PHOTOS: A look back at the final presidential debate for 2020
From l-r., first lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, moderator Kristen Welker of NBC News, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden on stage at the conclusion of the second and final presidential debate Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
President Donald Trump, Joe Biden spar over Texasโ energy industry and global warming during final presidential debate
WASHINGTON โ Climate change and the future of the oil and gas industry were key topics at the final debate between Republican incumbent President Donald Trump Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The two men diverged greatly on energy and global warming policy: Biden advocated for alternate means of energy besides oil and gas while Trump emphasized economic priorities. At one point, Trump directly asked Biden whether the former vice president would "close down" the oil industry. โBasically what heโs saying is heโs going to destroy the oil industry," Trump said. Heading into the Nov. 3 election, the Texas unemployment rate hit 8.3% in September, surpassing the national unemployment rate of 7.9% and returning the state to the unemployment levels of the Great Recession.
Debate Takeaways: Round 2 highlights policy over petulance
The opening topic of the debate was entirely predictable โ Trump has received variations of the same question in interviews and has rarely delivered a clear answer. From the first question, this debate seemed different from round one, when Trumpโs incessant interruptions and flouting of time limits derailed the 90-minute contest from the outset. From the first question, this debate seemed different from round one, when Trumpโs incessant interruptions and flouting of time limits derailed the 90-minute contest from the outset. FOREIGN POLICY MAKES A CAMEOBiden finally got a chance to talk a little foreign policy. He used it to hammer Trumpโs cozy relationship with North Koreaโs authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un.
FACT CHECK: Falsehoods and fumbles in Trump-Biden debate
Itโs going away.โTHE FACTS: No, the coronavirus isnโt going away. His Democrat governors Cuomo in New York, you look at whatโs going on in California, you look at Pennsylvania, North Carolina. Theyโre shut down so tight, and theyโre dying.โBIDEN: โLook at the states that are having such a spike in the coronavirus. Theyโre the states in the Midwest or the states in the Upper Midwest. Doing nothing was never an option and public-health authorities did not expect over 2 million deaths.
WATCH LIVE: Trump, Biden square off in final presidential debate
Read more:โ High stakes for Trump, Biden heading into final debateโ Viewersโ Guide: After chaotic 1st debate, Trump, Biden try againโ Trump posts unedited โ60 Minutesโ interview before it airs___HEREโS WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:10:55 p.m. The second and final debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden has ended, with a remarkably different tone than their first meeting. ___10:05 p.m.President Donald Trump is offering rare praise to a member of the media: the moderator of the final presidential debate. The final presidential debate is off without a hitch, with President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden not talking over each other -- at least so far. Hundreds of people are gathering on sidewalks outside the site of the final presidential debate to show their support for the candidates.
Fly lands on Vice President Penceโs head during debate, distracting internet
There was briefly another participant swooping into Wednesday nightโs vice presidential debate. For several minutes, a fly landed in Vice President Mike Penceโs hair, not moving as he answered questions about racial injustice and whether justice has been done in the death of Breonna Taylor. Conversation about the fly briefly dominated corners of Twitter, where debate watchers discussed their distraction and inability to focus on Pence and California Sen. Kamala Harris' answers. Wednesday nightโs intruder wasnโt the first to take center stage at an election-year debate. In 2016, a fly briefly landed between Democratic nominee Hillary Clintonโs eyes during a town hall-style debate with now-President Donald Trump.
AP FACT CHECK: Claims from Pence and Harris VP debate
Harris got tangled in tax policy at one point and misleadingly suggested that Trump branded the coronavirus a hoax. ___HARRIS, on Trumpโs tax cuts: โOn Day 1, Joe Biden will repeal that tax bill.โTHE FACTS: No, thatโs not what Biden proposes. ___HARRIS on the virus: โThe president said it was a hoax.โTHE FACTS: Thatโs misleading. ___HARRIS, on the effects of the pandemic: โOne in five businesses, closed.โTHE FACTS: Thatโs not accurate, as of now. A panel commissioned by the Trump administration to explore the issue uncovered no evidence to support claims of widespread voter fraud.
Candidates to be separated by plexiglass shield at VP debate
SACRAMENTO, Calif. โ Kamala Harris and Mike Pence will be separated by a see-through barrier to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission at Wednesdayโs vice presidential debate. The debate in Salt Lake City will come less than a week after President Donald Trump tested positive for the virus. It is the only planned debate between the two vice presidential contenders and will take on heightened attention following the president's diagnosis. Pence will appear despite recent exposure to people who have tested positive for the virus, though he has not tested positive. The president's diagnosis puts a new spotlight on the vice presidential debate and on the continued presence of the virus, a key campaign message for Biden and Harris.
