Stagecraft or Statecraft?: The Power (and Politics) of Presidential Showdowns

Every four years, millions of Americans gather around their screens to watch presidential candidates spar on live TV. But do these debates really sway voters, or are they just political theater? From the historic Lincoln-Douglas debates to the groundbreaking 1960 Kennedy-Nixon showdown, debates have become an election season staple. Join Natalie Bennie, a leading expert in debate history and strategy, for an engaging journey through the evolution of presidential debates and their shifting influence on elections. With the upcoming Trump-Harris debates on the horizon, you’ll gain fresh insights that will change the way you watch.

Discourse's resident debate expert, Natalie Bennie, is back! She's a PhD candidate in Communication Arts & Sciences at Penn State University, as well as a political debate consultant. As a debate coach for both students and adults, she has developed debate education curriculum in 4 different countries, including for one year in Germany as a Fulbright grantee. Her academic research centers on public deliberation and argumentation in the context of monuments and memorials.