Presidential Debate

The Debate Showed That Treating Trump ‘Fairly’ Only Helps Him Cheat

by Brendan Nyhan

"Will the media accurately describe Trump’s attacks on the election as dangerous and anti-democratic? Or will they run faux-neutral headlines like “Pure chaos on election night” if he says the vote is being stolen and tries to declare victory before all the votes are counted?"

Hillary Clinton’s 3 debate performances left the Trump campaign in ruins

Donald Trump didn't just destroy himself. Hillary Clinton destroyed him.

Here’s the History Behind Hillary Clinton’s Abraham Lincoln Defense at the Debate

"I was making the point that it is hard sometimes to get the congress to do what you want to do," Clinton said

What Historians Are Saying About the First Trump-Clinton Debate

The opinions of Manisha Sinha, Juan Cole, Max Boot, Blair Kelley, Timothy Garton Ash, and others. 

Watch every presidential debate since 1960

Track how candidates debate specific issues.

Clinton-Trump Debate Expected to Be Rare Draw in a Polarized Age

It could well draw 100 million viewers.

There’s No Debate

by Bill Moyers and Michael Winship

The candidates and the media have thoroughly corrupted the presidential debates. Our democracy deserves better. There's still time for a change.

The Impact of Debates? It's Debatable

A review of data since 1960 suggests that past debates have almost never directly and measurably changed the candidates' relative standings.

When Donald Meets Hillary

by James Fallows

Who will win the debates? Trump’s approach was an important part of his strength in the primaries. But will it work when he faces Clinton onstage?

The State of the Presidential Debate

by Jill Lepore

How should candidates—and voters—argue about politics?