Why Harris' debate win hits different

And the man who helped Harris prep for debate by acting as Trump reacts to 'remarkable' night

VIEW IN BROWSER MSNBC DAILY Understand today's news Thursday, Sep. 12, 2024 THE LATEST Harris' debate victory could be unlike any other By Michael A. Cohen Presidential debates usually don't matter. A trove of political science literature suggests that most debate watchers have already decided whom they are supporting. While a winning candidate might get a temporary boost from a strong performance, the polling bump often fades.   However, last night's showdown between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump could be the exception to the rule. Why? Because never before in American presidential politics has there been a debate as one-sided as what we saw Tuesday night in Philadelphia.   If this had been a heavyweight fight, a towel would have flown across the ring and the referee would have stopped the bout. This was such a rout that even conservative pundits bemoaned Trump's disastrous performance.   This is a preview of Michael A. Cohen's latest article. Read the full column here. TOP STORIES JORDAN RUBIN Chief Justice Roberts might have something to say about Trump's debate remarks Trump's abortion lies on Roe v. Wade at the debate flunked the legal test on multiple counts. Read more.  CEDRIC ALEXANDER I was a police chief. Tyreek Hill's stop makes me wonder if we're going backwards. NFL's Tyreek Hill didn't deserve the rough treatment he got from Miami-Dade police. Read more. HARRY SIEGEL New York City Mayor Eric Adams' political career is a walking tragedy Adams has long been surrounded by a cloud of corruption — and it's getting worse by the day. Read more.  BRIAN LOWRY Harris schooled Trump Tuesday night. But ABC's moderators offered a lesson of their own. David Muir and Linsey Davis will inevitably face a backlash for daring to rein Trump in at all. But any fair-minded appraisal would conclude they found the proper balance. Read more.         TOP VIDEOS ALL IN The man who helped Harris prep for debate by acting as Trump reacts to 'remarkable' night WATCH NOW ALL IN Sen. Booker reacts to Harris-Trump debate: 'She exposed him raw' WATCH NOW THE REIDOUT Trump's racist immigrant rant at debate cripples GOP dreams WATCH NOW KATY TUR Dowd: Voters who say they're undecided either 'don't want to say' their decision or won't vote WATCH NOW MORE FROM MSNBC Ali Velshi's podcast "Velshi Banned Book Club" is back for a second season and the first two episodes are available now for free. Each week, Ali features culturally impactful literature – putting the book banning epidemic into necessary context as a threat to American democracy. You can subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for early access to every episode the week before it drops, and ad-free listening to the entire series. Listen now. On Saturday, watch "MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024," a special two-hour presentation of our premiere fan event. Tune in for compelling conversations with Rachel Maddow, Joy Reid, Lawrence O'Donnell, Jen Psaki and more about this historic election, and behind-the-scenes stories and insights from your favorite hosts. Watch "MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024" Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC and streaming on Peacock.   MSNBC INSIGHTS Have you ever wanted to provide MSNBC with your opinion about their TV programs, documentaries, and digital products, such as MSNBC.com, newsletters, and podcasts? Now is your chance! Join the MSNBC Insights Community.   Download the MSNBC App: 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE