Meanwhile, Trump’s camp could hardly contain its glee at the firing of the moderators. Donald Trump Jr. took to X (formerly Twitter) faster than his dad could say “rigged debate,” writing, “Finally! The hack moderators who ganged up on my father have been FIRED. Justice has been served!”
Megyn Kelly, now a conservative podcaster, also chimed in, calling the firing “long overdue” and accusing Muir and Davis of conducting the “worst anchor pile-on I’ve ever seen.” For the record, this is the same Megyn Kelly who famously clashed with Trump during the 2016 election. But hey, politics makes for strange bedfellows.
In light of Muir and Davis’s dismissal, industry insiders are already speculating about what the future of debate moderation will look like. One source close to the situation hinted at a new network policy: “Let Them Speak Their Truths.” Under this revolutionary new format, moderators will be instructed not to fact-check candidates at all, instead allowing the candidates’ “truths” to be heard without interference.
“Who’s to say what’s true anymore, anyway?” the source said, shrugging. “Maybe Springfield really is a hotbed of pet-eating chaos. Who are we to judge?”
ABC executives are reportedly in talks with several new moderators to replace Muir and Davis—figures who understand the delicate art of nodding solemnly while facts fly out the window. Rumor has it that Fox News’s Sean Hannity and The View’s Joy Behar are both on the shortlist, a duo sure to bring balance and tact to the next debate. (Or, at the very least, ensure that no one learns anything new.)
Naturally, the internet had a field day with the news of Muir and Davis’s firing. #FireTheFactCheckers trended for hours after the announcement, with some users sarcastically praising ABC for “finally embracing the chaos.” One viral post read, “Honestly, I watch these debates for the entertainment value, not for boring facts. Kudos to ABC for keeping things spicy!”
Others, however, weren’t so thrilled. “ABC just fired two of the best journalists on television because they told the truth,” tweeted one user. “Is this where we are now?”
Even Elon Musk jumped into the conversation, posting, “ABC proves once again: reality is optional.”
While ABC execs might be patting themselves on the back for restoring “balance” to the debate stage, Muir and Davis are unlikely to disappear quietly into the night. Both journalists have built careers on integrity and fact-based reporting—qualities that, apparently, are no longer desirable in the world of televised politics.
In a joint statement, Muir and Davis expressed disappointment in ABC’s decision but vowed to continue their commitment to the truth. “We stood by our principles,” they said. “If that makes us a disgrace to our profession, then so be it.”
Rumors are already swirling that the duo might team up for a new podcast called “Fact-Check This,” where they’ll be free to call out political lies without fear of retribution from network brass. And who knows? With the way things are going, maybe they’ll be the next big thing on YouTube, fact-checking debates live while the actual moderators sit back and sip tea.
