An hour into the second U.S. presidential debate, and reviews for moderator Kristen Welker have already begun to pour in, including a shoutout from Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell.
Welker, who is a news anchor for NBC, has received positive marks thus far from Donovan Mitchell for her ability to facilitate what has been a far more productive debate between the Democratic and Republican rivals, than their initial meeting on September 29. During that showdown, Fox News host Chris Wallace was roundly derided for his inability to control the stage, with both candidates routinely attempting to talk over one another.
While the public reaction to the event was negative enough for the presidential debate commission to install “mute” buttons on each respective microphone, in an attempt to circumvent similar efforts, they have rarely been used. While debate-moderation is generally a thankless job–with notice only being paid to them when something goes wrong, as was the case with Wallace–Donovan Mitchell's praise of Welker is one of the few instances in which a host receives recognition for their ability to have a positive effect on the proceedings.
That the third-year guard would have reaction to the debate is also no surprise, given the former Louisville products efforts‘ for social justice reform. One of the more vocal stars of the NBA, as it relates to police violence and the presence of racism in America, Mitchell has routinely used his platform in the past to advocate for political positions he views as being beneficial. In league that has quickly become far more active politically than its counterparts, it's no surprise that Donovan Mitchell has some thoughts.
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