Houstonโs Lizzo takes to Instagram to share heartfelt message post-debate
As many who watched the first presidential debate expressed lost hope on social media, Houstonโs own Lizzo took to Instagram to share a message to lift up the younger generation that may feel powerless, given the circumstance. โAll I want to do is inspire to register to vote, and to vote, and to know your power,โ Lizzo said. โWhether we like the way they do politics or not, we canโt sit out,โ Lizzo said. โThis election is happening with or without you. And all I ask is for you to be present.โListen to the full message here:
Debate commission says it will make changes to format
NEW YORK โ The presidential debate commission says it will soon adopt changes to its format to avoid a repeat of the disjointed first meeting between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. The commission said Wednesday the debate โmade clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues.โThe Commission on Presidential Debates released a statement saying:โThe Commission on Presidential Debates sponsors televised debates for the benefit of the American electorate. Last nightโs debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues. The CPD will be carefully considering the changes that it will adopt and will announce those measures shortly. The next presidential debate is a town hall format scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami.
'We didnโt really hear the issuesโ: Houstonians have mixed reactions after Trump and Bidenโs first debate
HOUSTON โ Many in Houston said they were left scratching their heads after watching the fiery and tumultuous exchanges during the first presidential debate. โIt wasnโt a good showing for America,โ said Chad Thompson. Houstonians said that the topics on healthcare, the economy and COVID-19 got lost in the scuffle and President Trump and Democratic Challenger Joe Biden both fell flat. โWe didnโt really hear the issues and I donโt think it really helped people who are undecided to make a good decision,โ said Thompson. Voters like Chasity Herbert said that they need more clarity from both candidates on their chiding for the country.
The only debate moderator to return, Foxโs Wallace preps
NEW YORK โ Four years ago when he first moderated a general election presidential debate, Chris Wallace was firm and funny in trying to get Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to stop talking simultaneously. Wallace declined an interview request through Fox but his work offers clues about how he will approach the assignment. Trump has tweeted, more than once, that Chris will โnever be his father.โMike Wallace, it should be noted, never moderated a presidential debate. During interviews with Trump this summer, Wallace and Jonathan Swan of Axios proved particularly adept at challenging presidential misstatements. โI do not believe it is my job to be a truth squad,โ Wallace told a Fox News colleague before the 2016 debate.
Presidential, vice presidential debates: This is what you need to know, how to watch
Two more presidential debates and the vice presidential debate will be held in October. The vice presidential debate is scheduled Oct. 7 at the University of Utah, between Vice President Mike Pence and Bidenโs running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris. The second presidential debate is planned for Oct. 15 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page will moderate the vice-presidential debate event. NBCโs Kristen Welker will moderate the final presidential debate.
โNo Democrats allowedโ: Charter boat captain bans Dems from his fishing trips
Captain Jake Hiles who has been operating Matador Fishing Charters out of Virginia Beach for the last 20 years is now banning Democrats from boarding his boat, WAVY News 10 reports. According to the report, Hiles the decision comes after many interactions with left-wing customers who he says have treated him differently because of his contrasting views. I believe in freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the Second Amendment, the protection of rights, and Democrats do not. Since making the announcement online, Hiles has received a lot of hate from liberals. โIโve been threatened, Iโve been called all sorts of vulgar names and this is just because of a disagreement,โ Hiles said, according to WAVY News 10.
Sanders faces attacks in Democratsโ debate-stage clash
Sanders, his status as the Democratic front-runner undeniable, faced the brunt of the attacks for part of the night. Sanders, under attack for much of the night, noted the additional attention: โIโm hearing my name mentioned a little bit tonight. I wonder why?โThe new wave of infighting came as Democrats met for the party's 10th โ and perhaps most consequential โ debate of the 2020 primary season. And while the knives were out for Sanders, Bloomberg also faced sustained attacks that gave him an opportunity to redeem himself after a bad debate debut one week earlier. Last week, Sanders acknowledged that heโd be been briefed by intelligence officials who said that Russia is attempting to interfere in the elections to benefit him.
How to watch tonightโs Democratic presidential debate
For the first time, voters will hear from former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg on a debate stage. Before you tune in, click here to read five things you should know before you watch the debate. How to watch (or listen)The debate will be aired live at 8 p.m. on KPRC 2. A Spanish-language version of the debate will be aired live on cable channel NBC Universo and streamed live on the Noticias Telemundo app and the Noticias Telemundo Facebook page. Audio from the debate will be aired live on SiriusXM channel 118 and streamed via the TuneIn app.
9 things to watch in tonightโs Democratic debate
(CNN) -- The final debate before the Iowa caucuses brings new challenges for the Democratic presidential field. Here are eight things to watch Tuesday night in Des Moines:Sanders and Warren fight breaks outThe months-long, unspoken pact between the field's two most progressive candidates -- Sanders and Warren -- finally appears to have broken. This debate is Buttigieg's last chance to stop that slide and deliver a debate performance that reminds voters in Iowa why they had gravitated toward him. How the mayor handles those attacks could go a long way to defining his Iowa campaign. Klobuchar has performed well in debates previously, but has so far struggled to use those performances to launch her candidacy into the top tier of Democratic candidates in Iowa.