Beyond Sniffles and Sexism, What the Hell Was the Debate About?

The first presidential debate was a head-scratcher, raising profound questions like: What is that man doing there? Why is no one telling him to shut up? What is he talking about? And why is he sniffling?

In the few brief moments in which a scowling Donald Trump was not engaged in free association about himself, not interrupting Hillary Clinton, and not sniffling, a few matters of substance emerged. That’s what The Intercept staff mostly focused on during our live-blogging of the event. We went beyond fact-checking the event to add some much-needed context.

There was some unexpected news: Trump endorsed a no-first-use policy on nuclear weapons, something neither Clinton nor President Obama are willing to do.

Our reviews of the moderator, Lester Holt, were profoundly negative, especially about his refusal to control Trump and his decision not to ask the most important questions.

The sexist view certain male pundits have of Clinton was on full display before and after.

And don’t miss Jeremy Scahill on the hard-partying surfer turned master assassin who is Trump’s guest at the debate.

See below for what we posted, categorized by topic. Did the debate go as you expected? What did we miss? Tell me in the comments or on Twitter.

Moderator

• Lester Holt has one job, and he’s blowing it 
• The moderator didn’t ask a single question about immigration and climate change

Sexism

• On Fox, Brit Hume says Hillary Clinton’s face was “not necessarily attractive”
• How many times has Donald Trump interrupted Hillary Clinton?
• CNN host already advising Hillary Clinton to smile

The issues

• Trump, to the left of Obama, pledges not to use nuclear weapons first
• Racial profiling is all “stop and frisk” was about
• Trump on rooting for the 2008 housing crisis: “That’s called business”
• Hillary Clinton’s touted “no-fly list” gun proposal is discriminatory and flawed
• Trump attacks Clinton for Libya position he shared
• Conservatives aren’t just backing Clinton because Trump is scary
• Trump infrastructure plan depends on corporate tax cut that would move jobs overseas

Fact-checking

• Hillary Clinton in the 1990s personally lobbied business to push harder for liberalized trade with China
• Trump lies about not calling climate change a hoax invented by China
• In 2000, Gore’s live fact-check of Bush tax plan was laughed off, and we paid the price
• Hordes of journalists are fact-checking tonight’s presidential debate
• “So what?”: In 1984, Bush official celebrated impotence of post-debate fact-checking 
• Political consultant running Donald Trump’s Super PAC mocks fact-checking

Debate politics

• Why no third parties tonight? Because two parties control the process
• U.S. government advises other countries to include minor parties in presidential debates
• The questions you won’t hear tonight because they’re too good
• The hard-partying surfer turned master assassin who is Trump’s guest at the debate
• News networks promote the presidential debate like a football game, wrestling match
• As Trump and Clinton prepare, Hofstra students demonstrate for Black Lives Matter

Donors and sponsors

• Trump once hated big donors getting debate tickets — now he’s handing them out to Sheldon Adelson
• Democratic Party used moments before debate to finally disclose convention sponsors
• Debate Commission waits until last minute to reveal (and thank) its corporate donors