WATCH: Full presidential debate coverage | LiveNOW from FOX

All right, and welcome back here to live now from Fox so you have been watching the CNN. presidential debate there. 90 plus minutes. of both President Biden and former president Trump. going at it on the issues It got personal we're going to be recapping some of the key highlights here. So we want to thank you for watching we're going to take yet another quick commercial break when we come back. We are going live to our reporters. standing by in Atlanta for more highlights more recapping of the first presidential debate. We'll see you. in 2 minutes. And welcome back here to live now from Fox I'm Andrew craft. We just want to thank all of you for joining live now from Fox for the SEMO cast of the CNN presidential debate. Uh, you were watching. alongside us, Uh, and you were noticing uh about some of the issues that were asked by the moderators like Dana Bash. and Jake Tapper, and how President Biden and former president Trump responded to those issues. it got personal, uh seemingly though, uh cutting off the mics. worked There was not much cross talk as well. But like I said, in sometimes it was Meandering in sometimes there was incoherence you may have heard a frog in the throat of President Biden. Uh, and so we're going to be breaking all of this down. uh this analysis now in our post coverage we're going to start that off. with my friend Fox News correspondent Madison scarpino. She joins me. live from Atlanta the debate just wrapped up Madison, Uh, Madison Madison, what were some of the key highlights? a lot of ground? was covered with these issues was it not yeah a lot of ground Andrew. I'm sure we'll get into all of that. second and you as far as some of the main back and forth. uh circumstances between Biden and Trump. uh Biden came out. and called Trump a sucker and a loser when they were discussing the topic of who was better with veterans. uh former president Trump or president. Biden. um Trump when it comes to foreign policy told by that quote the world is blowing up because of him and went on to say things. um that he has long been saying for months. like that Putin would have never invaded Ukraine if if he was president. at the time, but just overall a lot of insults, uh back and forth, but they did touch on some of those Maine voter issues, which we know um in a nutshell are the economy. uh immigration and abortion. Yeah, you know medicine to people watching it seemed like it was 90 plus minutes. of Biden saying you are the worst president ever and then Trump saying no you Biden are the worst president ever. I mean it seemed as basis that exactly, and I think that that wasn't much of a surprise for voters across the country. separately. President Biden and former president Trump have long been criticizing each other So that was kind of expected when the 2 finally got up on the debate stage. Um, but you mentioned in the beginning cutting off the mics seemed to work we definitely didn't see as much um cutting off of each other as we did in previous debates between Biden and Trump. Yeah, you know Madison it seemed like the rules. held, uh at least for now, but there were personal attacks there weren't really many fireworks. Um, but both of them seemed muted, uh, and we're going to be talking about this with with some of our uh analysts and experts about kind of the the personal aspect the performance the demeanor the disposition. Um, but there's a lot to get to we thank Madison scarpino their live in Atlanta Madison. We'll talk soon. Thanks, Andrew. All right in the meantime here, uh, let's get it started We want to recap all of these highlights now remember uh, because there are some restrictions at play with some of the clips of the debate. themselves, so we are not allowed. Percy and ends rules to show you to show those clips until 90 minutes after the debate. is all said and done we're going to do that in 90 minutes because there's a lot of highlights we want to show you again and let you watch for a second time here, but let's take yet another quick commercial break remember the spin room there is a live and well. in, Georgia Tech This is right across from the venue you see there, uh some of these prominent surrogates for the campaigns there. That's what we call a gaggle. reporters, uh, kind of flood the zone so to speak around whoever is speaking that looks to be uh, New York Republican congressman. Elise stefonek. We'll have it for you. in 2 minutes. And welcome back here to live now from Fox I'm Andrew craft. We're going to just get started now in our debate. Recap, there's a lot to get through there were so many moments and we want to. discuss them even further here. Let's take yet another live look there. inside of the spin room. there at Georgia Tech. We also have some of these other speakers looks like vivaki. ramaswami. is speaking to the Press right now. Let's take this. Let's see if we can listen to ramaswamy. and mentally capable is a mentally is he mentally capable The answer was no. what you have I think for many people who might have otherwise been open to supporting Biden as you might Provide him based on what? They might have some personal sympathy for him. as an old man. Who was really cast as a sacrificial lamb out there tonight. the issue. you want all right, unfortunately not the best signal there in the spin room. We're going to be popping into the spin room. periodically, so you hear from some of these surrogates for both the Trump campaign. and the Biden campaign. Well, let's talk about the debate. Let's get to the meat of it right now the heart of it we're going to do that with my friends. Tom. lobianco reporter for 24 site and Age Again Carsey reported for the New York Post and they joined me here, Uh, you guys there's a lot to get to uh, just want to stipulate again Unfortunately, we can't show some of these clips uh until 90 minutes after the debate. uh is all said and done. So we're just going to remember I have a lot of notes written down about some of these moments, you heard there though Vic rahma swan. mommy talking about Biden's performance. Uh, I think this is the elephant in the room. of the night. Let's talk about this. uh time and time again there were moments. when President Biden lost his strain of thought. so much so that he just stopped. speaking. there were moments when the split screen showed both Trump. and Biden, uh and Biden was kind of looking. into the distance. there Blank Stare blank face. We are getting reports from getting from the Biden campaign. He went into the debate tonight. with a call that was evident in his voice. Tom. You and I talked about democratic. freakout with the age question with Biden. Was that alive and well today, Tom. uh, I was seeing it on the sum of the text chains that I was on. Um, yeah. absolutely I mean that that opening. um Gap where you said, they he beat Medicare and just you know, he just tossed the softball right to Trump which you know, he batted it right out of the park. Um, you know, it was interesting to me was seeing Biden also, really at the beginning of the debate. Um, uh, he had his stutter. come back and that's that's been a lifelong thing with him. and when he's confident he has it under control. Um, but you didn't get the sense of Confidence from him, Certainly not through the first half of the debate. You know did it appear to you that? they were nervous in the first 20 minutes? I mean both Biden and Trump. we we saw them. we saw them extremely, you know. sedate and muted and then as the debate went on they got a little more lively and Lucid here, but for that first 20 minutes you know with both of them You didn't really know where this was going We put up the Jackie Heinrich tweet there. She's Fox's White House correspondent. sources. to her from the Biden campaign. say Biden. had a cold. Um, G weigh in on this question on Biden's performance What are we going to be talking about tomorrow? next week? 3 months from now. is the question about will he remain on the ticket? alive and well also tonight or is that still? a fringe conspiracy element? What are Democrats thinking tonight after his performance? Yeah, I mean I I would think Democrats if if there were room to maneuver to get him off the ticket they probably would. the problem that Democrats have is their bench is inconveniently placed. uh VP Kamala Harris is a non-starter for a lot of people in the party. her polling's not great. And from there you get to these hypothetical candidates Hillary Clinton. Michelle Obama they've been uh brought up before they've been embedding markets things like that. but the question with Biden is who do you replace them with but that being said, the first half hour of this debate for Joe Biden. was the Rocky's performance I've ever seen. in a national debate. I I can't think of even a state level debate. where I've seen the candidate. acquit himself that poorly. stuttering the stammering the raspy voice You know he had a cold they say but you know Biden spent at least a week preparing for this debate, write 7 days, you know. yeah, it wasn't like he came in cold. Yeah You know, he he prepared for it. you know Camp David was a big big whack for him. Um, and and he was defending his record in theory. Yeah, but the thing he wanted to do was basically rerun 2020 turns to referendum on Donald Trump. Um, and that speaks poorly for his presidency, Okay, so, the impression that people got was Donald Trump, basically came off more or less like he did in 2020. All right. Um, he didn't seem so nervous to me but you know when I when I look at what Joe Biden did especially the first third first half of the debate um that people actually watched Um, it was brutal. All right, uh you guys I want to put up some of these uh tweets and reactions here from Jackie Hinrich. She says a very well-connected Democratic Source tells her the house in the Senate are the gop's for now Everyone is freaking out he needs to go. no way they replace him unless he agrees there So you want to talk about Dem level freak out at the moment. that encapsulates it you guys. stay with us We have some of these top surrogates are both the Trump and the Biden campaign speaking there in the spin room including Senator Tim Scott the Republican from, South Carolina. He's appeared on some of these short lists. for the running mate. Let's watch 70 billion dollars committed to the forest communities often times majority of minority 70 billion dollars has led to in those communities about an 8% wage growth versus 3% outside of the zones 20% appreciation in your property values and the restoration of hope it was a really good. 4 years. for people who grew up like I did in a single parent household mired in poverty, so talking about opportunities zones is talking about perhaps the most powerful. force for good. I'm an anti-poverty. focused on the private sector we've seen in my lifetime. listen. it's always good to hear always name called if it's called in a positive way, but bottom line is it's not about me. It's about what can we do to make sure that the American people? experience their version of the American dream and that's what we should all be focused on and working towards. All right, the senator there the Republican from South Carolina. uh, you also see Ben Carson Trump's. Housing and Urban Development. secretary, Uh, he's speaking to the gaggle of reporters. Let's watch But I think it was uh, fairly embarrassing that the rest of the world gets to see this. if they get to see the leader of the Free World. in that state. President Biden, yes doctors and things he was win some and no No, I think he was rambling. and uh fortunately this did not represent our what did you make of the White House saying that? Well, I guess they're looking for any excuse that you can find. relatively I felt sorry. I remember the thing. that they told me. All right, Ben Carson there saying I felt sorry for him. uh regarding. President Biden's performance today. We want to step away from Ben Carson. We have, North Dakota governor Doug bergam right now in yet another 1 of these gaggles. Let's watch potential VPS that are in this room there's the bench on the Republican side is so deep and so strong and so Broad. president Trump right now. uh has got the ability to probably win this election just by himself without a even without a VP in the real VP question I think is it's going to be coming up after tonight is the choice that Joe Biden made 4 years ago about his VP pick and how that's going to play into this election. Would you say Do you think the Trump campaign would be ready to take on? a different candidate that Joe Biden if the Democrats? wind up switching? the person on the top of the ticket? well president Trump can win against whoever they're going to put up against them on the Democrat side. Uh, I they've obviously got their challenges on trying to swap out. uh the situation there and they've got they put themselves in a real. uh pickle so to speak but the issues don't change you change the candidate, but what they prefer Joe Biden at the top of the ticket well, There's a lot of people that have an invested. uh invested interest in Joe Biden remaining in power all the people that are around them all the people that have supported him, but you take a look you can swap out the candidate, but if it doesn't change the the policies on National Security on the border on inflation. uh, if it doesn't change the energy policies, which are you know bankrupting America and empowering our adversaries if you don't change that it it president Trump's going to continue to just you know Cruise, right? uh through this thing and win big in November. Are you still actively being vetted for vice president? Uh tonight's all about President Trump. uh, he had a fantastic night tonight And uh, and it's just a it's exciting I think to see I think there's going to be a lot of energy coming out for Republicans. I think it's going to be great for fundraising people were wanting to see a strong confident. uh powerful president Trump and they saw that uh, and of course the Democrats are going to have plenty of thinking to do after tonight. All right. North Dakota, governor Doug bergam their speaking to Fox Aisha Hosny about the vetting process. Of course he is uh on some of the lists. uh as consideration for Trump's running mate, uh some of these lists he's at the top. Uh, so we want to move away from that right now. We're almost at the top of a new our almost 8 oclock here. on the West Coast almost 11 oclock there in Atlanta, Georgia. Let's continue to bring in. uh, some of our panelists including Tom lobianco with 24 site news and aging karki with the New York Post. They join me yet again you guys. All right. Let's keep talking about some of these narratives some of these themes that have now come out of the debate, uh, Tom to you first. if you're in the Biden campaign right now, are you in full damage control mode? I only ask this because and you heard the questions and these gaggles to these surrogates. every single question that includes myself with my questions is about Biden's performance. and is about whether or not Dems should replace him at the top of the ticket if that is the first question out of every reporter's mouth in that spin room. They're in bad shape. Are they not? Oh, yes. Yeah. Yeah, I mean it. if Biden has cold coming into the debate. you say that before the debate. it and it seems like political malpractice to say that after the malpractice you know to have that that V the explanation. you know as they say in politics when you're explaining you're losing. and that's how it feels. right now. now that said you know, we just heard from 3 running mate. contenders. right there. Um we need I I'm interested in hearing. from uh Newsome in particular. He's certainly somebody that could hypothetically step in Um, if there is some kind of shake up that were to happen, but also remember too he is 1 of the best Messengers that the Democrats have and that's going to tell you a lot about what they're thinking is coming out of this. All right. I just want to put up some of these tweets to kind of elucidate. and strengthen that point here this though. uh from Jackie Hinrich yet again. She says a White House official telling Fox President Biden was examined by Dr. Kevin oconor at Camp David in recent days. He tested negative for Co and the doctor determined. that it was a cold here. Uh, so we also have more and more of these top surrogates there. inside. of the spin room at the moment. That looks like um, Long Beach, California. Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia right now. at the moment also looks like Michael Tyler, Okay, there's senator. Raphael hwaro Governor Gavin Newsome, so I want to put this tweet up from Alex Thompson at axios. He says the spin room is full of trump surrogates. He says No 1 from Biden's camp we can see reporters keep asking each other if they have seen any of them. Well, I think it's pretty clear now. Uh, they are all gathered. in unison. right there on the floor. Let's listen. a man who stood there and lied. 490 men and straight. but what I was also struck by was by what he did not say. People got a chance tonight. to be reminded about the character of Donald Trump. a man who stood there and lied. 4 90 minutes straight but what I was also struck by was what he did not say every time he was asked a question. That had something to do with. the lives of the ordinary. Working Class People that I represented here in the state of all right Senator Raphael hwaro there, uh 1 of the senators from Georgia the Democrat also a Biden surrogate we got to step away from the spin room right now. We want to go to this event. Uh, we didn't know this was taking place the first lady and the president there speaking to a group of their supporters. Let's watch it Can't I can't. Thank you all. enough for staying and for being here and for all your support. Yo, you did such a great job you. answered every question You knew all the time. and let me ask the crowd. What did Trump do? I'm going to hand it over to you because we have such a great. group of supporters here. So, thank you. all for coming. