Spin Cycle: Looming Debate Raises The [VEEP] Stakes

For those who don’t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week’s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.

What will likely be the only vice presidential debate — between Senator JD Vance (R-OH) and Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) — is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, with CBS News anchors Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell moderating the conversation.

CBS News previewed the debate coverage on Sunday morning’s “Face the Nation”:

The first and only vice presidential debate between Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio will be hosted by @CBSNews on October 1 in New York City.

The debate will be moderated by @NorahODonnell and @margbrennan. pic.twitter.com/scI2e282Aq

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) September 16, 2024

The debate was also a hot topic across the other Sunday morning shows, and ABC News’ “This Week” was no exception. During a panel discussion, The New Yorker’s Susan Glasser suggested that Vance should have to answer for his 2016 statement referring to former President Donald Trump — who is now his running mate — as “America’s Hitler.”

Glasser did not mention the fact that Vance has already addressed that statement, telling Fox News host Sean Hannity, “I don’t hide from that. I was certainly skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016, but President Trump was a great president and he changed my mind. I think he changed the minds of a lot of Americans.”

The New Yorker’s @sbg1 says Sen. JD Vance will have to defend his authenticity in the VP debate following his private text in 2016 that Trump was “America’s Hitler.” https://t.co/kj1u5gKlN1 pic.twitter.com/XmyHahRvsI

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 29, 2024

Politico’s Jonathan Martin wondered whether Trump might watch Vance and Walz debate and decide he’d like to have the last word after all — and potentially agree to another debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Politico Sr. Political Columnist @jmart says he doesn’t believe the VP debate will be the “main event” for voters: “I do wonder…if this debate makes Trump say I don’t want Tim Walz and JD Vance to have the last word I want to get one more debate in.” https://t.co/kj1u5gKlN1 pic.twitter.com/KMn3pemRpA

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 29, 2024

“It’s gonna get ugly, it’s gonna get ugly fast and there’s going to be zingers flying left and right,” Politico’s Rachel Bade added.

Politico Sr. Washington Correspondent @rachaelmbade on Tuesday’s VP debate: “It’s gonna get ugly, it’s gonna get ugly fast and there’s going to be zingers flying left and right.” https://t.co/kj1u5gKlN1 pic.twitter.com/zRM3TAcZZO

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 29, 2024

Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki — who parlayed that experience into a gig on MSNBC — laid down some early cover fire for Walz as she used her monologue on “Inside with Jen Psaki” to warn viewers not to be fooled by Vance’s ability to answer questions coherently.

“If the past is any guide, he’s not actually a bad debater,” Psaki said of Vance. “Vance is a bit more disciplined, a bit more on his message … so here’s the thing: if you’re expecting a repeat of Harris’ last debate where Trump basically fell on his face, I have news for you. While Trump rambles and lashes out and veers from one topic to another, Vance has the ability to actually stay focused and discuss policy. He has a deep and comprehensive understanding of how government works.”

“JD Vance may be less bombastic on stage than Donald Trump, he may sound more thoughtful. He may be a little drier, a little more policy focused, but that doesn’t mean that he is any less dangerous and less extreme than his boss,” Psaki cautioned.

.@jrpsaki on the upcoming VP debate: "JD Vance may be less bombastic on stage than Donald Trump, he may sound more thoughtful. He may be a little drier, a little more policy focused, but that doesn't mean that he is any less dangerous and less extreme than his boss." pic.twitter.com/9bNfkqCVIy

— Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) September 29, 2024

On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Jake Tapper opened up a panel discussion on the debate by saying that he didn’t recall a time in which two vice presidential candidates disliked each other as much as he believed Vance and Walz did.

Former Harris staffer Ashley Etienne argued that Vance did nothing for Trump’s ticket, claiming in the same breath that Walz — one of the most left-leaning governors in the country — gave the vice president a broader base by reaching out to moderate Republicans and independents.

“The reason why he was picked was to bridge that cultural divide, to reach out to constituencies that the Democratic Party has had problems, you know, reaching — moderate Republicans, disaffected Republicans, independent Republicans, you know, he’s signaling to a constituency that you can vote for this ticket,” she continued. “He’s incredibly consequential to the Harris ticket.”

GOP strategist Scott Jennings had difficulty keeping a straight face while Etienne was talking, prompting Tapper to bring him into the conversation next.

“Well, first of all, I don’t find him to be consequential. Second of all, Walz is a buffoon, I’m sorry, this guy. He’s the only school teacher in America who brags that none of his students can get into an Ivy League school,” Jennings began. “He’s had one consequential press interaction with our Dana Bash, who asked him about the fabrications in his own resume, and his answer was essentially, ‘Me no understand words good.’ I mean, he’s a buffoon. He’s on a free ride, for running under Harris, he gets very little press. They don’t let him talk to the press for a reason.”

“I want one thing out of this debate,” Jennings concluded. “I want JD Vance to go out there and get under his skin. He has a legendary hot, short temper. A lot of governors do, but he apparently he does. I want JD Vance to go out there and have him explain why he is denigrating JD Vance’s story, small town America, ends up making something better out of his life, which is something we should want for every kid.”

On #CNNSOTU with @JakeTapper, @ErinMPerrine, @FinneyK, @AshleyEtienne09 & @ScottJenningsKY give their advice for the vice presidential nominees ahead of the debate pic.twitter.com/VHvp9doWK0

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) September 29, 2024

According to CBS News, the debate will last 90 minutes — and during that time, the candidates will only be permitted a water bottle, a pen, and paper. There will be one break, during which the candidates will not be allowed to speak with campaign staff. Additionally, while CBS News has “reserved the right” to mute the candidates’ microphones if they feel it is necessary, the plan is to leave both Vance’s and Walz’s microphones live throughout the debate. The network also indicated that any fact-checking during the debate would have to be done by the candidates themselves.