Presented by BP.

Hey, good morning, everyone.

I'm Playbook co-author Rachel Bade.

It's Wednesday, October 2nd.

And what's driving the day is the first and the only vice presidential debate from last night.

That matchup between Governor Tim Walls and Senator J.D. Vance.

So, of course, I've got my co-author, Eugene Daniels, in the house. Hey, Eugene. Oh, wow. Hello, hello. How is it already October 2nd? I'm so, how is this possible this year? I got to get myself a Halloween costume, that's for sure. People don't know this about Rachel, but she's obsessed with Halloween and decorating for Halloween. My house looks fabulous. Lots of pumpkins. Lots of pumpkins. Lots of pumpkins. Mums, specifically. I'm just going to start with this, Eugene. I got to say I feel kind of like a dumbass because in all my TV hits leading up to this debate, I have been predicting that we're going to see some sort of heated and contentious debate

that it was going to be very ugly. I mean, I've been thinking about, you know, the history between

Vance and Walls, Vance accusing walls of, you know, stolen valor, suggesting he lied about his

military service and IVF treatments, this thing about tampons and boys' restrooms. Walls calling him weird for weeks and weeks.

Weird.

And even making that sort of side swipe about that couch conspiracy.

Right.

Or with J.D. Vance.

I mean, Walls mentioned that.

And yet this debate was surprisingly Midwest, almost friendly at time.

And I hate to say it, Eugene, but it was boring.

What was your take?

It was, I think you're right.

I mean, part of it was that I think the anticipation of how they've been engaging publicly for so long

set us all up for failure.

Because you're not the only one who anticipated like a rumble, right?

...