And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... the 2020 Democratic lineup!
On Thursday, the Democratic National Committee revealed the 20 contenders who had made the cut for its first round of debates on June 26 and 27. Now, NBC has conducted a drawing to decide which candidates will face off each night.
While NBC says its drawing was completely random, it does neatly split up progressive rivals Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) into two events. But it also pits frontrunner Joe Biden against Sanders, who was Biden's closest threat until Warren beat him out in two recent polls. That leaves former Rep. Beto O'Rourke as Warren's primary competition on Wednesday, despite him polling at just three percent in a California poll published Thursday. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, meanwhile, might just achieve his dream of standing next to Biden.
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.
The DNC determined its debaters by gauging if they've gotten donations from at least 65,000 individuals, and if they've hit at least one percent in three separate polls. Those qualifications will be ramped up for the September debates, with debaters needing at least 130,000 unique donors and two percent support in four polls between June and August.
-
The Icelandic women’s strike 50 years onIn The Spotlight The nation is ‘still no paradise’ for women, say campaigners
-
Mall World: why are people dreaming about a shopping centre?Under The Radar Thousands of strangers are dreaming about the same thing and no one sure why
-
Why scientists are attempting nuclear fusionThe Explainer Harnessing the reaction that powers the stars could offer a potentially unlimited source of carbon-free energy, and the race is hotting up
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
