ALL ABOUT NEWS

Historically, political debate has played an important role in shaping public opinion and influencing electoral outcomes. However, not all debate formats are equally effective. For example, rapid-fire question formats may favor candidates who are able to respond quickly and effectively while town hall formatted debates may emphasize the ability of candidates to connect with voters. Moreover, the presence of an in-person audience can affect the tone of debates by magnifying moments of audience reaction such as cheering or laughing.

The debates are generally hosted by television journalists who serve as moderators and, in some cases, as questioners. This approach can lead to the perception that debates are essentially news events that advance the agenda of the networks rather than serving as a forum for discussion and comparison of candidates’ positions on issues.

Furthermore, the selection of debate moderators — who are often current or former anchors of major network news programs — limits the pool of potential moderators and can create a situation in which candidates spend time preparing to address the interests and beliefs of the moderator instead of their opponents. This can be particularly harmful in a time when voters have more choices and fewer information sources than ever before.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) ran debates for presidential campaigns from 1975 to 1988 and was ardent in affording equal time to all candidates, regardless of their popularity. After LWV disbanded, the Commission on Presidential Debates took over and has maintained a similar stance toward providing all candidates with the opportunity to be heard.

Refugee crisis is one of the world’s most urgent and complex issues, requiring a coordinated global response from the international community. Conflict and natural disasters are often the main causes of displacement, but a host country’s political climate and economic conditions also influence refugee flows. Hospitality toward displaced people is a core national value in many countries, but host states often reach a tipping point when a large influx of refugees overwhelms their ability to meet the needs of the population and economy. Moreover, desperation among displaced populations increases when host countries and donors fail to provide adequate assistance for resettlement or other forms of durable solutions.

Large refugee populations are also susceptible to exploitation and violence, especially where they cannot legally work in their hosts’ economies. This is a particularly serious issue for women, who face gender-based abuse and sexual exploitation at increased rates than men in the same communities. In addition, refugees are frequently exploited by criminal networks that facilitate trafficking in drugs, human beings, and illegal weapons.

The international community’s goal must be to reduce and ultimately eliminate refugee displacement by providing sustainable, scalable protection options to all displaced people. This requires addressing the root causes of conflict, natural disasters, and climate change to prevent people from being forced to leave their homes in search of safety and security. Moreover, it means prioritizing facilitating durable solutions for refugees who cannot return to their home countries, including through resettlement in third countries and other viable avenues, such as granting them the right to legally work, free movement within their host countries, and access to social services and education for their children.

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