SUMMARY
Five Republican presidential candidates cut down the interruptions and raised the substance level, especially on foreign policy, during a two-hour debate held Wednesday night in Miami. This without the party's frontrunner, Donald Trump, who remains far ahead of the field in polling. Lisa Desjardins reports.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM UP QUESTIONS
- Who are some of the candidates running for president as Republicans?
- Where did this debate take place, and who moderated it?
- What were some of the issues discussed during the debate?
- How did individual candidates seek to distinguish themselves from each other?
- Why do many think former president Trump is the most likely candidate to win the nomination? Why didn't Trump participate in the debate?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What answer given by a candidate in these clips surprised you the most or attracted your attention? Why so?
Media Literacy: What important issues facing the U.S. were left out of the debate (at least as covered in this story)? Why do you think they weren't included?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
FOR MORE
What students can do: It can be interesting to compare the presidential campaigns and messages of the current election cycle with those of the past. Watch the following video, which is a summary of a Republican debate from the 2016 presidential election. What issues discussed seem to be the same, and which are different? How has the tone or messaging from the candidates changed?
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