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You've been here the whole time. I see it. I see that. the patch here. looks you know they're uh, I shouldn't say this but my brother always uses lines from movies. It was a famous movie. by John Wayne and and he's working for the uh, the northern military. trying to get the Apaches back in the reservation. and they were a line like held on and they're all sitting on a bluff and John Wayne was sitting with 2. Indian. Apaches. and 1 of them looked at John Wayne and said these guys are nothing but lying dog-faced Pony soldiers. He's just a liar. Look folks. What's going to happen over the next couple days that they're going to be? they're going to be out there fact checking all the things he said. I can't think of 1 thing. He said that was true. Oh. I'm not being Physicians. but look we're going to beat this guy. We need to beat this guy. And I need you. in order to I him. You're the people I'm running for. He says he's going to he says he's going to be the retribution for his supporters. You are the reason why. America is as good as we are. We're the finest Nation the whole damn world. No 1 nobody's close and let's keep going See you at the next 1. God. Love you all. head in the North Carolina All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I want to go home with you. Thank you. All right President Biden. in a very, uh brief message to his supporters, uh with the first lady as well there. Not entirely sure. uh where this is in relation to the debate venue. You see him there. uh with the crowd chanting 4 more years. uh the first lady also doing kind of the call and repeat with the crowd about Trump. uh saying, lie. And then of course. uh you've heard maybe you haven't you've heard former or excuse me President of Biden saying that story about John Wayne dog faced pony Soldier in relation to Trump. and his alleged. and proceed lies there. so live now look there inside the Biden Harris. campaign watch party, I mean this that's what this looks like this election night. Excuse me a rather debate night watch party got ahead of myself there. So uh we do want to take our first commercial break of the hour. We wanted to bring you. that. live look that live event. That's what we do here if you're new to live now from Fox we bring you all of these events live raw and unfiltered here. We're just getting started. We're in a new our we have our panelists on standby to help us make sense. of what we all just watched their at the first presidential debate. We'll see you in 2 minutes. And welcome back here to live now from Fox. I'm Andrew craft. Thanks so much for being with us here. Let's get into more of this. post debate analysis also live spin room coverage. as well. Here. We do have President Biden. Let's take this. uh, still mingling with the crowd at the moment You can see him there after he addressed his supporters. very briefly. We have a different vantage point There he is. as well. He got there up on the stage at this debate night watch party. Uh, and so still many of his surrogates. are in the spin room defending his performance right now Alex Thompson at axios. has this observation the Biden crew is observation They're huddled together in each surrogate is making a statement for a few minutes. No 1 is taking questions, but the campaign says they will later usually. surrogate spread out. and just take questions. So right now you can see the Biden surrogates. the country. They are all. gathered right there. Gavin Newsome Raphael Hwaro Robert Garcia and others. I know the camera is unsteady. I know the signal is not the best here We do want to start this from when Governor Gavin Newsome of, California. spoke to the press This was a mere minutes ago. You see him there live. Let's just watch and associate myself with many of the comments. To me That was just daylight and darkness. I'm a little old-fashioned. I care about substance I care about policy I care about facts. Um I care about people being accountable. uh to their lives. what I saw tonight was Donald Trump. uh weakness. masquerading as straight. The guy was incapable as the senator said answering any question directly. opusc. pointing fingers. and more important than anything else. disgusted by the fact that I heard ex president of United States talk down. in American economy. talk down. United States of America. of America to the degree he did today. sir, what about the president as it relates to? president substance America Trust in economic record are just in the last 3 and a half years that 15.6 million jobs represents. times jobs in the last 3 Republican presidents combined 3% GDP growth Envy of the world C inflation tanks down 23s in economic policy and the vision for the future Bring back American. Manufacturing. That was very proud of the president. So from my humble perspective. uh, this is not about in style. This is about delivering results for the American people and tonight, I think. Joe Biden not only is asserted himself. He reminded people of his accomplishments and his vision for the future. governor if your ass would you replace Joe Biden? I think I think first of all first of all, it should be very clear. what you saw tonight was a clear. contrast. Okay, and that is the question we have been talking about for the last. now. 30 minutes. uh, governor Gavin Newsome of California. 1 of the nation's other most prominent Democrats straight up. was asked. that question if you were asked would you replace Joe Biden there on the ticket? Let's continue. uh bringing in our analysts here. Tom. lobianco with 24 site and Age again karki with the New York Post. Uh, they're with me again here. uh, Gavin Newsome was also asked. that very question. before the debate began in the spin room. I'm paraphrasing here. Uh, he Essentially said it is so difficult to be posed that question. as governor of, California. as a prominent Democrat in the Democratic party. He said it basically. shatters him to have to answer that question. He said it is an unanswerable question. I'm paraphrasing here, but that's the sentiment that many of these prominent Democrats like gnome are getting asked multiple times tonight AG. yeah, and you know 1 thing I noticed about the coordinated response to the Democrats have. Was it suggested that they had to take time? to basically calibrate? and find the message? and the reason they're all together. this debate rather than gagging separately is precisely because Biden underperformed and the reason that nome's getting asked these questions. is because the media realizes that Democrats may need a change of the top of the ticket and Newsome's giving the political answer of course saying that it's not an answerable question, but you know, I would bet money. that people are texting. Gavin Newsome right now saying that he should be the nominee. Um again this is just 1 more indication is the disaster for Democrats tonight, Okay, I want to put up this tweet from Gavin Newsome. He says Trump has been standing on the stage tonight doing nothing, but spewing lies. don't believe them you just heard him Tom you just heard Newsome say it's about substance. not style Is that a message that's going to resonate after tonight. How can how can Democrats make that? that message still after tonight, Tom. um I think watching Newsome in that Gaggle, I mean the only thing I could think about is how presidential he looked. and and and here's why I bring that up. and you generally there's a couple things that voters. will look for. Um, in in presidents the historically right? height. and aqualine nose. uh, at varying. um some freshness. here. tight and aqualine nose, uh, a bearing um some freshness here and you know, we're we're political junkies, so we're very well. familiar with uh with Newsome. he's been around for years. but this country is real so many people are looking for something other than Biden or Trump. and just watching him there the way that he distilled the official message. and it's clear that the, you know Democrats right now are working on. an official. message. coming out of this. Um, so he looks like the type of guy that would walk right into it. I don't know what the mechanics are. of replacing. somebody so late. in the process. right now. but if you're going to do it. he look he has the bar. of it, and he looked better than anybody on stage right now. All right. I want to put up this to um. as far as Trump is concerned you see Biden there still with his supporters as well. Uh, I thought that was interesting though that Biden made an appearance at this. debate watch party. Not not too far from the venue. Um we can get into you know, the signals or the messaging that that sends as well here, but uh, Stephanie lie at Bloomberg, uh saying this, Trump is not planning on attending the watch party to give remarks following the debate that's according to a senior adviser to Stephanie lie, uh, he's currently planning. on going home. Let's talk about the debate particulars. right now I just want to remind the viewers that. per some of the restrictions put on the eclipse of the debate that we can show. by CNN we can't do it. until 90 minutes after the debate. has ended so we will do that at the top of the next hour. but let's talk about some of the themes and the narratives besides. President Biden's performance here. you know in 2020. Trump had a record. when they went on that first debate together Biden didn't have a presidential record. They went into tonight and they both had. a record. uh to mirror 1 another with and to face off with here. when you want to talk about the themes of the debate Did it not seem like that could have been a debate that was held in 2020. I mean the messaging the anecdotes the stories the news items that were brought up. almost. exclusively in purely were from the Trump. presidency. and 2020 as well the pandemic January 6th. Charlotte. It it seemed like we were 4 years back in time. Tom. Yeah, I mean look, you know look for Biden you you saw it to the extent he was able to get to those points. That's what he was aiming for and it really was you know, as I wrote over the our 247 newsletter earlier today. Um it that was really a lot like I rewatched the uh, the first presidential debate in 2020. um yesterday and it's that sounded a lot like Biden's line of attack. back then. of course back then he was 4 years younger. He had a lot more energy. and it was fresh on everybody's Minds because we were living it. Um, I don't know. that going back in a time machine. works for this. now, I will say the 1 Thing. I mean you have to watch especially with Trump, but really for the both of them. you got to watch their reactions on things and you know big, you know, I used to work with Dana Bash at CNN and Tapper. Um, big props to Dana Bash for pressing the questions repeatedly and especially on January. 