CBS News is preparing for the third general election debate between vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz. The network has announced that during the 90-minute debate, it will be up to the politicians, not the moderators, to fact-check their opponents. Set in a Manhattan studio that once housed the children’s program “Captain Kangaroo,” the debate will be moderated by Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan from “CBS Evening News” and “Face the Nation” respectively.
In contrast to previous debates where moderators fact-checked candidates in real-time, CBS News has stated that it will be the responsibility of Vance and Walz to point out any misstatements. The network’s misinformation unit, CBS News Confirmed, will offer real-time fact-checking during the debate on their live blog, social media, and during post-debate analysis. This approach marks a departure from the practice of moderators fact-checking candidates on stage, a move that has sparked controversy in the past.
Angie Drodnic Holan from the Poynter Institute noted that while moderators play a crucial role in keeping candidates honest, shifting this responsibility to the candidates themselves may not be ideal. Nonetheless, CBS News is standing by its decision to have the candidates fact-check each other. The network aims to step back from the contentious practice of real-time fact-checking during debates, opting for a more hands-off approach.
The debate is scheduled to air on CBS News, with other networks allowed to broadcast the event. There will be no live audience present during the debate, and the two candidates have agreed not to have their microphones turned off while the other is speaking, allowing for more natural exchanges. Each candidate will have two minutes for a closing statement, and Vance won the virtual coin toss to choose to speak last.
The stakes are high for CBS News as it seeks to boost its ratings with this pivotal debate. With O’Donnell stepping down from her role and Brennan viewed as a rising star, the event holds significance for the network. As for the possibility of future debates involving other high-profile candidates, it remains uncertain if Trump and Harris will share the stage again before the election. CBS is also eyeing interviews with the candidates for its program “60 Minutes” on October 7, although their participation is yet to be confirmed.