In the first and only debate between the two major parties’ vice presidential nominees, the two moderators from CBS News faced widespread criticism and ridicule for injecting their own biases into the debate, even to the point of ignoring their own rules.

As the Washington Examiner reports, moderators Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell started off the debate by declaring that they would not engage in any fact-checking, and would instead let the two candidates fact-check each other. They also said that candidates would be given time to respond if direct claims were made about them by their opponent.

However, on numerous occasions, the moderators refused to let Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), the Republican nominee, respond to accusations and attacks made by Governor Tim Walz (D-Minn.), the Democratic nominee, and would instead simply move on to the next topic. Conversely, they repeatedly gave Governor Walz time to respond every time he wanted to respond to Senator Vance.

In one instance, the moderators used the question of Hurricane Helene to push the narrative that “global warming” is real. When both candidates finished giving their answers on the issue, the moderators falsely declared that the “scientific consensus” is that global warming is real, even though there is no such consensus.

But the most contentious moment of the night came during the immigration discussion, when Senator Vance brought up the crisis of over 20,000 Haitian illegal aliens being transported to the small community of Springfield, Ohio, which has led to such domestic crises as Haitians hunting and killing domestic pets for food.

“The people I am most concerned about in Springfield, Ohio are the American citizens who have had their lives destroyed by Kamala Harris’s open border,” said Vance. “It is a disgrace.”

Following Vance’s remarks, Brennan attempted to fact-check Vance again, saying  “just to clarify for our viewers, Springfield, Ohio, does have a large number of Haitian migrants who have legal status, temporary-protected status.”

Vance then interrupted the moderators in their attempt to shift topics, pointing out that they were in violation of their own “no fact-checking” rule. As the moderators insisted on moving on, Vance continued speaking, explaining the Biden-Harris Administration’s use of the CBP One app, which guides illegals on how to come into the country.

“That is the flirtation of illegal immigration, Margaret, by our own leadership and Kamala Harris opened up that pathway,” Vance pointed out.

Walz attempted to interject as well, but the moderators muted both of their microphones, to which Brennan smugly commented “the audience can’t hear you because your mics are out.”

Despite the moderators’ biases and attempts to silence Vance, even mainstream polling showed that Vance was considered the winner of the debate. A CNN poll showed that 51% of debate watchers declared Vance to be the winner, while 49% chose Walz. CBS’ poll showed a similarly narrow gap, with 42% saying Vance won while 41% said Walz won, and 17% considered it a tie. Focus groups of undecided voters overwhelmingly chose Vance as the winner, with 12 out of 14 members of Frank Luntz’s focus group supporting the Republican candidate after the debate.