Our expectations were pretty low when Alex Christy listed 30 questions the CBS moderators should ask Tim Walz and J.D. Vance. But they asked none of our suggested questions. The topics came up between the candidates, but no questions.
The closest they came was on the national debt, a topic usually too boring for network TV to consider. Alex suggested: "Since the last debate it was reported that interest payments on the debt topped $1 trillion per year for the first time. How do you and Harris plan to tackle the national debt without serious spending reforms?"
They did ask both candidates about their proposals "ballooning" the deficit. Norah O'Donnell asked Walz: "The Wharton School says your proposals will increase the nation's deficit by $1.2 trillion. How would you pay for that without ballooning the deficit?"
And then O'Donnell turned to Vance: "Similarly, the Wharton School has done an analysis of the Trump plan and says it would increase the nation's deficit by 5.8 trillion. My question is the same for you. How do you pay for all that without ballooning the deficit?"
Now how are the Republicans going to be more than four times as bad on the deficit? Extending the Trump tax cuts.
Moderators in both presidential debates focused on abortion, and it happened again in the VP debate. Why is this in every debate? Let's guess because Democrats think this is a great issue for them. Alex suggested this framing to Walz:
Why did you sign a law that ended the requirement that babies who survived abortions be given life-saving medical care?
That's way too severe a tone for Democrats. Margaret Brennan offered a version of that: "After Roe v. Wade was overturned, you signed a bill into law that made Minnesota one of the least restrictive states in the nation when it comes to abortion. Former President Trump said in the last debate that. You believe abortion, quote, in the 9th month is absolutely fine. Yes or no? Is that what you support? "
Walz lamely claimed that wasn't accurate, and then started fearmongering about Project 2025. Alex suggested this question for Walz: "Why are you fearmongering about Project 2025 proposing that all pregnant women register with the federal government?" Instead, they asked Vance if that was going to be Trump's policy.
Alex also suggested: "Why is Kamala Harris repeating a ProPublica story about pro-life laws killing two Georgia women despite there being nothing in state law that justified denying them life-saving treatment after complications from the abortion pill?" Here again, Walz brought up one of the ProPublica cases, Amber Thurman, dying after taking an abortion pill, claiming she'd still be alive if she lived in Minnesota.
We suggested Vance be asked about Trump moderating the Republican platform's abortion language for a federal limit on abortions. There was no question on that, but Vance stuck to the new Trump line about each state deciding their own abortion limits (or no limits).
We could have updated our list of Tim Walz lies about his biography with the new one on being in China during the Tiananmen Square protests. CBS asked that question, which was the most difficult question Walz was asked, and he couldn't admit to lying about it.
