The VP Debate was everything I thought it would be. A lot of information, most of it bogus. Vance’s smooth and competent performance was characterized by an artisanal blend of condescension and contempt, littered with mansplaining and obsequiousness. In other words, Vance’s performance was polished but laced with arrogance, subtle disdain, and an undercurrent of false flattery.

Walz seemed tentative at first. I can relate to this because we extroverts are often reminded that we come in hot. But then he seemed to find his rhythm. But he suffered from manners. He didn’t interrupt; even when he corrected, it was gentle, like a teacher. He seems earnest, passionate and committed to the humans around him.

The differences were striking. I have tried to isolate the issues CBS introduced, quickly summarize what happened last night, and then provide the “rest of the story” for each item.

My Analysis Based on Studying All the Issues and Messaging

Republicans: Authority decides what will happen. Dark. Closed.	Democrats: You decide your future and we’ll help. Light. Open.
People can’t make good decisions; we will make them for you.	People are capable of making decisions; the problem is access. People need help faster.
The government should run like a business; let the free market decide. If you can’t afford it, work harder.	A government is not a business; it provides services for things a free market would destroy (e.g., healthcare, housing, groceries, mortgages, etc.).
America doesn’t need anyone or anything from another country. We can do it all here with Americans.	America needs support from other countries to protect our sovereign safety, buy our goods, help our supply chain, supplement labor, and more.
Diversity means people of color will be allowed to live near you, pilot your planes, work in the same place you work, and generally rape, pillage, and steal your future.	Diversity is our strength and our promise. Once the border bill passes, we can focus on assimilating white people* into our diverse country and all focus on America’s future again.

Foreign Policy and National Security

Iran’s Nuclear Threat Vance and Walz touched on whether a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran is justified, but neither thoroughly clarified what their administration’s specific red lines or strategies would be regarding nuclear proliferation.
RNC/Project 2025 Strongly favor military deterrence, sanctions, and possibly preemptive military action against Iran. Project 2025 would prioritize rebuilding military strength and focus on aggressive diplomacy backed by force.	DNC Support diplomatic solutions such as the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), aiming to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons while maintaining international partnerships and sanctions as needed.
Handling of the Middle East Crisis While Walz and Vance discussed the U.S.-Israel relationship and military involvement, neither fully explained their specific strategies for dealing with long-term stability in the region, especially regarding diplomatic solutions with Iran.
RNC/Project 2025 Favor aggressive military posturing and maintaining strong alliances with Israel, often favoring military over diplomatic solutions.	DNC Favor diplomatic engagement while supporting Israel. Advocate for working with international partners to address humanitarian concerns and regional stability.

Immigration and Border Security: Pass the Border Security Bill already!

Immigration and Housing Crisis Vance linked immigration to rising housing costs, referencing a Federal Reserve study, but the debate didn’t explore the study’s details or any comprehensive plan to address the housing shortage beyond rhetoric.
RNC/Project 2025 Emphasize border security, mass deportation, and strict immigration enforcement, including building the border wall and enforcing workplace regulations against hiring undocumented workers. Project 2025 supports limiting housing opportunities for undocumented individuals.	DNC Favor comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. DNC policies focus on increasing affordable housing, combating housing shortages, and supporting housing assistance programs.
Economic Impact of Illegal Immigration Vance mentioned that illegal immigration contributes to rising costs for housing and goods, but the debate didn’t explore specific policies to control these costs or reduce illegal immigration beyond broad claims.
RNC/Project 2025 View illegal immigration as a drain on the economy, favoring strict enforcement, deportations, and closing the border to prevent economic strain on public services.	DNC Favor immigration reforms that integrate immigrants into the economy, highlighting the positive economic contributions of immigrants, especially in essential sectors like agriculture and service industries.

Domestic Safety and Gun Control

Gun Control Legislation While Walz discussed the impact of gun violence and Vance expressed concerns about illegal firearms, neither fully addressed what specific bipartisan measures would be most effective in curbing mass shootings or gun-related deaths.
DNC Support measures like assault weapons bans, red flag laws, and expanded background checks. The DNC platform emphasizes protecting communities from gun violence through stricter regulations on firearms.	DNC Support measures such as assault weapons bans, red flag laws, and expanded background checks. The DNC platform emphasizes protecting communities from gun violence through stricter regulations on firearms.
Assault Weapons Ban Walz spoke about his changing stance on the assault weapons ban, but the conversation did not delve into concrete actions or potential compromises that could be made to balance gun rights with safety measures.
RNC/Project 2025 Strong opposition to any assault weapons bans. Project 2025 would likely support further deregulation of firearms and protect the Second Amendment against restrictions.	DNC Support reinstating the assault weapons ban and other regulations aimed at reducing mass shootings. The DNC promotes public safety reforms, including bans on high-capacity magazines.
Parental Responsibility in Mass Shootings Vance was asked about holding parents responsible for mass shootings but did not offer a clear stance on whether he supports legislation that would consistently enforce this.
RNC/Project 2025 Focus on individual responsibility, favor law enforcement solutions, and emphasize Second Amendment rights without imposing broad legal responsibilities on parents in mass shootings.	DNC Support holding parents accountable in cases of negligence related to mass shootings and advocate for stronger background checks, safe storage laws, and red flag laws to prevent gun violence.

