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In a twist that would make even the most seasoned political pundits raise an eyebrow, Tuesday's vice-presidential debate between Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz turned into a verbal jousting match that left viewers on the edge of their seats. CBS moderators Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan, armed with fact-checking prowess and a mute button, orchestrated a spectacle that was equal parts substance and showmanship.

The stage was set for a night of political theater unlike any other.

Threading the Needle: To Check or Not to Check?

As the nation tuned in, O'Donnell and Brennan faced a Shakespearean dilemma: To fact-check, or not to fact-check? In a move that would make tightrope walkers jealous, they opted for a middle ground. "Our role," they declared, "is to provide the candidates with the opportunity to fact-check claims made by each other." But like a chef who can't resist tasting the soup, they occasionally sprinkled in their own seasoning of facts.

"The audience can't hear you because your mics are cut," Brennan told the candidates. "We have so much we want to get to."

The Springfield Showdown: Facts, Fury, and Muted Mics

The debate's crescendo arrived when Sen. Vance brought up Springfield, Ohio, painting a picture of a community besieged by immigration issues. As Gov. Walz attempted to counter, Brennan stepped in with a fact-check that ignited a verbal powder keg.

When words failed, the mute button prevailed.

What followed was a symphony of interruptions, with Vance protesting the unexpected fact-check and both candidates trying to out-talk each other. In a move reminiscent of a parent dealing with squabbling siblings, the moderators resorted to the ultimate power play: they cut the mics.

The Aftermath: Trump's Twitter-esque Tirade

As the dust settled, former President Trump took to Truth Social with the fervor of a keyboard warrior, decrying the "Fake News" and christening Gov. Walz with the eyebrow-raising moniker "Tampon Tim." The right-wing media ecosystem erupted in a chorus of outrage, with pundits like Megyn Kelly and Laura Ingraham leading the charge against what they perceived as moderator bias.

"F you CBS - how DARE YOU," Megyn Kelly eloquently opined on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Silver Lining?

Amidst the chaos, Jason Miller, a Trump campaign senior adviser, offered a surprisingly zen take on the evening's events. "I thought Sen. Vance masterfully handled that situation," he mused, seemingly unfazed by the moderators' fact-checking flip-flop.

The debate aftermath: a media maelstrom of epic proportions.

As the curtain falls on this political theater, one thing is clear: in the high-stakes game of vice-presidential debates, facts, mics, and decorum are all fair game. And in this era of heightened political drama, even a "civil" debate can turn into a spectacle that would make reality TV producers green with envy.