The Sanders campaign addresses that tense post-debate moment with Warren


What did Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) say to each other during their tense post-debate exchange?
That remains a mystery, but Sanders' campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, has provided a bit more information, telling The Washington Post on Wednesday that Warren approached Sanders after the Democratic debate to "raise a concern."
This exchange between Sanders and Warren became one of the evening's most talked-about moments, primarily because Warren seemed to rebuff Sanders as he reached out for a handshake. The two then shared a few words that couldn't be heard on television but that appeared far from friendly. Although billionaire Tom Steyer was standing nearby, he told CNN he didn't really listen to the conversation.
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.
After Warren raised this unspecified concern, Sanders said "let's talk about that later," Shakir told the Post.
Although Shakir didn't explain what Warren's "concern" was, one would assume their conversation had something to do with their ongoing dispute about a 2018 conversation in which Warren claims Sanders said a woman couldn't be elected president in 2020. Warren said during Tuesday's debate she "disagreed" when Sanders allegedly said this, although she wasn't directly asked whether he did.
Sanders has said he did bring up during the conversation with Warren that President Trump, a "sexist," would "weaponize whatever he could" in 2020. But he has denied claiming a woman couldn't win, saying during the debate, "Anybody who knows me knows that it’s incomprehensible that I would think that a woman cannot be president of the United States."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Political cartoons for October 20
Cartoons Monday’s political cartoons include a $40 billion bailout for Argentina, Prince Andrew's titles, chaos at the CDC, and more
-
From Da Vinci to a golden toilet: a history of museum heists
In the Spotlight Following the ‘spectacular’ events at the Louvre, museums are ‘increasingly being targeted by criminal gangs’
-
Can Gen Z uprisings succeed where other protest movements failed?
Today's Big Question Apolitical and leaderless, youth-led protests have real power but are vulnerable to the strongman opportunist
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections