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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Sohn: Don’t let GOP debates blunt your civic pride

An attendee at the end of the Republican presidential primary debate Thursday in North Charleston, S.C. A Democratic primary debate is scheduled Sunday. It will be broadcast at 9 p.m. on NBC.
An attendee at the end of the Republican presidential primary debate Thursday in North Charleston, S.C. A Democratic primary debate is scheduled Sunday. It will be broadcast at 9 p.m. on NBC.

Watch the Democratic debate

Sunday on NBC9 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. CT

Reality TV was alive and well Thursday night as Republican presidential candidates sliced at each other, puffed their chests, spun alternate galaxies and rewrote histories.

But mostly, what many American viewers likely carried away from the debate were sick stomachs and sadness after watching a stage full of bullies wielding stump-sharpened one-liners.

Donald “the bully” Trump and Ted “the snake” Cruz argued about who was born where.

Marco “the huckster” Rubio jumps in, apologizing for interrupting an episode of Court TV, then lit into Chris Christie.