One of the side arguments of this year’s presidential campaign has been whether debate moderators should fact check the candidates. The Republican candidates and their supporters in particular have been very concerned about fact checking, calling it “unfair.”
The networks have struggled with the issue as well telling audiences that the role of their moderators is only to “facilitate” a debate and not insert themselves. But is that really the right standard?
In 2020, CBS News veteran Lesley Stahl was interviewing then President Trump when he tried to hijack the interview by spewing a series of falsehoods. Stahl interrupted and said “this is 60 Minutes” you can’t just come on here and say things that are not true that’s not how it works.
Isn’t that the standard that should always be applied? It is simple basic journalism. There need not be any debate.
