Debate Organizers To Tweak Format To Ensure “More Orderly” Discussion After Chaotic Trump-Biden Face Off

The Commission on Presidential Debates has apparently realized that leaving Chris Wallace to moderate the first debate between President Trump and Joe Biden by himself probably wasn’t the smartest idea.

So, after last night’s “shitshow” in Cleveland – as CNN termed it –  the commission is promising to impose tweaks to the format to “ensure a more orderly discussion” – ie stop the next debate from going “off the rails” like the last one did.

As speculation about empowering moderators to cut the speakers’ microphones intensifies, the statement also promises to equip future moderators with additional tools to keep the political rivals from going over their time, and speaking out of turn.

“Last night’s debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues,” the Commission said in a statement.

New: Commission on Presidential Debates says “last night’s debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues.” pic.twitter.com/pkjT1Bs6IQ

— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) September 30, 2020

Twitter has been alight with jokes about the rambunctiousness exhibited by President Trump and, to a lesser degree, Joe Biden.

Lol at the people who thought the debate would be anything other a shit show and anything other than two old, grumpy career con artists yelling at each other.

— Whitney Webb (@_whitneywebb) September 30, 2020

The only positive of the Two Old People Yelling Show last night: pic.twitter.com/XHo1laxLAX

— king of mariokart (@KeepItShiny) September 30, 2020

We look forward to learning more details about what the commission will allow. As far as Trump is concerned, even if you cut his mic – he can just keep shouting.

While CNN initially declared the debate a “shitshow” on live television, the view was later parroted by some on Wall Street, along with plenty of other opinions about various comments, including the last question of the night. 

Though this could be another reason why the organizers are looking to make a change: Initial national ratings for the broadcast networks revealed the debate garnered just 28.82 million viewers across ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, a decline of 36% from 2016.