CBS Removes Debate Moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan: “They’re a Disgrace to Our Network

In a move that has left the media world buzzing, CBS has reportedly decided to part ways with its star debate moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan after their handling of the recent vice-presidential debate sparked widespread backlash. The network, which has long touted itself as a beacon of journalistic integrity, seems to have had enough of the pair’s relentless fact-checking during the live broadcast. What was supposed to be a civil debate turned into what some critics have labeled “a two-hour fact-checking marathon,” leaving both candidates—and the viewers—exhausted.

The decision to cut ties with two of the network’s most recognizable faces comes on the heels of intense criticism from both viewers and political commentators, who felt the debate was less about the candidates and more about O’Donnell and Brennan flexing their fact-checking muscles. As one political pundit put it, “It was like watching two referees who wanted to be the MVPs of the game.”

O’Donnell and Brennan have been long-respected figures in the world of news, with years of experience anchoring shows like CBS Evening News and Face the Nation. But during the recent debate between Republican J.D. Vance and Democrat Tim Walz, their reputation took a hit as they frequently interrupted both candidates to deliver real-time fact-checks, turning what was supposed to be a platform for discussing policies into a battle of “who’s more accurate?”

As the debate wore on, the interruptions became so frequent that Vance, at one point, sarcastically thanked the moderators for their “input,” while Walz quipped that he wasn’t sure if he was debating Vance or the fact-checkers. The comment was followed by a round of laughter from the audience, but it was clear that both candidates were feeling the heat.

One particularly telling moment came when Brennan interrupted Vance to correct him on a minor statistic about border security, prompting Vance to fire back, “I’d love to finish a sentence sometime.” O’Donnell, seemingly unfazed, continued with the correction, leaving the audience to wonder whether they were watching a debate or a trivia contest.

Shortly after the debate aired, the backlash was swift. Social media was flooded with complaints about the moderators’ overly aggressive fact-checking, with many viewers feeling that the debate had been overshadowed by the moderators’ eagerness to pounce on every misstep. Hashtags like #LetThemDebate and #FactCheckersGoneWild trended on X (formerly Twitter), with people from both sides of the political spectrum criticizing CBS for the lack of balance.

“It’s one thing to hold candidates accountable, but it’s another thing to constantly cut them off mid-sentence,” said one frustrated viewer. “I don’t watch debates to see moderators debate the candidates.”