Who won the debate? Let me tell you what I think.

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     October 2, 2024 If you happened to wake up this morning in a panic, wondering what your newsletter writer thought of the vice-presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz, well I've got one word for you: meh! Yes, that's my incredibly thoughtful, incisive commentary after Vance appeared moderately successful in the goal of sanitizing the toxicity of Donald Trump's agenda. That performance featured eerily slick talk about mass deportations, dodges on both [climate change]( and [family separations](, and [the omission of key facts about abortion on the ballot](. As for Walz, the Minnesota governor stumbled a bit at first, wiggled his way into a nice groove, and ended the evening with a strong reminder that Vance is only on the ticket because [Mike Pence refused his boss's demands]( to blow up the Constitution. So did anyone "win" the debate? Not really. I also found it genuinely difficult to stay awake for this one. So, all in all, meh! —Inae Oh Advertisement [House Bookshop Ad]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Tim Walz Just Reminded Us What Happened to Trump’s Last Running Mate]( “That is a damning nonanswer." BY DAN FRIEDMAN MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE   DONALD TRUMP & DEMOCRACY You’re a Mother Jones Daily reader, so you know the stakes and you know reporting like ours matters so freaking much in the month ahead (and beyond). About that: We need [the support of our newsletter readers like never before]( to vigorously fight back against the existential threats American democracy and journalism face. We urgently need all hands on deck. We can’t afford to come up short—we have no cushion; we leave it all on the field. Please help with a donation if you can—even just a few bucks helps. A [monthly gift]( would be incredible. [Donate Now]( [Trending] [Evangelicals have a plan to flip 19 key counties]( BY KIERA BUTLER   [Vance dodged a simple question about Trump calling climate change a “hoax"]( BY JACKIE FLYNN MOGENSEN   [Vance says he's pro-family. Just not keeping families together.]( BY PEMA LEVY   [The murder rate fell at the fastest-ever pace last year—and it's still falling]( BY SAMANTHA MICHAELS Advertisement [House Donations Ad]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [Inside Trump's plan to deport millions]( Experts explain how the former president would realize his vision of mass removal. BY ISABELA DIAS Did you enjoy this newsletter? Help us out by [forwarding]( it to a friend or sharing it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755