US Elections: Republicans angry at CBS over fact-checking during US vice-presidential debate

The US tuned in for the first and probably the last vice-presidential debate of this election cycle, featuring Democratic nominee Tim Walz and the Republican vice presidential candidate, JD Vance.

The debate, happening in New York City, was aired by CBS News, moderated by seasoned journalists, Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell. Interestingly, in the lead up to the debate, CBS had announced that the moderators would not be fact-checking the candidates on live TV and would, instead, expect the opponents to do so.

Despite prior decisions against fact-checking, the moderators scrutinised Vance, sparking outrage among Republicans who questioned the sudden change in approach.

Vance was fact-checked on two instances, one involving the 2020 presidential election results and another involving his comments on Haitian immigrants in Ohio. Vance himself objected to the fact check, pointing out that “the rules were that you were not going to fact-check me” before having his mic cut off by the broadcasters.

O’Donnell, too, was called out by former president Donald Trump for noting during the debate that there was “no widespread fraud” in the 2020 election.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio took to social-media platform X to criticise the moderators.

“Once again another major media outlet embarrasses themselves on a debate stage,” he wrote in a post.

Brit Hume of Fox News, declared Vance the winner of the debate, while labelling the moderators “obnoxious” who made the event feel “like 3-on-1 on Vance”.

Blaming fact-checking during debates has been a common theme in the Trump era. The basic function drew criticism after last month’s presidential debate, too, after moderators fact-checked on numerous instances, Politico reported.

With backlash to fact-checking becoming more common, journalists are working to find a fine line to balance accuracy and keep critique at bay.