6th and will you accept? the results of the election? and I'm not sure that that that's certainly not in the past and that has a lot to do with Trump himself. you know bringing this up to rallies. repeatedly, you know talking about people who attacked the capitals quote unquote political prisoners and you know allegedly peaceful. Um, so that might stick but the rest of it Charlottesville I mean, there's people who are engaged in the political process now, who are back, you know, they were in grade school. when that happened. Yeah, so yeah. Yeah agent to to that point though. Did you hear anything about the next for you years? No, I mean this is a a debate that was pretty much. devoid of a future. Um it it felt like you know like you both are saying that basically was a 2020 rerun. Um, leftovers. and you know that that's something that I don't think is going to work. to bring uh voters over to either of these camps. I mean this felt like something mean you know Biden was attempting to plead his base Trump was doing the Trump thing. but you know neither of them. articulated a coherent message for the next 4 years. Um Trump obviously. went from half-truth to half-truth. um, pretty much with impunity. given the structure of the debate. and you know President Biden, didn't even really talk about his record over the last 4 years. Yeah. Um, so you know when you when you look at in that context um, that was 1 of the big disappointments of the debate. Okay, is that neither candidate? Uh, plotted away for him? Okay, Um, let's uh go out to the spin room yet again. here. We have some Republican Trump surrogates including congresswoman Elise stefonek. Let's watch questions on energy so I think the debate questions covered. a broad range of policies that people are concerned about right now. And what was most important were the answers we saw. Joe Biden trying to point fingers Joe Biden also lied and very much about uh, the failures of this Administration. president Trump talked about many of his policy accomplishments. uh compared to Joe Biden who just has created chaos with his wide open border with this war in American Energy Independence or his very weak foreign policy that has heard our national security. How does seeing the tonight I'm honored to have my name in the mix. I'm proud to be a good friend of President Trump. and the first member of Congress to endorse his re-election in 2024. Uh most most importantly I'm the representative for New York's 21st congressional district, so I'm proud to give my constituents to see that the highest level. uh, they support president Trump. uh, and I'm proud to be a surrogate and I've said I'd be honored to serve in a future Trump Administration, but I am focused every day on making sure he wins this November. How do you think he is? Um I think swing voters. they haven't. do some uh, I think governor Newsome's here to check to see if like Joe Biden still has a pulse anymore. He's a pretty opportunistic guy who wants to be president and right now the Democrats are are in a state of free fall. representative campaign has collapsed Biden campaign has collapsed. disintegrated. Joe Biden is clearly a man in Decline. He is in a campaign. in Decline, unfortunately. he is leading a country. in Decline. So if we want to restore hope and promise back to people we've got to get president Trump back in the White House and the best way to get the Trump policies. Mr. President Trump. Joe Biden didn't look like a man who was in convey command of the country. or the facts or his own campaign or the debate and like this is after Joe Biden retreated. to a log cabin in the woods for a week to get constantly drilled meanwhile president Trump was out on the road. campaigning in swing States carrying his message directly to the voters America deserves an energetic President. we get that in president Trump and with president. Biden, it's more like a Silver Alert. than an energetic president. Decided voters, right? a lot of those voters that I talked to you say I'm not showing up Anyway, I'm going to stay home. to this performance tonight? Vince these voters It's a great point. president Trump will secure the Border He will save our economy. He will restore our standing in the world and he will end the wars I think that's what voters want in both political parties and no matter what Joe Biden's campaign says you saw a man who cannot execute on anything he could not execute on presidential Vision he could barely execute. pre-planned pre-canned lines in the debate. So I would encourage folks here in Georgia if you want to see these interest rates come down if you want to be able to buy a home if you want your place of Worth to be growing. and not Contracting you need to get out and vote for a president earlier today. We talked to Governor Brian Kemp and I asked him. Hey look, there are people who might like Trump's policies, but they do not like him. They don't like his character. They don't like he represents. They don't feel like it's a person that their kids can look up to Can he get around that his character flaws that some people feel like he has I saw someone on stage tonight. displaying a focus. and a seriousness. that ought to really reassure those voters. reassure them that he's going to fight for them. president Trump's policies. improved quality of life for people even people who didn't agree with him saw a bigger paychecks they saw cheaper gas. They saw their purchasing power go farther at the grocery store and when they were paying for electricity, and so you don't have to like President Trump to vote for him. You just forget about the things that you don't like. well, you just have to like yourself. if voters if voters care about their own economic conditions. their own safety their own Hope for a better future for the country. than they should vote for president Trump. Thank you. All right, So, uh both congresswoman, Elise stefonek and Congressman Matt gaetz there. uh kind of stumping and vouching for their preferred candidate, of course. former president Donald Trump. uh in the meantime here, let's continue with some of our post debate analysis here at least thionic tweeting this out from her page. She said tonight, president Donald J Trump proved the entire nation. why he is the only presidential candidate. who will save America. Congratulations. real Donald Trump on delivering a powerful. America first message. and dominating tonight's debate. We're also hearing from a former. presidential candidate himself Andrew Yang. He says this. look I debated Joe 7 times. in 2020. He's a different guy. in 2024 hashtag swap Joe out. We're also hearing from former Biden Administration officials as well. Eli Stoke holds there at Politico quoting. Kate betting Kate betting field, Uh is Biden's former. White House communications director betting field says this it was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden. I don't think there's any other way to slice it. his biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy. the stamina. and he didn't. do that. I'm struck by that. I mean that is Kate Bedingfield not even a year ago. She was in the Biden White House. She said that tonight. Um, Tom AG kind of doubts me in my tracks right there. I don't mean to be hyperbolic about this. that is Kate Bedingfield saying that about President Biden's debate performance Kate Bedingfield worked for President Biden. Not more than a year ago. AG. Yeah, um that that was really striking because You know. you hear people you hear Democrats, basically expressing these centers in private. Kate betting field is saying it in public. um that is a big deal. and um, what she is saying many other Democrats are thinking right now. um, you know President Biden's um, got to figure out a way to recalibrate from this and he's got to figure out quickly. I know it gets in North Carolina for a rally tomorrow. Um, he's got a little campaign. stops, but the question is going to haunt him. uh for weeks to come up until the Democratic National Convention. is this debate performance. Um, and betting field is not the only 1 that's going to be raising these questions. We'll see who actually raises them publicly. We'll see what happens with the op-ed writers. Um, I know Nicholas Kristoff, basically said something expressed similar concerns about Biden in New York Times column, um, these