Good morning from ⁦@989TheAnswer⁩ in Columbus where I’m broadcasting today. Great weekend in Buckeye land when Ohio State crushed IU, Browns and Bengals won and Steelers didn’t play. Going over last night’s #OHSen debate (quick write-up below). Plus, dispatch.com/story/news/pol…
I’ll cover @GlennYoungkin surging in Virginia with Salena Zito, @JakeSherman and @HotlineJosh. I moderated last night’s debate along w/ @aarbaer of @CCVPolicy. Ohio Republicans have six good candidates to choose from, all of whom did what they set out to do in a first debate. 2
First task in what will be a very expensive and long battle to get the GOP nod in likely #OHSen contest w/ @RepTimRyan in November of 2022 is to establish an identity. They all did that b/c “Hugh’s Rules” for debates allow candidates 75 seconds for replies to short questions. 3
Using a bell (@BretBaier and I agree this is far preferred to a moderator interrupting a “going long” candidate) is the way to go. No “right of reply” also makes for smooth debate. This is my 2nd debate of ‘22 cycle (first was of CA Recall candidates in CA) and these rules work.4
What #OHSen debate did for 1500 in attendance: A chance to hear Matt Dolan, Mike Gibbons, Josh Mandel, Bernie Moreno, Jane Timken and J. D. Vance chance to display mastery of issues and political chops. Sampling of a couple dozen audience after debate saw each make some fans. 5
I’ve done so many debates in 30 years of broadcasting that it is clear any good faith setting will yield informative and fun exchanges. Legacy media questions are so different from center-right questions it is crazy for GOP primary candidates to let legacy media near primaries. 6
Same holds true for ‘24 primary debates. The would he GOP presidential nominees need to gather often across the U.S. but RNC should control and get moderators not seeking to destroy the candidates. Networks can carry but should not run them. And in fall races, one rule is key. 7
Debates need to have as many conservative journalists as they do legacy media journalists or voters will never hear about issues that matter to voters outside progressive-hard left. Debates need to be for voters, not legacy media ratings. GOP primary debates for GOP voters. 8
Finally, the so called “Commission on Presidential Debates” —@CPD— needs to go away, be firmly and finally rejected by @GOP b/c meetings of candidates in primaries or general cant be dominated by an increasingly biased legacy media and #BigTech. 9

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More from @hughhewitt

7 Sep
At 29:30 in our intv, Chris Wallace says of @SecBlinken “The greatest weakness [of Team Bidem] is definitely at State. I’m very unimpressed by Anthony Blinken…it’s a matter of presence, of gravitas…Pompeo, Clinton, Powell [had it]…Blinken is a great staff man…” 1
Wallace also reviews @JoeBiden role in Obama years —“There’s wasn’t a lot of respect for Joe Biden inside the inner counsels of the Obama White House”— and of fmr President Trump “I’m living rent free in his brain.” Wallace also opens up on the Prudential Debate Commission. 2
“Commission considers [Candy Crowley] intervention the low moment in their whole history,” and of his 2020 debate: “It was a mess there’s no question about it. Occasionally I wake up in the middle of the night and think ‘What could I have done better on September 29, 2020” and 3
Read 4 tweets
2 Sep
I am seeing many stories about Taliban atrocities. I am not reporting on them or commenting on them on air until they are confirmed by a news outlet widely regarded as credible. It would be a service if one of the “bigs” would silo and keep current these stories. 1
Per advice of former NSA Ambassador @robertcobrien (who had prior to White House service been former President Trump’s Special Envoy on Hostage Affairs), I am also not discussing details of hostage or abandoned Americans or allies, even groups of them. It can be dangerous. 2
So while prudence has to control the reporting on the hostages/abandoned in Afghanistan, updates on minimum number of those held there would be useful to everyone. The same is true for refugees in transit. The U.S. will be welcoming of the refugees (though vetting necessary) 3
Read 4 tweets
31 Aug
@BillHagertyTN and @Liz_Cheney. It isn’t hard for media to do in-depth reporting of the collapse and defeat w/ deeply knowledgeable GOP electeds, members of Trump Administration. If news outlets aren’t carrying their voices, then they aren’t news outlets, but partisan platforms 2
Members of the Administration are welcome on my program as are Congressional Democrats. They never accept invitations. They never ask to appear. They don’t want serious questions from a courteous, respectful but informed journalist from center-right. Or from lefty partisans. 3
Read 5 tweets
30 Aug
Had an Afghan Uber driver from downtown to home today. He got his SIV in 2018 after working as Army interpreter, then for Flour from ‘09-‘18. Younger brother and sister are in Kabul. He can no longer send them $ because Western Union is kaput. He has no idea what’s ahead. None. 1
I asked him about events. He described himself as “confused” at least 3x. “There are only 50, 60 thousands Talibs. Where did government go?” He did not display bitterness towards US —he’s here and glad to be here w/ a green card, working two jobs— just worried. “Confused.” 2
Like the Iranian-American, Vietnamese-American, Cuban-American, Irish-American diaspora his great grandchildren will be part of a vast and string fabric of a free people, but wow, that immense heart ache and hardship the first generation of refugees from political chaos carries 3
Read 4 tweets
28 Aug
When you listen to this, try and isolate the key exchange. There is one, about modernity and faith, which is challenge because of its obvious truth and implications. Thanks to @RyanTAnd for pointing to this. I mentioned Ryan to @TimDalrymple_ this week. 1
And stated what I think is an obvious truth: Any gathering of “public intellectuals” to discuss faith and the public square that doesn’t include @RyanTAnd is kidding itself about the seriousness of its project, whatever that project is. He’s simply the most serious among them. 2
I’ll add at risk of embarrassing @RyanTAnd, he’s also the embodiment of gracious and kind, a genuine example of a life lived according to the Gospel and called to speak its truth in as winsome a way as is possible today. @EPPCdc made such a wise choice. 3
Read 7 tweets
22 Aug
Hard to believe @POTUS is arguing it had to be this way, which is patently, obviously absurd. He’s saying this chaos was inevitable. This is still “hope is my strategy” while ignoring the suffering and tragedy. We all hope nothing more terrible happens but treating us as stupid?
And @POTUS is ignoring his Friday misstatements about Al Qaeda etc. He now says we are moving back perimeter significantly after saying it wasn’t possible Friday.
“How can I say it?” when asked about perimeter. Checks notes. Garbles answer. “We’ve changed gate operations” though reports from airport they are mostly closed. Pushed on public reaction, he retreats to his loop of talking points. “I’m convinced I am absolutely correct.”
Read 5 tweets

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