Fact-check fight: CBS News cuts candidates’ mics after JD Vance objects to a moderator’s correction

See the takeaways from last night’s VP debate: Vance and Walz keep it civil in a policy-heavy discussion.

CBS News briefly cut off the microphones of vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz during an exchange in their debate Tuesday when the Republican objected to an attempt by moderator Margaret Brennan to correct something he said about immigration.

It was one of the evening’s more contentious moments and reminded viewers again of the difficulty that the news outlets organizing debates this political season are facing in trying to point out in real time statements that are misleading or untrue.

After Vance had talked about illegal immigrants overwhelming some American cities like Springfield, Ohio, Brennan interjected that the Haitians that had moved to that city were there legally.

“Since you’re fact-checking me, it’s important to say what is actually going on,” Vance said.

After briefly letting Vance speak, Brennan interrupted him and said it was time to move on to other issues. They spoke over each other, until CBS News muted the microphones of both Vance and Walz, who were appearing at a studio in New York City.

“Gentlemen, the audience can’t hear you because your mics are cut,” Brennan said.

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