Reading through the transcripts of the NYT editorial board interviews w/ the presidential candidates. Made it through the top five. Some thoughts. The questioning of Buttigieg is much tougher and more hostile than the others. Almost an obsessive focus on McKinsey. 1/6
The foreign policy sections are disappointing. Weird questions-- most candidates are asked about nuclear missiles in Turkey which is important but as one of only 3 Qs? Follow up weak -- should have pressed Sanders on how to reconcile his impulses on China. 2/6
Biden gave a strange answer on Hong Kong, saying US shld go to the UN. Warren's answer on NATO was v odd- in essence deemphasis efforts to increase their capability & focus on defense cost sharing agreements. Bizarrely, the NYT then cited it as a reason why they endorsed her. 3/6
All that said, I did learn some things. Sanders thinks China is a dictatorship under Xi. Warren would impose tariffs to restrict access to the American market unless other countries improved their labor and environmental standards. Biden really hates Facebook & sees...4/6
...Zuckerberg as "a big problem". Klobuchar is the only one who gave a straight answer to the Turkey nuclear-w question (keep them there). Buttigieg is probably the toughest of the candidates on China. So some useful information but left feeling it was a missed opportunity 5/6
The interviews can be found here nytimes.com/interactive/20… 6/6
