Sudden Civility: The Final Presidential Debate

<p>At the start of Thursday night’s debate its moderator, Kristen Welker of NBC News, delivered a polite but firm instruction: The matchup should not be a repeat of the chaos of last month’s debate. </p><p>It was a calmer affair and, for the first few segments, a more structured and linear exchange of views. </p><p>President Trump, whose interruptions came to define the first debate, was more restrained, seemingly heeding advice that keeping to the rules of the debate would render his message more effective. </p><p>And while there were no breakthrough moments for Joseph R. Biden Jr., the former vice president managed to make more of a case for himself than he did last month, on issues such as the coronavirus and economic support for families and businesses in distress. </p><p>Alexander Burns, a national political correspondent, gives us a recap of the night’s events and explores what it means for an election that is just 11 days away. </p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/alexander-burns" target="_blank">Alexander Burns</a>,<strong> </strong>a national political correspondent for The New York Times. </p><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">nytimes.com/thedaily </a></p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>While the tenor of Thursday’s forum was more sedate,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/us/politics/debate-presidential-recap.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage" target="_blank"> the conflict in matters of substance and vision</a> could not have been more dramatic.</li><li>Here are some<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/22/us/presidential-debate-live?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage" target="_blank"> highlights</a> from last night’s debate. </li></ul>