The moderators of CBS News’ vice presidential debate, Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, became the story when they decided to first fact-check JD Vance (R-OH) live during the debate and then cut his mic when he tried to respond.
On Tuesday night, former President Donald Trump’s running mate Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz faced off as the CBS moderators asked a host of questions on the topics of climate change, inflation, and abortion.
However, when the issue of immigration and the border crisis was brought up, Brennan broke the rule CBS had agreed to with both candidates and decided to live fact-check Vance on his comment about the migrant crisis in Springfield, Ohio.
Brennan said, “And just to clarify to our viewers, Springfield, Ohio, does have a large number of Haitian migrants who have legal status. Temporary protected status.”
Vance then attempted to respond, and said as long as they are going to “fact check him.”
CBS NEWS VIOLATES THEIR OWN RULES, FACT-CHECKS JD VANCE AND CUTS HIS MIC AS HE’S EXPLAINING KAMALA’S OPEN BORDER pic.twitter.com/PR5wvKmn9W
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) October 2, 2024
“Margaret, the rules were that you guys weren’t going to fact-check. And since you are fact-checking me, I think it’s important to say what’s actually going on,” Vance said as he attempted to talk about how under the Biden-Harris administration, some illegal aliens can get “legal status” through the CBP One App. He also pointed out how that’s not the same as a person applying for a green card and waiting for ten years.
Brennan then said, “thank you, senator, for explaining the legal process,” and when Vance tried to respond, the network cut both of the candidates’ microphones.
Political commentators then took to social media and blasted CBS.
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“F you CBS – how DARE YOU,” the host of “The Megyn Kelly Show” Megyn Kelly podcast wrote on X to her millions of followers. “The moderator’s NEED to have the last word on everything is infuriating.”
Meghan McCain added, “Did they seriously just f***king mute them?!?”
“JD Vance just absolutely destroyed that CBS fact check. Love it!” Clay Travis wrote.
“Yes! Yes! Vance isn’t letting these harpies get away bulls*** ‘fact checks,’” Buck Sexton wrote. “He’s so much smarter and more adept than them!”
Another person wrote, “Okay, the fix is starting. Sideswipe fact checks. Lib premise questions. CBS is doing exactly what we expected. But Vance is unflappable…”
While another person wrote, “CBS: we aren’t going to fact-check. CBS: fact-checks Vance. Vance: if you’re going to fact check let’s get the facts right. CBS: how dare you call our bias out *cuts mics*.”
Related: ‘Disgraceful’: Megyn Kelly Slams ABC News Debate Moderators Helping Harris
