‘The Audience Can’t Hear You!’ Debate Ignites After JD Vance Fumes Over Fact Check, Forcing CBS Moderators to Cut Mics

CBS News moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan had to cut the mics during the vice presidential debate after Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) bristled at a fact check over Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio.

Vance was on stage in New York with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and both candidates were being asked questions about immigration.

Brennan provided a fact check on a comment Vance had made about the migrants in Springfield, saying, “just to clarify, for our viewers, Springfield, Ohio does have a large number of Haitian migrants who have legal status, temporary protected status.”

“Well, well, well, Margaret, but, but, but –” Vance attempted to interject.

“Senator, we have so much to get to,” she replied, attempting to move on.

“We’re going to turn now to the economy,” said O’Donnell as Vance kept talking. “The economy –”

“The rules were that you guys weren’t going to fact check and since you’re fact checking me, I think it’s important to say what’s actually going on,” said Vance, bringing up an online application for illegal migrants to apply for asylum.

“Thank you, Senator,” said Brennan as Vance kept talking over her.

“Thank you, Senator, for describing the legal process,” Brennan tried again. “We have so much to get to, Senator. We have so much –”

“Those laws have been on the books since 1990,” said Walz, with Vance attempting to argue with him.

“Thank you, gentlemen,” said Brennan, putting her hands up.

At this point, the moderators cut the mics.

“Gentlemen, the audience can’t hear you because your mics are cut. We have so much we want to get to,” Brennan repeated. “Thank you for explaining the legal process.”

She turned it over to O’Donnell, who thanked her and then asked a question about the economy.

Watch the clip above via CNN.

This article has been updated with additional information.