2nd October 2024 – (New York) During Tuesday night’s vice-presidential debate, Republican candidate JD Vance’s microphone was muted as he responded to a fact-check by the moderators regarding his statements on immigration. The incident, which also briefly affected Tim Walz, the Democratic candidate, has sparked controversy and intensified discussions around debate moderation and candidate treatment.
During the debate, the focus shifted to the city of Springfield, Ohio, which has been at the centre of incendiary claims by Vance and GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. They allege that Haitian immigrants in the area, whom they falsely claim are in the country illegally, have been engaging in unacceptable activities, such as eating pets. Moderator Margaret Brennan of CBS News intervened to clarify that many Haitian migrants in Springfield actually hold legal status under temporary protected status.
Vance objected to Brennan’s interjection, stating, “The rules were that you guys weren’t going to fact-check, and since you’re fact-checking me, I think it’s important to say what’s actually going on.” His attempt to further explain his point was cut short when his microphone volume was significantly reduced.
“Gentlemen, the audience can’t hear you because your mics are cut,” Brennan announced, addressing both candidates, suggesting a technical decision to mute the microphones, which quickly became a focal point of the night.
The decision to mute the microphones follows a recent precedent, with CBS News explicitly reserving the right to mute candidates to ensure a more orderly discussion, a policy that was a topic of significant debate after a similar strategy was employed during last month’s debate between Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
This latest episode has not gone without significant backlash, especially from Republican circles. Donald Trump voiced his displeasure on Truth Social, accusing Brennan of silencing Vance to prevent him from challenging the moderators’ assertions directly.
The post Microphone muted during heated Vance-Walz VP debate over immigration claims appeared first on Dimsum Daily.
English (US) ·