The Debates Mostly Worked This Year

Brian Stelter: “After the third and maybe final debate of this year’s election cycle, it can definitively be said: The Commission on Presidential Debates is a relic of the past.”

“The Democratic and Republican campaigns for president bypassed the commission this year, negotiated with individual TV networks, and – despite all the doubts and concerns – it worked. CNN, ABC and CBS produced their own debates and received kudos for doing so.”

“Networks vigorously competed to line up candidates; partisans bickered about the rules and formats; but the resulting debates were a public service. And in a rare and welcome show of solidarity, all the major networks televised their rivals’ events. Maybe it will work this way again in 2028?”