Peter Suderman

Shouldn't politics be about issues and policies and governance rather than teams and partisan victories? There's a reason that people often praise bipartisanship. Americans tend to like it when politicians work together for better policy and better government rather than against the other side, just so that their own team can win. And then there's that old saw about both sides.

Press critics love to trash journalists who engage in lazy both-sides-ing, in creating false equivalences. And look, sometimes that can happen. Both-sides-ing can be an easy way to duck controversy and avoid responsibility. On the other hand, just look at the dismal approval ratings for Congress and some of our recent presidential candidates.

Press critics love to trash journalists who engage in lazy both-sides-ing, in creating false equivalences. And look, sometimes that can happen. Both-sides-ing can be an easy way to duck controversy and avoid responsibility. On the other hand, just look at the dismal approval ratings for Congress and some of our recent presidential candidates.

Press critics love to trash journalists who engage in lazy both-sides-ing, in creating false equivalences. And look, sometimes that can happen. Both-sides-ing can be an easy way to duck controversy and avoid responsibility. On the other hand, just look at the dismal approval ratings for Congress and some of our recent presidential candidates.

In the judgment of the American people, both sides are often pretty terrible.

In the judgment of the American people, both sides are often pretty terrible.

In the judgment of the American people, both sides are often pretty terrible.

so why pick one to discuss these questions tonight we have four top-notch debaters from the bulwark we have sarah longwell and tim miller tim is a tim is a former spokesperson for the republican national committee longwell is the publisher of the bulwark where she hosts the focus group podcast from reason we have nick gillespie and matt welch both of whom are editors at large.

so why pick one to discuss these questions tonight we have four top-notch debaters from the bulwark we have sarah longwell and tim miller tim is a tim is a former spokesperson for the republican national committee longwell is the publisher of the bulwark where she hosts the focus group podcast from reason we have nick gillespie and matt welch both of whom are editors at large.

so why pick one to discuss these questions tonight we have four top-notch debaters from the bulwark we have sarah longwell and tim miller tim is a tim is a former spokesperson for the republican national committee longwell is the publisher of the bulwark where she hosts the focus group podcast from reason we have nick gillespie and matt welch both of whom are editors at large.

So if you haven't cast your vote, time's running out. Time's running out. I think it's just about time to start the debate. So we are going to start with opening statements from each of our debaters. It's going to go reason bulwark, reason bulwark the whole night. Reason will have the first word. The bulwark will have the last word.

So if you haven't cast your vote, time's running out. Time's running out. I think it's just about time to start the debate. So we are going to start with opening statements from each of our debaters. It's going to go reason bulwark, reason bulwark the whole night. Reason will have the first word. The bulwark will have the last word.

So if you haven't cast your vote, time's running out. Time's running out. I think it's just about time to start the debate. So we are going to start with opening statements from each of our debaters. It's going to go reason bulwark, reason bulwark the whole night. Reason will have the first word. The bulwark will have the last word.

And we are going to start with Matt Welch, who will be defending the proposition. You don't have to pick a side in politics.

And we are going to start with Matt Welch, who will be defending the proposition. You don't have to pick a side in politics.

And we are going to start with Matt Welch, who will be defending the proposition. You don't have to pick a side in politics.

Thank you, Matt Welch. Since you brought up the Congressional Budget Office, I will just say that I am the moderator, which means I'm asking the questions, not answering them, but it has been about 30 years since we passed all 12 appropriations bills. Sarah Longwell, would you like to make an opening statement? Step on up to the podium.

Thank you, Matt Welch. Since you brought up the Congressional Budget Office, I will just say that I am the moderator, which means I'm asking the questions, not answering them, but it has been about 30 years since we passed all 12 appropriations bills. Sarah Longwell, would you like to make an opening statement? Step on up to the podium.

Thank you, Matt Welch. Since you brought up the Congressional Budget Office, I will just say that I am the moderator, which means I'm asking the questions, not answering them, but it has been about 30 years since we passed all 12 appropriations bills. Sarah Longwell, would you like to make an opening statement? Step on up to the podium.

Nick Gillespie.