Apparently the only way the candidates will agree to do it is if the format is so stilted that there’s no chance of anyone learning anything or seeing the candidates get challenged on anything. It’s basically just a taking-in-turns version of a campaign commercial.
What, indeed, is the point. Like a lot of American politics, the whole “debate” survives as a pointless vestige of a thing (now long forgotten) that was useful and productive in its original form, but now is mutated to a useless and unrecognizable monstrosity, which you have to pretend is super serious and important if you want to be able to be on TV.
Throw some Costco Ghirardelli brownie mix in a mug
Add a little milk and stir
Microwave for roughly 45 seconds, until it starts bubbling, then quickly stop
Throw some vanilla ice cream on top
Eat it up with a glass of milk on the side
Fuckin delightful man