Trump's Trashy Debate Performance Proved Biden's Point: This Choice Is Stark
The Mother Jones Podcast
Mother Jones
4.5 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 30 September 2020
⏱️ 21 minutes
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Summary
The first presidential debate of the 2020 election was a night of sound and fury, signifying Trumpian nihilism. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was visibly trying to stay calm and focus on the camera and speak as directly as possible to the American people—while President Donald Trump attacked, interrupted, and talked over everyone, moderator Chris Wallace included, whose 11th hour recommitment to the rules of the debate came far too late to somehow contain the wreckage.
The experience of watching the debate was unlike any other in American history, debasing democracy thanks to Trump's careening performance. Typically we ask: who won and who lost? But today, that question seems less relevant: This was about a stark choice, laid bare. On today’s show, we’re bringing you some next-day analysis from Mother Jones’ DC Bureau Chief David Corn and DC-based reporter Nathalie Baptiste. They get into the mind-boggling contrast between Donald Trump and Joe Biden on the debate stage, the racism embedded in the debate topics, and whether you might have any reason at all to feel hopeful as November 3 approaches.
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| 0:00.0 | This is the Mother Jones podcast. I'm Jamila King in Oakland. |
| 0:04.4 | On today's show, uh, fuck. Okay, hang on. I don't know about you, but I have not slept |
| 0:16.9 | through the night in weeks. Last night was no exception. On today's show, sound and fury as Trump trashes everything. |
| 0:27.0 | Biden tried to stay calm and make some points to talk to Americans, |
| 0:32.0 | but Trump came to attack, to rage and enrage, to lie, insult, and interrupt a lot. |
| 0:39.4 | I think you did. |
| 0:40.4 | And Mr. President, the only guy that's good answer. Of course you expected that, but maybe you didn't expect it to be quite this bad. |
| 0:47.6 | Matter of fact, even the people who testified under oath. |
| 0:51.2 | So let me ask you this to you. |
| 0:52.2 | No, no, go ahead, Mr. I'm listening to you. |
| 0:55.0 | He got three and a million people. |
| 0:58.0 | Trump didn't reject white supremacy. |
| 1:00.0 | He repeated his refusal to honor a peaceful transition of power, and maybe most disturbing, |
| 1:07.1 | a promise to unleash a new army of Trump-backed poll watchers. |
| 1:12.3 | We're going to get into all of it |
| 1:14.4 | with our Mother Jones colleagues. |
| 1:15.9 | Stick around. |
| 1:16.8 | Let's start with our DC Bureau Chief David Corn. |
| 1:23.2 | David, tell me where on earth to begin you think this was a good night? |
| 1:30.0 | This was a great night for America, Jamila. |
| 1:33.0 | A wonderful night. |
| 1:35.0 | I understand why people wanted to rush to the shower afterwards. |
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