“I’m the only candidate on this stage not bought and paid for.”

“I’ve had enough already tonight about a guy who sounds like ChatGPT.”

“Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don’t need to bring in a rookie.”

“This is exactly why Margaret Thatcher said if you want something said ask a man if you want something done ask a woman.”

THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF 2024 IS IN THE BOOKS.

WE HIGHLIGHT WHERE CANDIDATES STAND ON KEY ISSUES —

AND MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE STAGE.

“We’ll get bigger ratings using this crazy forum you’re using than the debate, the competition.”

THEN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP — THE FRONT RUNNER IN THE GOP PRIMARY —

COUNTERED DEBATE NIGHT WITH A ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH FORMER FOX NEWS HOST TUCKER CARLSON.

WHAT HE HAD TO SAY JUST HOURS BEFORE HE’S EXPECTED TO SURRENDER TO AUTHORITIES ON RACKETEERING CHARGES IN GEORGIA.

A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.

TAKE RUNDOWN OPEN

BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS.

TODAY IS THURSDAY — AUGUST 24TH.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF THE MORNING RUNDOWN —

RECAPPING KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY DEBATE —

AND WHAT THE FRONT RUNNER — DONALD TRUMP — HAD TO SAY TO SUPPORTERS IN COUNTER PROGRAMMING ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM X.

BUT FIRST —

WE BEGIN WITH THE EIGHT CANDIDATES WHO TOOK THE STAGE IN MILWAUKEE WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

TAKING HARD STANCES ON ISSUES FROM ABORTION, THE WAR IN UKRAINE, AND TRUMP’S INDICTMENTS.

– AND SAYING THEY AIM TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE OF THE PARTY, RATHER THAN DISTRACTIONS FROM THE PAST.

LETS BEGIN WITH THE ISSUE OF ABORTION.

ALL CANDIDATES TOOK A PRO-LIFE APPROACH INTO THE CONVERSATION.

THE CONTRAST WAS IN WHAT ROLE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD PLAY.

SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT BAN ABORTION OUTRIGHT?

SOME SAY YES —

INCLUDING FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE WHO SAID ABORTION IS A MORAL ISSUE — NOT A STATE ONE.

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR TIM SCOTT WOULD ENACT A 15 WEEK BAN.

AND FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS WOULD ENACT A SIX WEEK BAN AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

SOMETHING HE ALREADY DID IN FLORIDA.

“You gotta do what you believe is right. I was proud to sign the heartbeat bill.”

“What the democrats are trying to do on this issue is wrong to allow abortion up to the moment of birth.”

FORMER US AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY — THE ONLY WOMAN ON THE STAGE —

IS PRO-LIFE. BUT IS NOT FOR ANY ABORTION BAN AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL — ASKING HER COLLEAGUES TO FIND MIDDLE GROUND ON AN ISSUE REPUBLICANS HAVE LOST GROUND ON IN SWING STATES.

“Can’t we all agree we’re not going to put a woman in jail or give her the death penalty if she gets an abortion, let’s treat this like a respectful issue that it is and humanize the situation and stop demonizing the situation.”

THE CANDIDATES WERE ASKED ABOUT THE US FUNDING UKRAINE IN ITS WAR WITH RUSSIA.

BOTH DESANTIS AND TECH ENTREPRENEUR VIVEK RAMASWAMY SAY THEY OPPOSE MORE FUNDING.– THAT THE MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT KEEPING AMERICA SAFE.

FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE, PENCE AND HALEY DISAGREED.

LEADING TO ONE OF THE MORE HEATED MOMENTS ON THE DEBATE STAGE LAST NIGHT.

“This guy is a murderer and you’re choosing a murderer over a pro-American country… you’ve been pushing this lie all week, Nikki.”

THERE WAS A THEME IN LAST NIGHT’S DEBATE —

RAMASWAMY GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE CANDIDATES ON HOT BUTTON ISSUES.

SPARS ON THE DEBATE STAGE — LARGELY CENTERED AROUND THE YOUNGEST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

“I’ve had enough already tonight from a guy that sounds like ChatGPT.”

“I’m afraid we’re dealing with the same kind of amateur standing up here tonight — come over and give me a hug just like you did Obama.”

“Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don’t need to bring in a rookie.”

“Let us be honest as republicans I’m the only candidate on this stage not bought and paid for so I can say this – the climate change agenda is a hoax. Woah woah woah.”

THE CLIMATE CHANGE COMMENT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN —

WHO SHORTLY AFTER SAID ON SOCIAL MEDIA QUOTE “CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL BY THE WAY.”

THEN ABOUT AN HOUR INTO THE DEBATE – FOX NEWS ANCHOR BRETT BAIER, ONE OF THE MODERATORS, BROUGHT UP WHAT HE SAID WAS QUOTE “THE ELEPHANT NOT IN THE ROOM” – FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WHO IS FACING FOUR INDICTMENTS – TWO FEDERAL CASES, AND THEN ONE IN GEORGIA AND ANOTHER IN NEW YORK.