Healthcare, Drugs, Public Health and Abortion

Health Care and Prescription Drug Costs Walz mentioned the need for fair drug pricing and highlighted the reduction of insulin prices. Still, beyond the general statements, there was no clear discussion about reducing prescription drug costs or improving healthcare access.
RNC/Project 2025 Advocate for a market-based approach to healthcare, favoring privatization and reducing government involvement in healthcare markets.	DNC Strongly support expanding healthcare access, lowering prescription drug prices, and protecting the Affordable Care Act. Advocate for government intervention to reduce healthcare costs.
Fentanyl and the Opioid Crisis Vance accused Harris of allowing fentanyl to enter the U.S. at record levels, and Walz highlighted a 30% decrease in opioid deaths. However, no specific, detailed plan on how to handle the opioid crisis or fentanyl trafficking was proposed.
RNC/Project 2025 Emphasize law enforcement and border security to stop fentanyl trafficking, potentially militarizing the border to cut off the supply chain.	DNC Favor a public health approach, increasing treatment options for addiction and emphasizing prevention through education and rehabilitation rather than punitive measures.
Abortion Rights Vance wants abortion decided by the states and highlighted the need for Republicans to regain the trust of Americans, particularly women, by offering more support for families. Walz defended the protection of abortion rights under Minnesota law, emphasizing women’s autonomy and citing cases where restrictive abortion laws have endangered women’s lives.
RNC/Project 2025 Strongly oppose abortion rights. Project 2025 advocates for severe restrictions or bans on abortion, supporting state-led efforts to limit or prohibit abortion access. The project may also push for laws that could monitor pregnancies and restrict access to contraceptives or fertility treatments, aiming to create a more “pro-life” framework nationally.	DNC Supports restoring and expanding Roe v. Wade protections, emphasizing reproductive rights as a matter of healthcare and personal autonomy. They seek to protect women’s rights to make decisions with their doctors, ensuring safe access to abortion, contraception, and fertility treatments.

Climate, Energy and the Environment

Federal Regulations and Housing Development Both candidates briefly discussed the impact of regulations on housing. Still, they did not resolve which specific federal regulations should be adjusted or how to streamline building without harming environmental or safety standards.
RNC/Project 2025 With a market-driven approach to housing development, seek to reduce regulations to speed up development and reduce costs.	DNC Smart regulation should be favored to ensure safety and environmental protection while supporting public housing initiatives, rent control, and government interventions to solve the housing crisis.
Climate and Energy Policy Vance suggested that opening up more federal lands for drilling would reduce energy costs and inflation. Still, there was no clear discussion on how this would align with environmental protection goals or long-term sustainability.
RNC/Project 2025 Favor deregulation of environmental protections, support for the fossil fuel industry, and oppose international climate agreements like the Paris Accord. Project 2025 promotes increased drilling and energy independence through fossil fuels.	DNC Strongly support climate action, renewable energy investments, and international cooperation on climate change (Paris Accord). DNC policies focus on reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to clean energy.

Economic Policy, Labor, Education, and Free Speech

Labor Strikes and Workers’ Rights Walz mentioned the dockworkers’ strike and the need to protect workers, but the debate didn’t explore what specific policies would be implemented to address ongoing labor disputes and ensure fair wages and benefits.
RNC/Project 2025 Oppose many union activities, advocate for right-to-work laws, and support limiting the power of labor unions. Favor deregulating labor markets to promote business.	DNC Strongly support labor rights, workers’ ability to strike, and collective bargaining. The DNC supports strengthening unions and increasing worker protections.
Education and Funding Vance criticized the current administration for high education costs and a failure to make life affordable for the middle class. Still, neither side had a clear proposal on how to reduce student loan debt or increase education funding.
RNC/Project 2025 Advocate for school choice, charter schools, and reducing federal involvement in education. Project 2025 would likely reduce funding for public education in favor of privatization.	DNC Strongly supports public education, advocating for increased federal funding for schools, reducing student loan debt, and ensuring equal access to quality education.
Social Media and Election Integrity Walz and Vance debated the role of social media in the 2016 and 2020 elections, but there was no resolution on how future campaigns should address the impact of misinformation or foreign influence on elections.
RNC/Project 2025 Argue against regulation, viewing it as censorship. They claim election integrity concerns are linked to unregulated social media manipulation and foreign interference but resist oversight.	DNC Support social media regulation to prevent election interference and misinformation. Advocate for transparency in election processes and protecting the democratic process from foreign influence.
Censorship and First Amendment Vance accused the Harris administration of censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic but did not provide specific examples or discuss how to balance free speech with misinformation.
RNC/Project 2025 They claim that social media companies and mainstream media censor conservative voices. Project 2025 would likely focus on removing regulations that limit free speech on digital platforms.	DNC Support measures to combat disinformation while balancing First Amendment rights. The DNC emphasizes responsible digital governance and social media oversight to limit harmful content.