In the wake of a contentious debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, controversy has erupted. Critics from Trump’s camp are alleging bias on the part of ABC News, suggesting that Harris may have received debate questions in advance. Moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, the debate has faced scrutiny from Trump and his allies, who argue that the moderators were unfairly critical of the former president and showed favoritism towards Harris.
Mark Penn, former advisor to Bill and Hillary Clinton, has also called for an internal investigation by ABC News into the perceived bias of the debate moderators.Penn suggested an independent review of the moderators’ texts and emails to determine if there was any effort to “rig the outcome” of the debate. He criticised the media coverage as “laughable” and highlighted the need for impartiality in future debates.
Further scrutiny has been directed at the relationship between Harris and ABC News. ABC News journalist Linsey Davis, a co-moderator and member of the same sorority as Harris, has faced criticism for potential bias. Additionally, connections between Harris and Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney (which oversees ABC News), have raised questions about impartiality. The New York Times reported that Walden and Harris are neighbors and that Walden has donated to Harris’s political campaigns.
The drama intensified with claims from a MAGA supporter on X (formerly Twitter), who alleged an ABC whistleblower would reveal an affidavit about the debate. Conservative accounts, boasting over a million followers combined, echoed these claims, accusing the Harris campaign of having prior knowledge of the questions and the moderators of promising to “fact-check” Trump.
In response, Harris’ campaign has challenged Trump to a rematch, with Fox News offering to host. Trump has declined, asserting in a Truth Social post that Harris’ push for another debate signifies his victory in their first encounter. Harris, however, emphasized the importance of another debate, stating, “I believe we owe it to voters to meet again.”
Political commentators, including Doug Schoen and Noah Pollak, have criticized the moderators for their handling of the debate, with accusations of one-sided fact-checking and bias. Despite the fallout, Trump’s reluctance to agree to another debate suggests that the initial confrontation may be the only opportunity for voters to see the candidates face off before the November election.
The debate, drawing over 67 million viewers, was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Harris. It followed a tumultuous period for Trump, whose previous debate against Biden had led to calls for his exit from the race. With Biden’s withdrawal and Harris’s endorsement as his successor, the stakes were high.
Mark Penn, former advisor to Bill and Hillary Clinton, has also called for an internal investigation by ABC News into the perceived bias of the debate moderators.Penn suggested an independent review of the moderators’ texts and emails to determine if there was any effort to “rig the outcome” of the debate. He criticised the media coverage as “laughable” and highlighted the need for impartiality in future debates.
Further scrutiny has been directed at the relationship between Harris and ABC News. ABC News journalist Linsey Davis, a co-moderator and member of the same sorority as Harris, has faced criticism for potential bias. Additionally, connections between Harris and Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney (which oversees ABC News), have raised questions about impartiality. The New York Times reported that Walden and Harris are neighbors and that Walden has donated to Harris’s political campaigns.
The drama intensified with claims from a MAGA supporter on X (formerly Twitter), who alleged an ABC whistleblower would reveal an affidavit about the debate. Conservative accounts, boasting over a million followers combined, echoed these claims, accusing the Harris campaign of having prior knowledge of the questions and the moderators of promising to “fact-check” Trump.
In response, Harris’ campaign has challenged Trump to a rematch, with Fox News offering to host. Trump has declined, asserting in a Truth Social post that Harris’ push for another debate signifies his victory in their first encounter. Harris, however, emphasized the importance of another debate, stating, “I believe we owe it to voters to meet again.”
Political commentators, including Doug Schoen and Noah Pollak, have criticized the moderators for their handling of the debate, with accusations of one-sided fact-checking and bias. Despite the fallout, Trump’s reluctance to agree to another debate suggests that the initial confrontation may be the only opportunity for voters to see the candidates face off before the November election.
The debate, drawing over 67 million viewers, was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Harris. It followed a tumultuous period for Trump, whose previous debate against Biden had led to calls for his exit from the race. With Biden’s withdrawal and Harris’s endorsement as his successor, the stakes were high.
Source : Times of India
