Despite the immense help Vice President Kamala Harris received from the Democratic Party moderators, the debate was effectively a tie.
The first debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted a significant pro-Harris, pro-Democrat media bias. ABC News moderators, particularly Linsey Davis, acted in a partisan manner by frequently interrupting and fact-checking Trump while largely ignoring Harris’ inconsistencies and false claims. This media bias was particularly evident in how Harris was portrayed as a moderate despite her leftist record.
She shifted stances on key issues like fracking and immigration, but the moderators ignored these policy flip-flops. Meanwhile, Trump exposed Harris’ left-wing policies, such as price caps and wealth taxes, while debunking false accusations like his support for a national abortion ban. Harris refused to put a limit on when abortion should be banned, a stance the media shielded from scrutiny. Immigration numbers and crime rates were downplayed, as were local reports of illegal immigrants engaging in unlawful activities. The moderators allowed misinformation to circulate, including lies about Trump’s stance on white supremacy and Project 2025. They also failed to mention an assassination attempt on Trump, focusing instead on demonizing him as an anti-Democratic force.
Meanwhile, Harris’ inconsistency on key issues, from healthcare to foreign policy, went largely unchallenged. The debate revealed not just policy differences but also the extent to which the media shapes the narrative in favor of the Democrats.
Have an opinion? Write about it. Email: mander76@cord.edu
