ABC’s executives, faced with the harsh reality of a $27 million shortfall, still tried to salvage the situation. “Look, we’re not going to apologize for fact-checking,” said an unnamed ABC official. “If we wanted to host a fantasy debate where people can just say anything and no one challenges it, we’d run a reality TV show. Oh wait, we already do.”

Despite this brave face, the financial blow was undeniable. Losing $27 million in a single swoop of advertiser rage doesn’t just sting—it leaves a mark. And the executives at ABC, realizing they can’t exactly bill the DNC or RNC for the damage, have made a bold decision: no more debates.