In the history of presidential debates, we don’t yet know where this one will rank. It’s probably not on the level of Kennedy-Nixon in 1960, and it certainly won’t have the fallout of the 2024 Trump-Biden debate. But it’s going to be up there.
Mentions of crowd sizes and eating pets were just two moments from what was an incredible piece of political theater during the first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
As far as debates go, it had the usual elements: candidates dodging questions, leaving out inconvenient facts and sharply criticizing each other.
What set this debate apart were two key factors. Harris had been the Democratic candidate for less than two months and hadn’t debated since 2020, so expectations were uncertain. She needed to turn her honeymoon goodwill into presidential credibility.
As for Trump, we had a sense of what to expect, but his supporters were hoping he’d move beyond 2020, avoid personal insults, stick to the truth and focus primarily on the Biden-Harris administration’s record on the economy and immigration.
On those two points, Harris largely accomplished her goals, while Trump did not.
Since this debate was a master class in political expression, we’re excited to welcome to the podcast Nate French, associate teaching professor at Wake Forest University and an expert in political communication.
Eating cats and dogs
Springfield got a shoutout from the presidential debate stage, but it’s unclear if the city, about 45 minutes west of Columbus, appreciated the context.
You likely know the story: over the past several years, an influx of Haitian immigrants—legal immigrants—have moved to the city. They fled their homeland, torn apart by armed gangs and civil war, and have filled manufacturing jobs. However, the sudden influx of new residents has brought challenges, including increased school enrollment and pressure on the housing market.
Last year, a legal Haitian immigrant without a valid driver’s license crashed his minivan into a school bus, killing one student and injuring several others. A jury found Hermino Joseph guilty of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
There is no evidence to suggest his immigration status was a factor in the crash. He made a terrible mistake, and he will likely go to jail for it.
But the story doesn’t end there. Supporters of Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno have used the immigrant’s image in ads criticizing President Biden and Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown’s immigration policies.
More recently, someone posted online that Haitian immigrants in Springfield have been stealing pets and eating them.
One of the people who shared this claim online was Ohio U.S. Senator and Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance, who wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Reports now show people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?"
This is false. Police and city officials say there are no credible reports of such activity. But that didn’t stop President Trump from repeating the claim during the debate.
State of Religion
Next week, the WOSU News team will explore the state of religion in Ohio with a series of reports that will examine how religion and faith influence politics and policy in the state. The four-part series will air on 89.7 NPR News and right here in the Snollygoster feed starting on Monday.
If you have a suggestion for our "Snollygoster of the Week" award, a question or a comment, send them to snollygoster@wosu.org.