“Look, we’ve been doing debates for a long time,” said an ABC spokesperson, speaking on behalf of the network. “But this time, we might have gotten it wrong. We made a mistake.” It’s rare to see a major network concede defeat in such a public way, but given the ratings nosedive, they had little choice. After all, viewers had tuned in expecting a fair and balanced discussion—what they got was something closer to a media-driven sideshow.
The debate in question featured a showdown between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. On paper, it was supposed to be one of the most pivotal political events of the year, with both candidates eager to sway undecided voters. However, the real drama of the evening unfolded not between the candidates but between the moderators and the audience.
Throughout the 90-minute spectacle, Muir and Davis repeatedly fact-checked Trump in real time, interrupting him on several occasions to clarify statements they deemed inaccurate. Harris, on the other hand, was given considerably more leeway, her responses often going unchallenged. Viewers immediately took notice, and by the time the closing statements were delivered, social media was ablaze with accusations of bias.
