Bernie Sanders' advisers want him to tone down the yelling at the debate
Bernie Sanders' shouting might work well for him at packed rallies on the campaign trail, but come Tuesday night his advisers are hoping he remembers to use his indoor voice. While Sanders hasn't had a formal rehearsal for the first Democratic presidential debate, his staffers were reportedly keen to remind him of the difference between a debate and a stump speech when they met in Vermont two weeks ago.
"[His] experience of doing Sunday shows, being asked substantive questions in a live television environment — which is not a shouting environment, which is a talking environment — he's done a lot of that ... and I think the debate is a lot like that," Sanders' senior adviser, Tad Devine, told The Guardian. "Just because you are standing at a podium doesn't mean you should give a speech." Devine also noted that Sanders is not "going to go out there and start attacking."
But even though Sanders will likely tone it down for the debates, that doesn't mean he's going to roll over if Hillary Clinton attacks. Devine says that Sanders will definitely point out differences between his policies and Clinton's, and he will ardently defend his record. "I don't think Bernie is going to be a guy who is going to be milquetoast," Devine said. "If someone wants to challenge his record or challenge his issues, he is going to be vigorous on both."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Read the full article at The Guardian.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
‘Capitalism: A Global History’ by Sven Beckert and ‘American Canto’ by Olivia NuzziFeature A consummate history of capitalism and a memoir from the journalist who fell in love with RFK Jr.
-
Who will the new limits on student loans affect?The Explainer The Trump administration is imposing new limits for federal student loans starting on July 1, 2026
-
Why does Susie Wiles have MAGA-land in a panic?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Trump’s all-powerful gatekeeper is at the center of a MAGA firestorm that could shift the trajectory of the administration
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro
-
Kushner drops Trump hotel project in SerbiaSpeed Read Affinity Partners pulled out of a deal to finance a Trump-branded development in Belgrade
-
Senate votes down ACA subsidies, GOP alternativeSpeed Read The Senate rejected the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, guaranteeing a steep rise in health care costs for millions of Americans
-
Abrego García freed from jail on judge’s orderSpeed Read The wrongfully deported man has been released from an ICE detention center
-
Indiana Senate rejects Trump’s gerrymander pushSpeed Read The proposed gerrymander would have likely flipped the state’s two Democratic-held US House seats
-
Democrat files to impeach RFK Jr.Speed Read Rep. Haley Stevens filed articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
-
$1M ‘Trump Gold Card’ goes live amid travel rule furorSpeed Read The new gold card visa offers an expedited path to citizenship in exchange for $1 million