Should Debate Moderators Fact-Check?

The role of debate moderators has become a subject of debate in its own right during the 2016 presidential election. Earlier this month, "Today" show host Matt Lauer came under fire when he moderated NBC's Commander-in-Chief Forum and failed to call out Republican nominee Donald Trump for repeating his false claim that he had opposed the Iraq War. Lauer's critically-panned performance subsequently led to discussion about whether or not moderators should fact-check the candidates during the official presidential debates.

Following the Commander-in-Chief Forum, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign expressed frustration with the media's lack of fact-checking of her opponent. The Clinton campaign sent a fundraising email that read, "At this point, we should understand that we just can't sit around and wait for fact checkers in the media to keep Trump honest. We have to step up and do it ourselves. No one will do it for us. And the outcome of the election could hang in the balance."

Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace has indicated that he will not fact-check when he serves as a debate moderator in October. He explained, "I do not believe that it's my job to be a truth squad. It's up to the other person to catch them on that."

Lester Holt of NBC News will assert his position on the issue when he moderates the first debate between Clinton and Trump on Monday. Regarding Holt's task, Trump told Fox News on Thursday, "Well, I think he has to be a moderator. I mean, you're debating somebody and if she makes a mistake or I make a mistake, I'll, you know, we'll take each other on." He then suggested that debate moderators should not follow the example of CNN's Candy Crowley, who sparked controversy in 2012 for taking issue with Republican nominee Mitt Romney's condemnation of President Barack Obama's response to the Benghazi attacks.

However, some journalists disagree. "If journalists aren’t interested in being part of the truth squad, they should find another sport," wrote media columnist Margaret Sullivan in the Washington Post. NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik said, "You have to pick your moments, you can't challenge on everything. But you also have to be present, I don't think you abdicate your role as a truth-seeker and a journalist by being a moderator."

So, should debate moderators fact-check the presidential candidates? Here's the Debate Club's Take: