Lester Holt and Kristen Welker recall the difficulties of hosting debates

Published: Sep 10, 2024 Duration: 00:03:41 Category: News & Politics

Tags : NBC News

Trending searches: lester holt

SHE WILL BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. >> SENATOR GREG, AND CRAIG GRE , THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> IT'S NOT EASY, IS IT? >> [ LAUGHTER ] >> THERE ARE TWO HERE WHO HAVE MODERATED DEBATES, WHICH SEEMS LIKE THE MOST THANKLESS JOB IN AMERICA, BUT WE HAVE KRISTEN WELKER HERE, HALLIE HAS DONE SOME PRIMARY-- LESTER, FIRST OF ALL, WITHOUT TRIGGERING YOU, WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT DOING THE DEBATE IN 2016? >> I REMEMBER HOW LONELY IT FELT. WE, WHEN BOTH OF US DID IT IT WAS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE DEBATE COMMISSION. YOU WERE SOLO OUT THERE, YOUR BACK IS TO THIS GIANT ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE, AND THERE WERE ESTIMATES OF 100 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHING. AT THE SAME TIME IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS, BUT YOU'RE GETTING PEOPLE LEADING UP TO IT, OR WILL HE FACT CHECK-- PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING OR THINKING. I THINK OF DAVID AND LINDSEY TONIGHT. IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK. >> IT'S DEFINITELY NOT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FEELING LONELY, THERE'S NO ONE IN YOUR EAR GIVING YOU EDITORIAL BACKUP. I THINK THERE'S NO GREATER WEIGHT THAN THE MOMENTS HEADING INTO A GENERAL ELECTION DEBATE, BECAUSE YOU'RE ASKING QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO KATE WAS JUST INTERVIEWING, ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. SO YOU WANT THE QUESTIONS TO BE UNDERSTANDABLE, NOT COMING FROM WASHINGTON IN POLITICS, BUT FROM A PLACE OF PEOPLE'S DINING ROOM TABLES. THE BEST THING YOU COULD SAY ABOUT A MODERATOR IS THAT YOU DON'T REMEMBER THE MODERATOR. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY-- BEES CAN MAKE A CAREER, THEY CAN BREAK A CAREER, THESE SITUATIONS. I CAN THINK OF A MODERATOR WHO GOT IN TROUBLE FOR FACT CHECKING, IT'S SORT OF DARNED IF YOU DO, DARNED IF YOU DO. >> ASK FOLLOW-UPS AND MAKE SURE YOU GET ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS. >> IT IS ALSO A QUESTION FOR THE CANDIDATES, AND HOW MUCH TONIGHT, AS WE ARE ABOUT 11 MINUTES OUT NOW, HOW MUCH WILL VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS FACT CHECK FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND VICE VERSA? WE KNOW FROM PAST DEBATES THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAYS THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. SHE'S GOT TO PICK HER MOMENTS IN THAT SPACE OR IT WILL TAKE TIME. FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ALREADY, HIS CAMPAIGN, HIS TEAM, KIND OF WORKING PREEMPTIVELY GOING AFTER THE MODERATORS-- >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IT'S NOT TERRIBLY RECENT, BUT I REMEMBER IN THE LAST 10 OR 15 YEARS IT HAS BECOME MORE COMMON TO ATTACK THE MODERATOR. YOU WOULD NEVER SEE CANDIDATES GO AFTER THE MODERATOR. NEWT GINGRICH JOINED IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY I THINK IN 2016 OR SOMETHING, AND THAT WAS DIFFERENT. >> IT TOOK ME SEVERAL MINUTES TO GET A FEEL OF THE ROOM AND GET THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CANDIDATES. HAVING DONE A LOT OF DEBATES INCLUDING THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE, I SWORE A LONG TIME AGO I WOULD NEVER PUBLICLY JUDGE A MODERATOR. MY HAT IS OFF TO ANYONE WHO DOES IT. >> AND YOU TRY TO TUNE OUT ANY CRITICISM YOU MIGHT BE GETTING HEADED INTO THE BIG NIGHT. >> YOU KNOW THEY ARE FEELING IT IN THEIR STOMACHS GOING INTO THIS. >> I'M FEELING IT, TOO.

Share your thoughts

Related Transcripts

NATO Could Have Stopped the Ukraine War! Stoltenberg: More Weapons Were Needed

Category: News & Politics

Nato could have done more to arm ukraine in an effort to prevent russia's invasion in 2022 the outgoing head of the western military alliance said in an interview published on saturday now we are providing military tools for a war back then we could have ensured military tools to prevent the war nato's... Read more

SoCal’s $2.2M Mega Millions Winner – Could You Be Next for $800M?" mega millions numbers

Category: Entertainment

After the mega million's jackpot numbers were revealed on friday night one fortunate resident of southern california became the newest billionaire in the state the mega ball number was 25 and the winning numbers were 6 23 41 59 and 63 there was a 2x megaplier one lucky ticket in socal matched five numbers... Read more

‘Chimp Crazy’ dives into the eccentric world of ‘monkey moms’

Category: Entertainment

Intro ♪ >>> we are back now with a first look at a new documentary that is getting quite a bit of business. remember "tiger king"? that director is back with a new project called "chimp crazy" chimp crazy which premiers sunday on hbo and max. joe fryer has a preview. >> yes. as you might have guessed... Read more

Trump vs Harris Highlights ABC Debate Part I | The Program | Election Time

Category: News & Politics

Intro [music] when it comes to the economy do you believe americans are better off than they were four years ago so i was raised is economy better than 4 years ago? as a middle class kid and i am actually the only person on this stage who has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working... Read more

Linda Sun, ex-aide to NY Governor Hochul, charged with acting as Chinese agent

Category: News & Politics

Linda sun a former aid to new york governor kathy hok left a new york city courthouse on tuesday after she was charged with secretly acting as an agent of the chinese government in exchange for millions of dollars in compensation and gifts both son and her husband chris who were arrested tuesday morning... Read more

Kamala Is BRAT ...Trumps BRATWURST ...Plz 😥😥 #kamalaharris #trump

Category: Education

Kamla ate this debate straight mothered i fear i just cleared the plate on this election year i know he heard every word every dist was clear it was a verbal shot this time that hid him in his ear he left pissed i left laughing he's more fascist i'm more fashion his face card is giving a trash bin my... Read more

U S Open sensation, 16, leaves with six figure payday and Coco Gauff backing

Category: News & Politics

Us open sensation 16 leaves with sixf figure payday and coco go backing iva jovic 16 made the most of a us open wild card and caught the eye of coco goof after her agonizing second round exit in a thrilling match va jovic can leave the us open with her head held high and two key takeaways she learned... Read more

Jana Kramer reflects on troubled relationships, journey to healing

Category: Entertainment

>>> the highs and lows of jana kramer's personal life have been played out in the publica in a moment. first, look at her story. ♪ once upon a time you loved me ♪♪ >> jana kramer is an award-winning country singer who rose to fame after starring in the teen drama one tree hill. but her personal... Read more

Trump Talks About Abdul & Afghanistan | The Program | Election Time

Category: News & Politics

Intro if you take a look at that period of time the taliban was killing our soldiers a lot of them with snipers and abdul is the head of the is economy better than 4 years ago? taliban he is still the head of the taliban and i told abdul don't do it anymore you do it anymore you're going to have problems... Read more

"An act of patriotism': Liz Cheney's endorsement of VP Kamala Harris puts country over party

Category: News & Politics

It is becoming the noah's arc of american politics a coalition whose passengers climb on board 2 by two includes alexandria casio cortez and bernie sanders as well as republican adam kininger and as of last night the former number three house republican with a last name practically synonymous with what... Read more

Everything we’re eyeing from Walmart’s Labor Day sale: Up to 78% off a knife set, Levi’s and more

Category: Howto & Style

>>> we're back. another edition of what to shop this week in time for all of those end of summer sales and walmart has tons of deals on everything right now from power tool upgrades to fashion staples, as well. joining us, shop today contributor, chasse post. and folks, you know what to do right... Read more

Neil Patrick Harris talks, drag queen culture, turning 50

Category: Entertainment

>>> we all know that neil patrick harris is one of the kings of the stage and screen, but now he wants to introduce us to some of his favorite queebs. >> he is out with a light-hearted and fun new competition show which he created and stars in, it's called "drag me to dinner." neil, we want to... Read more