NBC, New Hampshire Union Leader will reportedly hold an unsanctioned debate


DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz has repeatedly defended her party's messy debate calendar, despite loud complaints that the chosen dates are terrible for exposure. In defiance of the Democratic National Committee, NBC News and The New Hampshire Union Leader are reportedly set to announce their plans to host an unsanctioned debate on Feb. 4, according to two anonymous sources who spoke with Buzzfeed News. Notably, unlike the DNC's debates, NBC will hold theirs on a weeknight.
The unsanctioned debate would also give candidates a last chance to get a word in before the crucial Feb. 9 New Hampshire primaries. The moderators are said to be NBC News' Chuck Todd and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow; the debate will air on MSNBC. It is not yet known which candidates plan to attend.
The next official DNC debate is set for Feb. 11, after the primary.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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