are people that you would expect to be on side for the president. and they're raising. real issues right now. Um again, is it was a bad night for Joe Biden? um that goes without saying, okay, and Tom I want to get this to you. I've been asking this question now for the last 2 days depending on how tonight went Would there be the september debate do we have an answer? Do you think to that question now? uh in theory Maybe? Tom? Yeah, if you're the Biden campaign, you don't want to showing up again like that. Um you know going right back to the betting field there. Biden's operation is 1 of the tightest. and most loyal. and longest running political operations okay. and you don't see a lot of people break off like that. and That's really the betting field comment on the record is just astounding here. Um you know, what, do you would would would find show up on the debate stage? in septembar? Um, so much of this race. has been diffuse. There have been these, massive moments throughout. I mean Trump. the former president of the United States. was convicted of the 34 felonies. the son of a sitting president of the United States was convicted. just a few weeks later. a federal gun charges that was brought up Just once in the debate I want to add that that was only brought up once we were we were told by The Binding camp. that the Trump felony convictions were going to be a key feature of tonight once I so many huge things. I mean, these huge all. historic. every take all of them. every 1 of these is so historic. and the country so much the country is still tuned out from this and so the the run-up to this debate was all about how here's a singular moment. where people will tune back in? and you tune back in? and you see this? and you know again we have to see what the numbers are coming out of this. but if that bears out, I mean through a simal cast. uh through all the the the collected. mass media attention on it if that bears out. It looks terrible. for Biden and I I don't see how he should he's he's got to survive the convention first like AG was saying. it's there's just way too many questions, right? now. Sure. So let's let's set the timetable and the calendar so to speak July 11th. uh former president Trump will be sentenced. We'll find out what that is, July 15th the RNC starts. uh, and then I believe the second week of August the DNC starts there. in Chicago Also september 10th. That's the date for the next presidential debate the final 1. We're told at least for now. on ABC News. Um, so that's kind of the calendar for the remainder of the summer It is a long general election cycle you and I you guys and I have discussed that all the time. Ad nauseam here. But I want to get back to the debate performance. Biden and Trump. Let's talk about Trump's performance. as well here. Let's talk about you know to what Matt gaetz said was that a stable presence there. on the stage from watching it for the last 90 minutes here. It seemed like both of these candidates. Were me were Meandering. were were incoherent each. response. had like 3 or 4 different. subjects or issues or topic. they they went from coid to January 6th. to the Border. uh back to abortion like all in 1 answer. a and so it was very hard. personally for me to to keep track and to follow the through line. in each response because they jumped from topic to topic to topic. so many times that was both Trump and Biden AG, right. Did you notice that it was somewhat incoherent? uh, yeah, I mean that that was my take too and a lot of that is Trump's communic. So you see him at the rallies and he jumps from 1 thing to another and he did that during the debate. and it it felt like for a lot of the debate he was kind of sparring with Biden trying to figure him out. Um, but yeah, I mean. and that kind of comes back to what Gates said about the appeal to the swing voters. Um, I don't think Trump. gave the kind of performance that would reassure swing voters. You know, who saw what happened on January 6th. Um, who saw what happened during the last year of his presidency especially um, the the way he handled the pandemic and everything else. I don't see those voters coming over because you know, Trump talked about probably the best economy ever. the economy was slowing down before the pandemic. Um, that's that's the reality of it. the first the last 2 quarters before Co 19 hit you're seeing a Slowdown in the economy. Um, so these things that that Gates pointed to is kind of wish casting a little bit and you know that that was basically a thing Trump needed to win over some people who might have been. put off of him in 2020. Um, I don't think he especially did that, but I'm really curious about seeing some swing State polling. uh in the next few days. I'm sure we will see. okay a few polls They'll tell those stories and those states that actually are in play those 7 States or so. Yeah, you know, um, we can talk about whether or not that was my question. in the week leading up to the debate, you know with the with this move the needle at all. for any Americans who are on the fence who are undecided who may self-style and self-register as independents. for those double haters this uh new word in the political. lexicon for the whole year. uh, you know, were they moved today? to 1 side or the other or did the resignation just seep in even further here? You know, I want to talk about this. this phenomenon and there's not much data to back it up, but in the last few presidential Cycles incumbents have lost first debates. so let's talk about that Tom. Um, I'm referring to the 2012 debate. with Obama and Mitt Romney even the 2020 debate with Trump and Biden that first 1 here. do incumbents do poorly. in first debates in the in And if so, did we see that tonight? Well, I mean that it would certainly make sense in the context of 2012. Um 2020 was such a just an entirely different Beast. you being in the lockdown in the middle of the pandemic and the you know, that being such a singular Focus, I mean, really in contrast to to tonight where you know, we kind of got everything everywhere all at once. I mean the only thing missing was corporate off. from all this um, it's you know it was like but 12 that's that's a fascinating corollary there. Um, but again, I don't know because You know this is Biden is the oldest. that you know. going into re-election would be the oldest. sitting president. if he wins re-election continues to be I think about this like a like a like budgets, you know, or you know, the you you you count it inflate or into budgets and you know, the politician goes out and cover Governors and presidents for decades now and that, you know, they always go out there and they say they got the most money out of there out of anything well age in this case is like a standard. inflator. Okay, because it's they're each 1 is always the is the the newest 1 in this case and not not by any kind of meritocracy here. Um, I just can't shake this feeling though that um and that was remarkably that okay. Um, let's let's put up some more of this reaction. we're getting from Nikki Haley. as well. Of course, she knows her. way around presidential primary politics. She says mark my words Biden will not be the Democrat. nominee Republicans. get your guard. up here. Uh, so as you guys know after debates the metrics are so hard to determine who won who lost there's obviously a general consensus. forming here, and we're going to let the viewers ultimately make that call make that decision. They watched it alongside us here. Um, but that question you know, metrically speaking is so hard to determine is it not I mean, yes, there's going to be exit polls about the debate and we can see how some of them match up here. but in the immediate aftermath we don't want to make that determination do we I mean as journalists here, we're we're we're telling everyone what we saw alongside them AG. Yeah, I mean. we're we're not going to call the debate in terms of saying who won and who lost and realistically both political operations are filling all of our inboxes. saying that they won. Um, but yeah, I mean this is this is 1 that that felt like it left collateral. damage for for Biden. Um you know the argument is that Trump do enough to actually capitalize on that. that that is the open question. but you know, I expect Republicans to be pushing the narrative for the next few weeks. Um like Haley is to expect the change the top of the ticket. Oh and that's when every Democrat we talked to is going to have to respond to you. Okay, every time we get interview with the leading Democrats. Give me that question. All right, that's not a question you want. uh when you basically circumvented a primary process um for the second straight cycle. um to ensure that you have Joe Biden in the top of the ticket. All right you guys, let's take a quick commercial break Stay with us. We have a lot more to get to I'm Andrew craft. Thanks so much for being with us here. We'll see everyone there in 2 minutes. And welcome back here to live now from Fox, Uh, I'm Andrew craft. Thanks so much for being with us here. We want to thank you for joining us as we simulcast the CNN presidential debate. Uh, and for the next hour and 20 minutes we're going to be diving into that debate breaking down some of the key highlights of the the political considerations in question. now at play