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.
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.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
-
‘Every argument has a rational, emotional and rhetorical component’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Why is this government shutdown so consequential?
Today's Big Question Federal employee layoffs could be in the thousands
-
Shutdown: Democrats stand firm, at a cost
Feature With Trump refusing to negotiate, Democrats’ fight over health care could push the government toward a shutdown
-
Trump’s plan for a government shutdown: mass firings
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As lawmakers scramble to avoid a shutdown, the White House is making plans for widespread layoffs that could lead to a permanent federal downsizing
-
Democrats: Harris and Biden’s blame game
Feature Kamala Harris’ new memoir reveals frustrations over Biden’s reelection bid and her time as vice president
-
Democrats might be ready for a shutdown. What do they want?
Today’s Big Question A ‘hardened approach’ against Trump
-
Democrats’ strategy to woo voters for 2026: religion
The Explainer Politicians like Rob Sand and James Talarico have made a name for themselves pushing their faith
-
‘We must empower young athletes with the knowledge to stay safe’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day