Democrat presidential candidates clash over funding and age at latest debate
Warren and Buttigieg trade jibes over funding during scaled-down discussion

Candidates have clashed over funding and age at the latest Democrat presidential debate in Los Angeles.
Elizabeth Warren attacked Pete Buttigieg for holding closed-door fundraising events where he spent time “with millionaires or billionaires” and, in return, he accused Warren of issuing “purity tests” she could not live up to.
Joining the pair on stage were five other candidates: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobahcar, Andrew Yang and Tom Steyer.
Subscribe to 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.
Much of the debate was “fairly staid”, CNN says and according to The Guardian “there was no clear ‘winner,” but Klobuchar “will probably be praised for her performance, and Biden’s supporters will breathe a sigh of relief to see him putting moderately intelligible sentences together”.
The recent impeachment of Donald Trump was raised during the discussion, with Sanders calling the president a “pathological liar” who is “running the most corrupt administration in the modern history of this country”.
However, Yang said: “We have to stop being obsessed over impeachment, which unfortunately strikes many Americans like a ball game where you know what the score is going to be, and start actually digging in and solving the problems that got Donald Trump elected in the first place.”
Age was also a topic of discussion. Asked about recent comments by Barack Obama that there would be fewer problems in the world if there were more women leaders and fewer “old men”, Biden joked: “I’m going to guess he wasn’t talking about me either.”
The Independent says the seniors on stage - Biden and Sanders - enjoyed “steady evenings”. When Warren was told that she would be the “oldest president ever inaugurated” if elected, she responded: “I’d also be the youngest woman ever inaugurated.”
The latest CNN poll put Biden as the frontrunner on 26 points, followed by Sanders on 20, Warren on 16, Buttigieg on eight, and Michael Bloomberg on five.
The next Democratic debate will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, at Drake University in Des Moines.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
AI is creating a luxury housing renaissance in San Francisco
Under the Radar Luxury homes in the city can range from $7 million to above $20 million
-
How carbon credits could help and hurt the climate
The explainer The credits could be allowing polluters to continue polluting
-
5 tips for building a healthy skincare routine for tweens and teens
The Week Recommends Social media is pushing overly elaborate routines for young skin
-
Zohran Mamdani: the young progressive likely to be New York City's next mayor
In The Spotlight The policies and experience that led to his meteoric rise
-
Some mainstream Democrats struggle with Zohran Mamdani's surprise win
TALKING POINT To embrace or not embrace? A party in transition grapples with a rising star ready to buck political norms and energize a new generation.
-
Is the G7 still relevant?
Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
DNC rocked by high-profile departures as future is in question
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Generational shifts, ambiguous priorities, and the intensifying dangers of the Trump administration have pushed the organization into uncertain territory
-
Trump tells ICE to hit blue cities, spare farms, hotels
Speed Read Trump has targeted New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles among other cities
-
'It was also a gift to music-lovers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Democrats: Solving the 'man problem'
Feature Democrats are spending millions to win back young men
-
Elon Musk's Trump tiff could be an opportunity for Democrats
TALKING POINTS As two of the world's most powerful people put the final nails in the coffin of their former friendship, Democrats are split over how to best capitalize on the breakup