The CNN debate format was effective because it lacked an audience that could manipulate the candidate's performance.

“I thought I like the format actually of the way CNN did this I thought Jake Tapper and Dana Bash did a very competent job but also I like format where there was no audience to manipulate perhaps or save a candidate for themselves”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. believes that his participation in the presidential debates would be beneficial for American democracy.

“I actually think it would be great for America and for American democracy if you were on that stage.”

Presidential debates are of outsize importance in the current media environment for communicating with persuadable voters.

“when you have only one when in a changed media environment where it's very hard for the candidates to communicate with persuadable voters through the normal course of the campaign big huge Monumental moments where people actually tune in are of outsize importance”

Moderators should facilitate the debate while avoiding becoming the story or participating beyond asking questions.

“we felt pretty much all of us or our bosses the exec the production team Jake and me that the way that that it is done best is for the moderators to facilitate but not be the story and not participate anymore than we have to”

The Trump campaign believes the debate on CNN is a rigged event that will likely feature biased moderation against the former president.

“it was utterly shocking that they cut my mic and booted me off the network all I was trying to do was speak the truth was repeat statements that Jake Tapper himself has made on the air and they abruptly booted me”

The new debate format with muted microphones may not be the optimal strategy for the Biden campaign, as it prevents the candidate from utilizing the interruptions that benefited him in previous encoun

“I'm less sure that this format is the dream format that the Biden campaign thought it was going to be”