in this election year, We're going to continue to do that with my friends. Tom lobianco at 24 site and age again karki there at the New York Post. Um, I want to pose this question. as well about some of the attack lines Trump and Biden used on the issues themselves. We know going in. that President Biden and his camp. were keenly focused. on abortion blaming Donald Trump for overturning roie Wade They had a very very lengthy peroration back and forth. on the abortion. question. who won in that segment of the debate on the abortion issue, or was it a draw Did we get anything out of that Because they kept going back and forth. about when life started. what you would do with restrictions. and it went on and on and on so much so that they had to move on to other issues here. Was it substantive at all or Meandering and incoherent Tom? yeah, it's well, I'll tell you. it, you know. Trump actually gave a a pretty solid answer their. with he did you know, he was very good at dodging the questions. He didn't want to talk about. but clearly he didn't want to talk about that 1 and he was asked about the blocking the abortion pill and he said no He said he wouldn't. and you know those are the types of simple. clean and clear. answers. that. could potentially. you know, depending upon how they're packaged. you know, actually Pierce the veil with voters, especially people who are checked out. opinion and the flip side of that of course is that you know, Biden had that terrible answer we he kept on confused. trimesters and doctors and women and just all over the place with that abortion issue, which you know should be noted is the exact. flip of what they had in 2020 because in 2020 he clobbered. Trump with abortion and this is 1 Ami Coney. Barrett was up for a nomination. um after Ginsburg died. Um, so yeah and again, that's the type of thing which should have been a softball. for the Democratic nomination for the sitting president. and just just whiffed on it that that was my question, you know shouldn't that have been a slam dunk that issue? for Biden but EG to Trump's response. I thought was striking as well. it's up to the States now. Everyone has wanted it to be left up to the States now. ever since Roe v Wade was decided in 1973 for 50 plus years. all the experts. He said. thought it should have been left up to the states and then he said you need to follow your heart on this issue the abortion issue AJ you've covered. the Republican party so closely there in Florida, especially evangelicals of that community. What do you think? They thought when they heard? Donald Trump say on the issue of abortion You just need to file your heart and it's up to the States now deal with it. AG. Yeah, I mean the the evangelicals have been. with Trump. in in poll after poll in election after election including this primary cycle. so, I don't know how tuned in they were specific to what Trump said. but I I thought his formulation there was striking. talking about how everybody wanted to reverted to the states. Um, I don't know who everybody is. in this context. Um, you know the fact that we've got a patchwork of abortion laws we've got places where people have to travel across the country to get the procedure when they need it. here in Florida You've got a ban on the procedure after 6 weeks. of gestation. which is before many women even is they're pregnant. Um, so there's a lot wrong with the way Donald Trump handle that question. but if he can find a way for us to cycle to talk about averts his States, you know, talk about how basically you know Laboratories of democracy approach. Maybe that'll work for him the reality is Trump was the architect of the Supreme Court. that did uh overturn Roe versus Wade. and um, ultimately Congress could pass the law if it wanted to okay, um, but as we know Congress doesn't want to in this issue, We've seen it for 50 years Well, that was the other thing too that I thought was so striking you know, Biden was trying to DARE Trump and engage with him and say, you know, if your president again, there's going to be a federal ban and Trump essentially said no, there's not I'm paraphrasing here. We're going to get the clip at the top of the hour and so it seemed like the issue of abortion going into the debate. the Biden and the Democrats had that in their back pocket and maybe you know the ultimate kind of conclusion on that. particular issue is that they fumbled with that. we'll we'll we'll play the the clip at the top of the hour. Like I said so so we can get more on the record with it, but we're going to be talking about so many of the issues that were discussed at the debate you guys have got to pose this to you. Uh, we're just learning this, Uh, let's put this tweet up here. darling Superville. She covers the White House for the Associated Press. comma Harris said Biden had a slow start. in the debate with Trump that's Mark Democratic worries, but had a strong finish Kamala Harris. I'm being told just said that on CNN Biden had a slow start. but a strong finish we know that's his vice president. you know depending on whether or not she is, right. Are you surprised? that so many Democrats are being this forthcoming about his perceived? performance tonight, Tom? That sounds like softening for sure. Um, but you know real quick. What do you mean by that Tom? What what is s for the viewers? softening the um, the the formal message here, but but real quick. Let me just get back to what Trump said. on an abortion because this is really important. Okay, and you know the covered evangelicals for a while and I wrote about this the Pence book. it was for 50 years It was not about sending it back to the States for 50 years for the pro-life movement and for anti-abortion and conservatives. It was about ending a portion. because it's a matter of life and death that you know, ideologically speaking That was that was the movement and it and it worked so he's he's just wrong on that 1 um, but here to the comma Harris. uh comment. that sounds like the distillation of the freak out and you know again to the unity of and and really goes, you know, show how Stark the cave Bedingfield quote was earlier. um to the Democratic freakout underway. Um, this is a softening of that. messaging and an attempt to try to massage it. forward so that you kind of have an exit out of this I mean, it's it's pretty remarkable to watch this all happening in real time. right now. AG what are your thoughts on on this comment re most recently? from Harris briefly we do have uh, Senator JD Vance there. in the spin room. Um, yeah, um Harris's comments got to be really concerning. That's not what you want to do to say. All right. uh, let's listen to more comments there in the spin room. uh some more of these surrogates let's watch all right, looks like Ohio Republican senator JD Vance. on the Trump VIP short list. Let's listen. Absolutely. and there are a lot of things. we've made a lot of money off of the decline of this country. You don't like them, but I think that they're a lack of endorsement is the best endorsement. because look at those guys were all on the team. it would suggest that he was not going to keep this for promises the fact of some of the worst people in American government don't like Donald Trump as a very solid endorsement or let me just take the Mike Pence issue. uh, very directly head on if Donald Trump wanted to start a nuclear war with Russia. I guarantee Mike has to be down. the fact that Donald Trump is the candidate for peace and prosperity. is why some of these people here? I think this is where their is bad, but he hired do you think what do you make Look, I think Donald Trump will be the first person to say that he came in the Politics as a newcomer and he knows a lot more the second time around. Why the first term as successful as what? But it also we have to remember unlike Joe Biden when people screwed up Donald Trump was willing to fire him. There are people in the media who try to treat that as somehow. a problem of Donald Trump when people screw up. they should get fired whether they're in the government or the private sector I think that's a good thing for Trump. Have you been told whether or not you would be if I have not been told that Not really. No. No not really. What do you mean? I mean look, it's obviously it's the thing that's out there and it's the thing that I see media reports on but I talked directly with Donald Trump about it. No, I talked to him actually yesterday. we talked about the debate for a while we talked about. uh, some of the things that I thought Joe Biden was saying and we talked to him about the election about some Senate races that he has an interest in I didn't talk about vice president water. I'll let Donald Trump make that decision. I'm glad I don't have to make it. all right Senator JD Vance the Republican there from Ohio. um wanted to make sure we got that in. as well here. Uh, I'm Andrew Kraft. Thanks for being with us. We're uh, uh coming to the top of the next hour very quickly, but I still have with me our friends agent carski and Tom lobianco. Uh, we're going to speak to them. Excuse me through the top of the hour here. a lot of these beep Stakes candidates Tom they are in the spin room. Uh, they are talking to reporters traveling with former president Trump. They're in toe with Trump. I want to put this short