Digest

This episode of The Megan Kelly Show focuses on the Vice Presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz. Megan Kelly and her guests, including Rich Lowry and Eliana Johnson, dissect the debate, praising Vance's performance as a "masterclass" and criticizing Walz's "extremely weak" showing. They highlight Vance's preparation, likability, and ability to control the narrative, while pointing out Walz's lack of preparation and experience in handling hostile interviews. The discussion also centers on the moderators' bias, particularly Margaret Brennan, who is accused of favoring Walz and cutting off Vance's mic when he challenged Walz's claims about immigration. The guests express their contempt for CBS News and the moderators' handling of the debate, arguing that they prioritized their own agenda over the concerns of voters. The episode delves into specific moments of the debate, including Walz's lie about being in Tiananmen Square and his bizarre response to a question about school shootings. The guests discuss Walz's pattern of lying and his tendency to embellish his military service. They also highlight Vance's grace and congeniality throughout the debate, his ability to appeal to suburban voters, and his surgical precision in questioning Walz. The episode concludes with a discussion of the potential impact of the debate on the race, arguing that it is unlikely to cause a significant shift in the polls but that it will give Republicans a shot of confidence and make Democrats more hesitant to put Walz and Harris out on the campaign trail.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Vice Presidential Debate: A Masterclass in Handling Bias

Megan Kelly and guests analyze the Vice Presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz, highlighting Vance's masterful performance and Walz's weak showing, while criticizing the moderators' bias and unfair treatment.

00:00:07

JD Vance's Masterclass in Debate

Megan Kelly praises JD Vance's performance in the debate, highlighting his ability to handle biased moderators and a lying opponent. She describes his performance as a "masterclass" and a "thing of beauty."

00:00:21

Criticism of the Moderators

Megan Kelly criticizes the moderators, particularly Margaret Brennan, for their bias and lack of fairness. She expresses disappointment in Brennan's performance, contrasting it with her previous reputation as a reasonable figure.

00:00:37

Analysis of Vance's Performance

Guests Rich Lowry and Eliana Johnson join the discussion, praising Vance's performance. They highlight his preparation, likability, and ability to control the narrative by bringing every response back to Kamala Harris's record.

00:07:33

Tim Walz's Weak Performance

The guests discuss Tim Walz's performance, describing it as "extremely weak" and "extremely bad." They attribute his poor showing to a lack of preparation and experience in handling hostile interviews.

00:09:00

Moderators' Bias and Fact-Checking

The discussion focuses on the moderators' bias and their selective fact-checking, particularly in favor of Tim Walz. They criticize the moderators for cutting off JD Vance's mic when he was challenging Walz's claims about immigration.

00:11:22

CBS News' Dereliction of Duty

Megan Kelly expresses her contempt for CBS News and the moderators' handling of the debate. She argues that they failed to let the debate unfold naturally and instead prioritized their own agenda.

00:12:18

Republican Candidates and Media Bias

The guests discuss the need for Republican candidates to be prepared for unfair treatment from mainstream media networks. They argue that JD Vance's performance was a model for how to handle such situations.

00:13:29

The CBP1 App and Immigration

The discussion returns to the moderators' bias in cutting off JD Vance's explanation of the CBP1 app and the legal status of Haitian migrants. They argue that Vance's point about the new system for laundering migrants into the country was extremely relevant.

00:14:23

Social Issues Ignored by Moderators

The guests criticize the moderators for ignoring important social issues, such as Tim Walz's trans refuge policies and his military lies. They argue that the moderators prioritized their own agenda over the concerns of voters.

00:15:20

Best Moments of the Debate

The guests discuss their favorite moments of the debate, highlighting JD Vance's command of the facts and Tim Walz's meltdown when confronted about his Tiananmen Square lie.

00:17:20

Tim Walz's Tiananmen Square Lie

The episode plays a clip of the debate where Tim Walz is confronted about his lie about being in Tiananmen Square. He attempts to deflect the question by talking about his community service and his bipartisan record in Congress.

00:19:22

Walz's Pattern of Lying

The guests discuss Tim Walz's pattern of lying, pointing to his previous attempts to excuse his lies by claiming bad grammar or being a "knucklehead." They argue that his response to the Tiananmen Square question was a clear example of his dishonesty.

Keywords

Q&A

• How did JD Vance perform in the Vice Presidential debate?

  JD Vance delivered a masterful performance, handling biased moderators and a lying opponent with grace and precision. He effectively communicated his message, highlighting Kamala Harris's record and Donald Trump's accomplishments.

• What were the main criticisms of the moderators?

  The moderators were criticized for their bias, selective fact-checking, and failure to provide a fair playing field for both candidates. They were accused of prioritizing their own agenda over the concerns of voters and of letting Tim Walz get away with lies.

• What was the impact of Tim Walz's performance in the debate?

  Tim Walz's performance was widely considered weak and unprepared. He was caught in lies about his military service and his position on abortion, and his overall demeanor was described as nervous and overwhelmed. His performance may have made some Democrats question their choice of him as a running mate.

• What was the significance of JD Vance's response to the question about abortion?

  JD Vance's response to the question about abortion was significant because it was the first time many had seen a Republican effectively communicate on this issue in a way that was both empathetic and factual. He acknowledged the concerns of women who have had abortions and argued that the Republican Party needs to do a better job of earning the trust of voters on this issue.

• What is the potential impact of the debate on the race?

  While the debate is unlikely to cause a significant shift in the polls, it is likely to give Republicans a shot of confidence and make Democrats more hesitant to put Tim Walz and Kamala Harris out on the campaign trail. JD Vance's performance may also make him a more valuable surrogate for the Trump ticket.

• What were the key takeaways from JD Vance's performance in the vice presidential debate?

  JD Vance came across as composed, likable, and effective in his delivery. He was able to effectively counter Tim Walls's arguments and highlight the failures of the current administration.

• How do the longshoreman strike and the escalating tensions in the Middle East impact the election?

  These events are likely to sway independent voters towards Trump, who is seen as a strong leader on national security and economic issues. The strike and the Middle East conflict highlight the failures of the Biden administration and its impact on the economy and national security.

• What is the significance of fracking in Pennsylvania and how does it relate to the election?

  Fracking is a major industry in Pennsylvania, and voters are concerned about Kamala Harris's stance on the issue. Her previous statements about banning fracking have alienated many voters in the state, potentially giving Trump an advantage in the election.

• What is the role of experts in shaping policy and how does it relate to the debate?

  JD Vance argued that the current administration is too reliant on experts and ignores common sense solutions. He highlighted the failures of experts in predicting the consequences of certain policies, such as the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to China.

Show Notes