However, CBS News ensures viewers will not be left in the dark, planning to offer real-time fact-checking on its live blog and social media platforms.
The Walz-Vance Debate in Perspective
2020’s vice-presidential debate, featuring Harris and Pence, drew an average viewership of 57.9 million, according to Nielsen. It became the second most-watched debate in history, thus setting lofty expectations for the Walz-Vance showdown.
Moderators in Focus: Norah O’Donnell
The 50-year-old journalist, Norah O’ Donnell, boasts an impressive career history. From being mentored by Tim Russert, the late “Meet the Press” moderator, to working with the NBC Washington bureau and hosting her own TV show in South Korea, her professional journey is inspiring. Her exclusive interview with Pope Francis also marks a highlight of her career. After the elections, O’Donnell plans to leave the anchor chair to become a senior correspondent, focusing on long-form interviews and specials.
Moderators in Focus: Margaret Brennan
Brennan’s career, too, is filled with significant accomplishments. From starting out as a business reporter at CNBC to covering global markets at Bloomberg News and then arriving at CBS in 2012, her journey has been remarkable. She made heads turn in 2021 when she became the first to report that Trump’s cabinet reportedly discussed invoking the 25th amendment following the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. Fluent in Arabic, Brennan broadened her journalistic spectrum by translating Osama Bin Laden’s videotaped messages during her internship at CNN.
The upcoming Walz-Vance debate promises to be a compelling watch, not merely because of the candidates’ discourse but also because of the exceptional moderation by Brennan and O’Donnell. These two accomplished women take center stage, reaffirming the groundbreaking progression of women in journalism and broadcast.