list up here. What is this question mean Tom? after tonight? Oh, that's a great question. Yeah, I do wonder about um, how much this changes the calculus? on, you know who Trump would be looking for? I'm not I'm not really sure it does an awful lot because so much of this. vep Stakes process. has been about an entirely different Dynamic than adding. electorally. Um, you hear a lot of concern behind the scenes about loyalty. about Trump still being feeling burned by Mike Pence, you know, rightly or wrongly Um, it's the way he feels about it and again he is the only person make at the end of the day making this decision. and it has been a long running process at this point. Um, but it's it's really fascinating to watch. each. potential running mate in real time. They're on the floor. You can kind of see their strengths and weaknesses. you know Advanced has been a very good uh distiller of what Trump is, you know, you know meant to say or it was alleged. meaning to say it's ironically some it's a job that Pence used to fill to great effect. Um, bergam earlier. really sounded a little tripped up by the question. Um, the 1 of the problems that I've heard with Tim Scott and it's why he's not in the top tier anymore. is that he's had trouble. breaking out of his talking points. He's still a little bit too stiff. And so you saw him back to back there. with Ben Carson and you know Carson who? 1 of the sleepiest deliveries you could ever hear from a politician. but was distilling. what a lot of the Trump people were talking about. I mean if you listen to the substance of it and perhaps the more important Dynamic here is that he is among that. group. the most uniquely non-threatening. Okay candidate. Politically speaking. Okay, so AG, um, you're based in Florida you report so heavily on Florida politics. There's a lot of Florida politicos a lot of Florida Republicans on that list. Uh, let's talk about some of them. Let's talk if they have a chance at all of being picked here and let's talk about timing. Uh, because we're talking about some of the tangential atmospheric storylines. aside from the debate and the performances themselves here the vep stakes is also alive and well AG let's talk about some of the Florida members on that list, but also the timing there's been some reports that this pick this Choice could be coming sooner rather than later maybe before Khan. convention AG Yeah, they were they were teasing that and I think part of the calculus of teasing that was. That you know Trump might have needed to make good news coming out of his debate, I think the way that things went tonight. Um mitigates against that but when I look at at those Florida people on the VP short list, uh, Senator Rubio, I don't know if he's an organic fit, obviously he'd be good for reaching out to Hispanic community at least in theory. but you know people you got to remember back in 2016. Rubio and Trump sparred, very heavily. um during the primary um, some say that Trump hasn't completely forgotten that but Susie Wilds, um 1 of uh, the key advisors 1 Trump likes Rubio, so he's still in the mix. based on that as much as anything. Um, Byron Donald's he's done some surrogate work this week. Um, he was in Atlanta. uh with Wesley hunt from, Texas with a couple of events. Um, I don't know if if Donald's is there ironically the best, Florida man for the ticket would probably be Rhonda sis. um, but Ron Sans is repeatedly said that he doesn't want to be the number 2 to Trump. but you know what I went on Twitter during your commercial break and I looked I saw the Sansa trending and he's not trending because he did anything special today. Oh, wow is trending because people want him on the ticket they say Trump could do 4 years the Sans could do 8 and um, that would be a Way Forward. and I'm wondering if those discussions are going to happen. Okay? Um, so the longer we wait, uh to see Trump make a pick the more it could be an outlier pick. Yeah, we just uh, saw President Biden leave this room. He stayed there that long. I mean, that's what President Biden does I covered his primary campaign. a little bit in 2020. He's 1 of the last people to leave. these events. talking to his supporters. talking to the crowd there gathered to watch the debate. Uh, alongside him. So I wanted to make sure we got that in there we do have JD Vance. still speaking there in the spin room. right now. as well here, You know what we're talking about. 10 story lines. uh to this debate you guys, uh, I would be Miss if I didn't bring up Robert F Kennedy Jr. What he was doing tonight. what his candidacy? means? after a night like tonight? uh, he had to sit down interview with Dr. Phil. Uh, we have 1 of those sound bites. Let's play that quickly third party candidates are not successful. So are you the exception and if not, what's the endgame? What's your ultimate goal Can you win? I wouldn't be running if I didn't think I could win? You know, we're in a unique. time in American history now where we have the 2 least popular candidates running. we have between 70 and 80% of the American public saying they don't want that choice. that they want a different choice. I'm in a position. though in independent candidate a has been in history and all the polls that have shown me in a 2-way raise. against President Trump. Show me beating him. all the polls that show me in a 2-way race. against President Biden show me beating him in a landslide and you know, this dog be pole is the biggest poll taken and it shows me beating president Biden and I had to raise winning. 39 states and him only winning 11, I I'd be president Trump on a very very narrow margin. um, but President Biden can't beat him. and there's never been an independent candidate who's been in that strong position before do you think? All right, so I wanted to make sure we got that a piece of sound in there. We'll have to kind of fact check RFK Jr. On some of those polls. that he cited there, but the RFK Jr. Question now. waking up tomorrow We know what it was going into the debate. Tom nag. We know the Biden and Trump camps. successfully. neutralize the RFK. question at this debate because he wasn't on the debate stage There was criteria put out. not only by CNN but but I believe by the FEC as well This is the criteria you had to make by June 20th. If not, you can't appear on the debate stage as well. So RFK Juniors Camp didn't meet that criteria. This was the counter programming tonight. Uh, Tom I'll start with you first Where does the RFK Junior question go after a night like tonight? well, I mean like when you're talking about. and this reminds me of other third-party candidates in the past. you know when you're talking about if things were different in this war a head-to-head, you know, he would win. Um that tends to be a losing argument if things were different, um, you know 1 of the key, you know re things that you had to do to make the debate stage was make it on to enough balance in all the different states to be able to achieve an actual Victory 270 electoral votes and he didn't do that. And so, you know, Saw some time. He could do that. Um, but the mechanics are not there for it. Um now does he get a fresh look after this? possibly? I mean, after Biden's performance there, you know. so much is up in the air. Um, but he would have to change a lot here. you know the weirdness of this campaign. that the a strange relationship with Nicole Shanahan. um, you know, the um, the breeding birds um, the black birds and all this stuff. Um, it it does feel Um, that There has been that. decline going into this very serious. stretch of the the campaign but you know if there is a moment this would be the moment to capitalize on it. Yeah. I just recognizing some of the faces in there and the spin room. I saw the author Michael Wolff. As well. He's written. several books on the Trump Administration and the Trump campaign from 2016 and 2020 I believe AG to that question though. Um some of these Trump surrogates are saying Biden's campaign. imploded. after tonight. What does that say about RFK Juniors chances He has a long way to go He hasn't even gotten on the ballots of more than half of the states Not even 10, I believe. Yes, there are efforts underway to collect signatures. and do that with respect to his campaign. but we got 5 months left till November the 5th here. is RFK Jr. Full steam ahead after tonight. watching Biden and Trump or is it going to be? status quo for him. Do you think I think he continues to decline, uh, 1 thing That Biden and Trump campaigns have done. very well. is to find RFK as being outside of the mainstream. of American politics. Um 1 of the issues that RFK is that he makes statements that are complete outliers compared to where normal people are. and they kind of add up so I I think in the grand tradition of every third candidate we've seen with the possible exception of Ross Pro in 1992. Um, you know, he's he's not going to get above his current level. He's not going to be on the debate stage. He's not going to be an alternative for Democrats. Um, Democrats if if they want an alternative to Joe Biden, they're gonna have to solve with their convention because you know, Robert F Kennedy Jr. Is not the 1 and he's not going to get enough ballots. Um at any point with the operation that's got going now. to to get to 270. It's just not going to