The crowd at the first 2020 Democratic presidential primary debate on Wednesday night broke into laughter during an awkward technical glitch that resulted in some NBC moderators’ microphones being left on while they were backstage.
As candidates were asked a question about gun control from NBC’s Chuck ToddCharles (Chuck) David ToddChris Wallace to Colbert: US hasn’t seen this level of unrest since 1968 Demings: ‘We are long overdue for every law enforcement agency in our nation to review itself’ DC mayor: ‘I think that the president has a responsibility to help calm the nation’ MORE, the previous moderators could be heard in the background saying, “I need to go to the restroom” and “Someone’s got my binder.”
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The candidates, Todd and fellow moderator Rachel MaddowRachel Anne MaddowWebb: The modern age of dissent versus riot Cable news audience numbers jump amid coronavirus, protests Demings: ‘America is on fire’ and Trump ‘is walking around with gasoline’ MORE briefly appeared confused as the comments were broadcast over the speakers in the entire arena before realizing it was a hot mic issue.
“We are hearing our colleagues’ audio. If the control room could turn off the mics of our previous moderators,” Todd said while laughing.
After he explained the issue, the entire arena, including the candidates, broke into laughter.
“We prepared for everything. We did not prepare for this,” Maddow chimed in before the debate cut to a commercial break while the technical issue was sorted out.
NBC can’t get the moderators’ mics turned off at #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/78QtJokAUt
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 27, 2019
The issue was quickly fixed, and the debate continued, but social media users quickly jumped on the mistake, which marked a lighter moment in the midst of some more heated policy discussions.
Democracy dies when you don’t turn off the mics of the prior moderators
— Preet BhararaPreetinder (Preet) Singh BhararaInsider trading by Congress? It’s time to fix the law Big stimulus packages required, but they risk political blowback Rep. Collins says Democrats are ‘in love with terrorists,’ ‘mourn Soleimani’ MORE (@PreetBharara) June 27, 2019
What if everyone on stage just got real quiet and we all got to eavesdrop on the live mics for a few minutes
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) June 27, 2019
Lol, live look at whoever is in charge of cutting candidates mics. pic.twitter.com/xVcgbRVFIh
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) June 27, 2019
The hot mics Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE pic.twitter.com/pMxYCM4lNs
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) June 27, 2019
The issue was also noticed by President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE, who ripped it as evidence that NBC is a “fake news organization.”
.@NBCNews and @MSNBC should be ashamed of themselves for having such a horrible technical breakdown in the middle of the debate. Truly unprofessional and only worthy of a FAKE NEWS Organization, which they are!
Click Here: Golf special— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019