CBS Moderators Under Fire for Muzzling JD Vance During VP Debate

Tuesday night's vice presidential debate was supposed to focus on the pressing issues of immigration, inflation, and the economy. Instead, CBS moderators Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan became the center of controversy for cutting JD Vance’s mic and fact-checking him live during the debate. Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, wasn’t about to let it slide.

The debate began with typical back-and-forth exchanges between Vance (R-OH) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D), but things took a turn when the topic of immigration was brought up. Vance made a point about the migrant crisis in Springfield, Ohio, citing the influx of migrants and the Biden administration’s policies. At that moment, Brennan interrupted to fact-check Vance, stating that the migrants in Springfield were Haitians with “Temporary Protected Status.”

Vance, caught off guard by the moderator’s break in protocol, pushed back immediately. He reminded Brennan that CBS had agreed not to engage in live fact-checking during the debate, saying, “Margaret, the rules were that you guys weren’t going to fact-check.” As he attempted to explain further, discussing the Biden administration's CBP One App and its implications for illegal immigration, Brennan cut him off. Moments later, both candidates’ microphones were muted by the network.

Outrage quickly ensued:

• Silencing Dissent: Conservatives took to social media to condemn CBS for blatantly cutting off Vance. Megyn Kelly, who hosts “The Megyn Kelly Show,” didn’t hold back: “F you CBS – how DARE YOU,” she posted to her millions of followers, criticizing the moderators’ need to control the conversation.

• Muting the Truth: Meghan McCain expressed shock, asking, “Did they seriously just f***king mute them?!?” Meanwhile, Clay Travis pointed out that Vance had already “destroyed” the CBS fact-check before they cut him off.

• Biased Moderation: Several commentators noted the clear bias at play. Buck Sexton called out the moderators, stating, “Vance isn’t letting these harpies get away [with] bulls*** ‘fact checks.’ He’s so much smarter and more adept than them!” Others like Comfortably Smug noted the pattern, writing, “CBS: how dare you call our bias out cuts mics.”

What was supposed to be a fair debate devolved into a spectacle of media bias, with CBS proving its willingness to intervene when it didn’t like what one candidate had to say. Cutting a candidate's microphone is not just a debate faux pas it’s a direct attack on free speech, something Vance has been fighting against from day one.

While the network may have tried to control the narrative, JD Vance's resilience and sharp rebuttal to CBS’s interference will only strengthen his support base. The biased moderation only added fuel to the growing distrust Americans have in mainstream media.

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