Cheat Sheet: GOP Debate Preview
Allow me to reintroduce myself: What to know about the 8 candidates
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Good morning,
If you’ve been enjoying Summer Fridays (and Summer Mondays this year), don’t get a job at Goldman Sachs— where Summer Fridays have officially been cancelled.
Wah Wah.
Have a good Hump Day, wherever you’re spending it.
Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney
🎙The Mo News Podcast: A school bus driver shortage is creating a “transportation crisis” for kids across the country; President Biden has a new student loan plan; and Fyre Festival II is apparently happening.
🗞 GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE PREVIEW
It’s finally here: The first GOP presidential debate is tonight at 9pm ET in Milwaukee. Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate. The two hour debate will air on Fox News, Fox Business Network, Fox’s website and other streaming and digital platforms.
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Eight candidates will be on stage. Notably absent— the Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, who wrote on Truth Social this week: “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”
Trump reportedly already taped an interview with Tucker Carlson that is expected to run on Twitter at the same time as the debate.
🧠 We wanted to take a look at who WILL be on stage tonight. If you haven’t been paying attention until now, you are in the majority. We got you covered. Consider this your GOP Debate Cheat Sheet.
WHO’S WHO
In alphabetical order, here’s what you need to know about the eight candidates who made it to the debate stage:
▶︎ DOUG BURGUM
Bio: Governor of North Dakota. Successful businessman who sold business to Microsoft for $1.1 billion. Divorced and remarried. Has three kids. He’s 66-years-old.
On The Issues:
∙ Says he’s running to change the economy. Says he will cut taxes and reduce regulations.
∙ Says that "we are in “cold war in China, we just won’t admit it.”
∙ Against a federal abortion ban.
∙ Supports US support for Ukraine.
What To Watch For: Questions about the $20 gift cards he gave out in exchange for $1 campaign donations. That is how he got to the 40,000 donors required to partake in tonight’s debate. Well, on top of getting to 1% in the polls.
▶︎ CHRIS CHRISTIE
Bio: Governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. Former federal prosecutor. Experienced debater. Married with four kids. He’s 60.
On The Issues:
∙ Christie describes himself as "pro-life," but would not support a federal ban on abortion.
∙ Ran for president and lost in 2016. Previously supported President Trump but then dropped his support following January 6th and became harsh critic.
∙ He shifted positions on an assault weapons ban, having supported a ban in the '90s but opposed it when he ran for president in 2016. Says we need to better enforce existing firearms laws.
∙ Supports US aid to Ukraine.
What To Watch For: Christie is Trump’s most vocal critic among the candidates, calling him “an ugly, divisive, horrible figure.” Will he continue to hit Trump even though he’ll be a debate no-show?
▶︎ RON DESANTIS
Bio: The current Florida governor. Served in Iraq. Currently in 2nd place in almost all major polls—behind Trump. Married to Casey DeSantis, a television host, and dad to two young kids. He’s 44.
On The Issues:
∙ As governor, he signed a six-week abortion ban into law.
∙ Culture war issues like transexuals in sports, parents rights in eduction and Disney being “too woke” have been prominent on his agenda.
∙ The debate comes as he has lost momentum this summer and recently fired 1/3 of his campaign team.
∙ On Ukraine: He says the war is not a vital US interest, but has backtracked on previously calling it a “territorial dispute.”
∙ Compared to Trump: He says he would be more “aggressive” in implementing strong immigration policies, and would appoint judges that are farther to the right.
What To Watch For: Will he follow the debate advice of his super PAC— Defend Trump, “take a sledgehammer to Ramaswamy,” and attack Biden and the media?
▶︎ NIKKI HALEY
Bio: First female Governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, US Ambassador to UN under President Trump. Married with two kids. She’s 51.
On The Issues:
∙ She supports a 15-week national abortion ban but also more contraception access.
∙ Said she is more “serious” about cutting government spending than other candidates.
∙ On Ukraine: Helping the country continue to fight off Russian aggression is in U.S. national interest.
∙ Said there is a need to address the climate crisis. Supports carbon capture but is against cutting emissions.
What To Watch For: Haley is expected to tout her foreign policy bona fides. As ambassador to the U.N. in the Trump administration, she likes to say she took the "Kick me sign" off America's back.
▶︎ ASA HUTCHINSON
Bio: Former Governor of Arkansas and head of the DEA. Married with four kids and seven grandchildren. He’s 72.
On The Issues:
∙ Has called for Trump to drop out of the race due to the indictments.
∙ Signed a near-total abortion ban into law in 2021, which included an exception for the life of the mother.
∙ On guns: After the Sandy Hook massacre, he signaled some openness to raising the age to purchase an AR-15 style rifle.
∙ Supports continuing aid to Ukraine.
What To Watch For: Besides Christie, he has been the candidate most critical of Trump. Says the party needs to speak “truth.” Watch for what he makes his signature issue.
▶︎ MIKE PENCE
Bio: Former Vice President under President Trump. Governor of Indiana from 2013-2017. Married with three kids. He’s 64.
