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
-
The Night Manager series two: ‘irresistible’ follow-up is ‘smart, compelling’ TVThe Week Recommends Second instalment of the spy thriller keeps its ‘pace’, ‘intrigue’ and ‘sly sexiness’
-
11 hotels opening in 2026 to help you reconnect with natureThe Week Recommends Find peace on the beaches of Mexico and on a remote Estonian island
-
Zimbabwe’s driving crisisUnder the Radar Southern African nation is experiencing a ‘public health disaster’ with one of the highest road fatality rates in the world
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
-
Trump says US ‘in charge’ of Venezuela after Maduro grabSpeed Read The American president claims the US will ‘run’ Venezuela for an unspecified amount of time, contradicting a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies