Alabama’s political contests have lost a shared set of facts

By: Brian Lyman

Outlets: Alabama Reflector

Published: October 12, 2026

Words: 879

Last Updated: 6 days, 7 hours ago

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I have mixed feelings about political debates. The idea of a free and frank exchange of ideas between two candidates in front of an open-minded public is appealing. The reality is often anything but.

Candidates stick to scripts to the point of awkwardness. Moderators jam so many topics in 90 minutes that thoughtful discussion is next to impossible (which encourages more canned lines). Television and social media gamify every debate, …

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