@manton is the reverse true?

@bens Maybe. I could imagine some voters were reminded how painful future debates with Trump are going to be.

@manton I’m very concerned that they packed the audience with republicans though. He got approving laughs multiple times. If you’re already distrustful of news media, the crowd’s validation of him could push someone over towards him.

It was a terrible format, and probably did a lot more harm than good.

@pratik The problem with those other news outlets is they don’t check him, so his message gets out unfiltered. I get the concern, though… This shouldn’t be a regular occurrence.

@pratik This is why I watched it, to see how it would actually play out. It’s also about the primaries, and something needs to upset the status quo of Trump as the presumed nominee.

@pratik thanks for the article. Yep, it’s really powerful. I should write something some day about some of the perception from Europe of jan 6

But the risk that voters within his base are energized and that voters outside his base see his behavior being normalized is not zero. I think “Show people how crazy he is” only works if voters are rational actors (they are not) and the media platforms—social and traditional—are neutral (they are not).

@manton
I couldn’t agree less.

@pratik Yep. Agree with this. Also, that Rolling Stone piece you linked is spot on.

@manton i found it dispicable. He attacked his victim again, he attacked the host. He lied and lied. Only his supporters were allowed in. It was a CNN sponsored rally. Kaitlin tried to fact check him, he talked over her. His being on CNN gave him a forum to put others in harm’s way.