“You all signed a pledge to support…if former President Trump is convicted in a court of law would you still support him as your party’s choice. Please raise your hand if you would.”

CANDIDATES RAISED THEIR HANDS — SOME…..SLOWLY —

EXCEPT FOR FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR ASA HUTCHINSON AND FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE.

THIS WAS ONE OF MANY CONTENTIOUS MOMENTS ON STAGE —

AS CANDIDATES BEGAN TO POLARIZE ONCE TRUMP’S NAME WAS THROWN INTO THE MIX.

“Someone has got to stop normalizing this conduct.”

“President trump, I believe was the best president of the 21st century.”

“I’m not going to bow to anyone who disrespects the constitution.”

“Your claim that Trump is motivated by vengeance and grievance would be a lot more credible if your campaign wasn’t motivated by vengeance and grievance.”

“Booing is allowed but it doesn’t change the truth, it doesn’t change the truth.”

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT PENCE HAD HIS TURN TO DEFEND HIS ACTIONS FROM JANUARY SIXTH — BEFORE THE CANDIDATES CAME TO A CONSENSUS THAT THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT JANUARY OF 2025 AND IT’S TIME TO LOOK AHEAD.

“The president asked me….to put him above the constitution..i chose the constitution and always will.”

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, WHO HAD QUALIFIED FOR THE DEBATE, DID NOT SHOW UP ON THE STAGE DESPITE BEING THE GOP FRONTRUNNER.

INSTEAD, HE TOOK PART IN A PRE-TAPED INTERVIEW WITH FORMER FOX NEWS HOST TUCKER CARLSON THAT WAS POSTED TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE X JUST BEFORE THE DEBATE STARTED.

THE INTERVIEW HAS GARNERED MORE THAN 135 MILLION VIEWS AS OF EARLY THIS MORNING. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT X MEASURES EVERY PERSON WHO SAW THE VIDEO APPEAR IN THEIR TIMELINE, NOT HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCHED IT.

TRUMP HAS SAID DUE TO HIS POLL NUMBERS SHOWING HIM AHEAD OF ALL OTHER CANDIDATES HE DIDN’T NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE.

IN THE 46-MINUTE INTERVIEW, TRUMP WENT INTO FURTHER DETAIL ON HIS REASONING TO SKIP IT.

“I’m saying, do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president? Should I be doing that?”

SPEAKING ABOUT THE OTHER CANDIDATES – TRUMP CALLED FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON QUOTE “NASTY” AND SAID FORMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRISTIE IS RUNNING QUOTE “SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF LET’S GET TRUMP.”

TRUMP TOLD CARLSON HE IS DISAPPOINTED IN HIS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE AS IT PERTAINS TO WHAT TOOK PLACE ON JAN. 6, 2021, AND NOT SENDING THE ELECTION RESULTS BACK TO THE STATES. PENCE HAS SAID REPEATEDLY HE LACKED ANY AUTHORITY TO DO SO.

WITH THE FIRST DEBATE OVER, THE FOCUS SHIFTS YET AGAIN TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT, AS DONALD TRUMP IS SET TO SURRENDER TO AUTHORITIES IN GEORGIA TODAY ON CHARGES HE ATTEMPTED TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION IN THE STATE.

TRUMP FACES 13 COUNTS INCLUDING RACKETEERING AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FORGERY AND FALSE STATEMENTS.

FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FANI WILLIS HAD GIVEN TRUMP AND 18 OTHER CO-DEFENDANTS UNTIL NOON FRIDAY TO TURN THEMSELVES IN.

ON WEDNESDAY, TRUMP’S LAWYER AND THE FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK RUDY GIULIANI SURRENDERED. HE WAS BOOKED AND RELEASED WITH HIS BOND SET AT $150,000 –SECOND ONLY TO TRUMP WHOSE BOND IS SET AT $200,000.

ATTORNEYS JENNA ELLIS AND SIDNEY POWELL ALSO TURNED THEMSELVES INTO THE FULTON COUNTY JAIL ON WEDNESDAY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF THE MORNING RUNDOWN AND FOR CHOOSING STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS AS YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE.

AND NOW YOU CAN KNOW THE SECOND THE MORNING RUNDOWN IS AVAILABLE WITH THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP. THE APP IS FREE TO DOWNLOAD IN THE APPLE AND GOOGLE PLAY APP STORES. JUST SEARCH “STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.”

THEN MAKE SURE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS AND YOU’LL GET ALERTED EACH WEEKDAY MORNING WHEN IT’S TIME TO WATCH.

UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS. THAT’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY.