The NBC and CNN debates have failed to provide a meaningful way to learn about our large crop of candidates. The formats are too challenging and favor telegenic, tall, pithy showstoppers. This is the same format that boosted Donald Trump into the White House as he cleared the slate of opponents by giving them nasty seventh-grade nicknames.

Let’s give the debates back to the DNC and bring in ProPublica to moderate. Let’s give time and opportunity for real answers. 

And let’s end the unprofessional chumminess of the “after interview/parties” where one is expecting Anderson Cooper to ask “Who are you wearing tonight.”