On the issues:
∙ “I am a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order,” Pence often says.
∙ Only major candidate who supports a national ban on abortion at 6 weeks.
∙ On guns, has said: “We don’t need gun control. We need crime control.”
∙ Has said he didn’t think the science of climate change was “resolved” and called the issue “exaggerated.”
What To Watch For: Can he convince GOP primary voters— who overwhelmingly favor Trump— that he did the right thing on January 6th by defying his old boss? Also, watch for him to challenge the rest of the field on social issues like abortion, as he tries to claim that he is the most conservative candidate on the stage.
And on a lighter note, will “the fly” make a repeat appearance?
▶︎ VIVEK RAMASWAMY
Bio: Ramaswamy is an entrepreneur and political newbie. He’s the youngest candidate in the race at 38-years-old. He’s married with two kids.
On The Issues:
∙ Running as a “new Trump.”
∙ Strong critic of “woke capitalism.”
∙ Supports state-level six-week abortion bans, but opposes a federal ban.
∙ Calls for expanded Second Amendment rights for Americans.
∙ Has called for militarizing the border with Mexico.
∙ Wants to eradicate the FBI and replace it with something better.
What To Watch For: Given his poll numbers have been rising, he will be a target. How does he handle attacks from DeSantis et al? He also says has a novel approach to his first debate — so far, he has not done any formal preparation.
And on a lighter note, will there be an encore performance of Eminem’s Lose Yourself?
▶︎ TIM SCOTT
Bio: South Carolina Senator since 2013. He’s the only Black Republican in the US Senate, and the only Black person to ever serve in both chambers of Congress. He’s unmarried, and 57-years-old.
If Scott wins, he’d be the third bachelor to be elected President, and the first since 1884.
On The Issues:
∙ Scott delivered the GOP response to Biden’s first joint address to Congress, saying: “America is not a racist country.”
∙ He said he’d sign a federal ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy— only if one arrived on his desk.
∙ Voiced broad support for Ukraine, arguing that "degrading the Russian military is in America's best interest."
∙ On climate change: “There is no doubt that man has had an impact on our environment... I am not living under a rock.” But he rejects most policies to combat it.
What To Watch For: Scott plans to stick to his more positive, optimistic brand on the debate stage and believes this will set him apart from the field.
📺 WATCH THE DEBATE WITH MO NEWS
Unlike Viviek Ramaswamy, we’ve been formally preparing for this debate 🤣
Below is one of our three Debate Bingo Cards for download asap. It is obviously a fun edition, but we also have more realistic cards where you are more likely to get BINGO! You can download them HERE.
IMPORTANT: Mosheh will be watching the debate with everyone live and giving his real-time reaction over on the Mo News Premium Instagram account. (👀 Look out for a cameo from Jill as well.)
If you haven’t joined yet, you can do that HERE. Use code “monewstrial” for one free month. We are also offering two free months if you become an annual member.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Bus driver shortage causes back-to-school chaos. (AXIOS)
📌 Biden implements new student loan repayment as bills loom for tens of millions (POLITICO) How to Enroll Here
📌 Airline close calls happen far more often than previously known (NEW YORK TIMES)
📌 Supreme Court asked to hear Virginia high school admissions case concerning race (NBC)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 All 8 people rescued from cable car dangling hundreds of feet above canyon in Pakistan, officials say (CBS)
📌 U.S. officials say Ukraine’s resources are misallocated, with troops too spread out and not concentrated along counteroffensive’s main front in the south (NEW YORK TIMES)
📌 Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin appears in first video since coup (BBC)
📌 Thailand is threatening to shut down Facebook, alleging it doesn’t screen ads well enough (AP)
📱BUSINESS & TECH
📌 UPS workers approve new labor contract with big pay raises, ending strike threat (CNBC)
📌 Macy’s to open four more smaller stores, as strip mall experiment shows early signs of success. (CNBC)
📌 Subway about to be bought for $9 billion plus and join Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings family (REUTERS)
📌 James Webb Space Telescope captures the Ring Nebula in mesmerizing detail (CBS)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 We regret to inform you that Fyre Festival II tickets are officially on sale. (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY)
📌 Lauryn Hill, Fugees announce fall reunion tour dates (VARIETY)
📌 Why is Scooter Braun reportedly losing major clients like Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande? (YAHOO ENTERTAINMENT)
📌 The many faces of Scooter Braun: How Justin Bieber’s manager burned bridges and built an empire (BUSINESS INSIDER)
📌 Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian welcome second baby girl, daughter Adira River: 'My Beautiful Angel' (PEOPLE)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: AUGUST 23
1973: A botched bank robbery in Stockholm resulted in a hostage situation, and, over the course of a six-day standoff, the captives formed an unlikely bond with their captor. It gave rise to the term “Stockholm syndrome.”
1985: 'Teen Wolf' starring Michael J. Fox premiered in theaters.
1991: Super Nintendo is released.
2004: Iranian religious authorities allows the band Queen to sell music in the country.
2021: The FDA approves the first COVID vaccine, made by Pfizer, just about 20 months after the novel virus started spreading worldwide.