happen. all right, So, uh we can't thank you guys enough. Tom. Loiano a AGI we we still have some live pictures there. inside the spin room. It looks uh that a lot of people have left already we do have live pictures as well. uh there in Washington at the US Capitol also there in Washington. uh at the White House as well. We're about 60 seconds out from being able to play some of the clips from the debate. Uh, so Tom and agie if you would indulge us, we're going to take a break at 05 here. We're going to play 1 clip uh, and we want to get you to respond. It was the 1 mm. Uh, where you heard Biden call Trump a convicted felon. and then almost in the same breath Trump brought up the hunter Biden conviction. as well here, So we're going to play that is there anything that we can expect that is going to change the nature of this race? I know we're talking. theoretically that. Democrats are in freakout mode. There's a lot of talk about do they need to replace? Biden at the top of the ticket if that is an operative question. who essentially? would that name be? Does that? question snowball into the DNC? top? Yes, well. before we do that. I want Andrew. props to you man, because you have repeatedly said before this and I've been on here and shot it down. and it was probably thinking I'm probably wrong now. you've repeatedly said would Trump. would Biden be replaced and I don't think anybody because if we're seeing this of performance at the debate. Um, you nailed it, man, I only have posed I only have posed that question just for the viewers. I've only pose that question. because I've covered presidential campaigns. I've covered primary Cycles. I I thought I was just looking for an interesting moment. historically in an otherwise. very anodin very Bland. primary cycle. So maybe just for the drama because a lot of people who follow politics so closely. they want something we got 4 and a half months left till November So I I want to just stipulate I wasn't asking that you know to be some conspiratorial crank, but maybe to your point. hindsight is 20 20 Tom, uh, the question is now a little more relevant AG. Yeah, um. it is definitely a relevant question. and you know that this is not to take away the Democrats wandered from this debate at all. Um, but it it raises the Pandora's box of questions. uh about Joe Biden about who's running the White House Um all these questions you don't want um and I think every policy moved that the administration makes through the elections going to be seen through to prison of tonight's debate. because I don't think it happens again in septembar. Um, so this is going to leave a lasting impression. We've seen some debates that are kind of ephemeral people forget about them as soon as they happen This will not be 1 of Them. Okay, So, uh like I said, I can't thank you guys enough. We are in a new hour before we let you go. We do want to play for you 1 of these clips from the debate. We're now going in this new our my colleague. Austin Westfall, and I we're going to be breaking down some of these clips. Let's watch our first 1 before we go to break then we'll let you guys go. Uh, this is the kind of felon part back and forth. Let's listen. the only person at this stage is a convicted felon this man I'm looking at right now. and the fact of the matter is he isn't he's what he's telling you is simply not true. The fact is that there was no effort on his part to stop what was going on. up in Capitol Hill and all those people. every 1 of those that are convicted. deserves to be convicted. the idea that they didn't kill somebody. just went in and broke down doors broke the windows. occupied officers turned over desk Turned them over statues the idea that those people are patriots. Come on. when I asked him the first 2 Debs we had the debates we had first time around. I said. will you denounce the proud boys? He said no, I'll tell them to stand by. the idea. He's refusing. it will we denounce these guys? We denounce the people we're talking about now. you denounce the people who attack that capital? What are you going to do? I'm going to give you a a minute president Trump for a follow-up question I have um after a jury convicted you of 34 felonies last month, you said if re-elected you would quote. have every right to go after unquote your political opponents. you just talked about. members of the select committee on January 6th going to jail. your main political opponent is standing on stage with you tonight Can you clarify exactly what it means about you feeling you have every right to go after your political opponents. Well I said my retribution is going to be success. We're going to make this country successful again because right now it's a failing Nation. my retribution is going to be a success. but when he took about a convicted felony His son is a convicted felon. at a very high level His son is convicted going to be convicted probably. numerous other times. should have been convicted before but his justice department. let the statute of limitations lapse on the most important things but he could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office Joe could be a convicted fellow with all of the things that he's done. He's done horrible things. All right to bring in Tom and AG back in just lastly here. This goes to my point. these exchanges. There's so much in there just in that 1 felony conviction in the Trump hush money payments case. Hunter Biden's hush January 6th retribution as a theme for Trump's campaign political retribution political persecution, Charlottesville. Virginia, and the proud boys that was in that Exchange. as well. It was also 1 of the only exchanges where I think Biden, you know directly turned. and confronted Trump. we didn't see that. a lot there. so these exchanges have so much in them and it's really hard. to figure out where to start EG. What did you see in that Exchange? did for the Biden folks? the felony conviction line? land or not, or did it flounder? I I don't think it landed because Trump prepared for it a trump realized was coming. and he had a counter and that it's it's been litigated. in no pun intended to death already. Um, what the exchange suggested to me is a viewer in watching it a second time. is that you know. the historical moment may have moved past both of these. candidates. um talking about all these. historical issues and all this dirt and all of these things. You know kind of wonder if you know both parties couldn't use New Blood, I mean that was the case Rhonda sis made when he ran. Nikki Haley made that we need to move on from Trump's drama, Obviously the primaries are over there. but you know between Trump and Biden, um, we've got a lot of history and a lot of exhaustion frankly. Yeah, the and the future arguments to your point kind of playing out in that clip there Tom final word. Yeah. well Trump's answer their. a classic trumpism. and I think really gets to a lot of the frustration that voters have with him and in particular. their you know. on 1 hand. He he's about to get pinned on saying which he did say that he wants. political retribution. He wants Vengeance on his political opponents if he gets back into office. and it's it's kind of a microcosm of how he talks about things. It's at first he steps back from it and says no, I didn't really mean that I meant success. will be retribution. and then he hints that maybe there won't be retribution. says Joe Biden when you leave office. you're going to get convicted of something you're going to get convicted. and what was remarkable about that is this is the same kind of talk. that led so many people to attack the capital. I mean you go on January. 6th when you read through those court cases and you listen to the people who were rightly convicted. for attacking police officers smashing their heads into the ground. splashing blood. all over the capital. Um, stealing things stealing laptops things that no normal person can do or at least hope to do without getting convicted. Um, they were driven there and this is what they testify to they were driven there. by Trump repeatedly saying these terrible things happened the election was stolen from him. but he himself. did not do it. He himself did not go down there as we as We Know. Yeah. really a microcosm of him in that answer. Yeah, definitely, uh the issue of January 6 that that singular event. uh in recent American history and Biden and Trump, so wildly Divergent on where they fall on that seminal moment. agent carski with the New York Post, Tom leviano there at 24 sight can't thank you guys enough for staying on more than an hour. as we uh, kind of relit it and and analyze so much. of this debate and we'll talk soon. You guys can't thank you enough. Have a good night. Thank you. All right in the meantime here, like I said, we're in a new our uh, we have devoted this hour to now that we can. show you some of these moments these clips these highlights from the first presidential debate. We're going to take a quick commercial break our first 1 of the our my colleague and my friend also Westfall will be up here in the anchor chair. I'll be in The Newsroom. We'll be going back and forth Toe to Toe, uh, making sense of these clips. Maybe you haven't seen them yet. And this is your first time maybe you want to watch them again. You're going to get that opportunity when we come back.