--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Welcome to Today Explained. I'm Sean Rameswaram.
--:-- Noel King: And I'm Noel King.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Today, we're talking about the Democratic debates. Vox's Ella Nilsen covered the debates for Vox, and she's here to hit the highlights.
--:-- Ella Nilsen: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, let's start with the basics. How many candidates were on stage, and how many nights of debates were there?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: There were 20 candidates, and two nights of debates. Night one was a bit of a mess, with technical difficulties and a crowd that refused to hold their applause.
--:-- Noel King: And how many candidates can you name from memory?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: [laughs] Oh, yeah. I think I can name them all. Night one: de Blasio, Inslee, Warren, Booker, Klobuchar, Tim Ryan, Tim Ryan, Tim Ryan, Beto O'Rourke, Beto O'Rourke, Castro, and then... [pauses] I think that's eight. Am I missing someone?
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: [laughs] That's impressive.
--:-- Ella Nilsen: [laughs] And night two: Williamson, Yang, Swalwell, Bennett, Bernie, Biden, Biden, Harris, Gillibrand, Buttigieg, Buttigieg, Hickenlooper, and... [pauses] I'm a scientist, so let's start with the policy-focused night.
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--:-- Ella Nilsen: So, right out of the gate, it was clear to me that NBC and MSNBC were treating Elizabeth Warren as the front runner of that night. And she's number two or number three in the polls right now around Bernie Sanders lead.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what were some of the highlights of the first big Democratic debate?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: One of the big ideas was Elizabeth Warren's proposal for universal education and getting rid of student debt. She talked about how she benefited from a government program that helped her go to college.
--:-- Noel King: And how did the other candidates respond to her proposals?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: There was a big debate about immigration, and Julian Castro really distinguished himself by calling for the repeal of Section 1325, which makes it a federal crime to be an unauthorized immigrant in the United States.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And how did the other candidates respond to that?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: Some of them, like Castro, supported repealing the section, while others, like O'Rourke, did not.
--:-- Noel King: And what about the second night of debates?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: The second night was a bit more contentious, with a shouting match between the candidates over immigration policy.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And how did Kamala Harris stand out in that debate?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: Harris really landed a punch when she talked about her own experience with busing as a child, and how it affected her.
--:-- Noel King: And how did Joe Biden respond to that?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: Biden tried to defend his record on busing, but it didn't quite work out for him.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what about Eric Swalwell's attack on Biden?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: Swalwell's attack on Biden was a bit more lighthearted, but it still got a reaction out of Biden.
--:-- Noel King: And what about the more progressive moments in the debates?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: There were a lot of questions about Medicare for all, and whether the candidates would be willing to get rid of private insurance in favor of a government-run plan.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And how did the candidates respond to those questions?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: Some of them, like Kamala Harris, raised their hands to say they would support Medicare for all, while others, like Biden, were a bit more hesitant.
--:-- Noel King: And what about Bernie Sanders' performance in the debates?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: Sanders' ideas won the debates, but he didn't quite break out as much as some of the other candidates.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what about Donald Trump's reaction to the debates?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: Trump tweeted that the Democrats were being too progressive, and that it would alienate the middle.
--:-- Noel King: And what about the future of the Democratic debates?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: I'm looking for a winnowing of the field, and for the candidates to evolve and get more comfortable on stage.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what about the next debates?
--:-- Ella Nilsen: I think we'll see a smaller field of stronger candidates, and a more focused conversation about the issues.
--:-- Noel King: And that's it for today's show. Thanks to Ella Nilsen for joining us.
--:-- Ella Nilsen: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And thanks to our listeners for tuning in.
--:-- Noel King: If you want to hear more about the Democratic debates, check out our episode on the topic.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And if you have any questions or comments, email us at [email address].
--:-- Noel King: And follow us on social media at [social media handles].
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks again for listening.
--:-- Noel King: And we'll see you tomorrow.
