News and analysis

Nearly 18.1 million Americans watched live on NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo as 10 candidates clashed. The broadcast included a riveting exchange between Senator Kamala Harris of California and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Ten Democratic candidates faced off in the second night of the first presidential debate Thursday evening. The four highest-polling candidates on stage dominated discussion, while the other six fought for air time.

Former vice president Joe Biden — who faced the most attacks from fellow candidates — walked away with the highest speaking time. Biden (13.6 minutes), the top-polling candidate coming into the debate, spoke more than four times as long as former tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang (3 minutes). Last night

Cuando Beto O’Rourke abrió el primer debate demócrata al responder en español una pregunta sobre las tasas impositivas, pareció llamar la atención del senador Cory Booker.

Si la importancia de los votantes latinos para los demócratas estaba en duda (no lo estaba), la noche del miércoles fue una prueba de que los demócratas quieren apelar a ellos.

Technical difficulties are every news producer’s nightmare.

NBC, the host of the debate, has pulled personalities from all corners of its empire: NBC News, MSNBC and Telemundo. The debate will be broadcast across those three networks for two hours a night for two consecutive nights. But with 20 candidates — 10 a night — viewers will probably hear more from

Candidates will have 60 seconds to answer questions and 30 seconds to respond to follow-ups. And there will be no opening statements, though candidates will have a chance to deliver closing remarks.

Technical difficulties are every news producer’s nightmare. Especially during a political debate. On live national television. With President Trump watching — and mocking — in real-time.

The largest field of presidential candidates in history will take the stage and put themselves at the mercy of five television moderators. The spectacle will be expensive and massively produced. Such debates are some of the most profitable events in television news.

"Every Democratic candidate in the First in the Nation Primary has been talking about rebuilding the middle class, protecting reproductive rights, making sure all Americans have access to affordable quality health care, and much more," said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party

One of the hallmarks of President Trump’s 2016 campaign was his norm-breaking debate style. These were the techniques he used.