The Republican candidates try to figure out how to debate when the front-runner isn’t on stage. The Bulkwark’s Tim Miller joins the pod to talk about prep, bad candidates, and whether it’s too late for anyone to consolidate the anti-Trump Republican vote. Plus, Vivek Ramaswamy’s tennis moves, and our first-ever round of “I’m so Indicted”!

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Show Notes

NEWS ROUND UP 

• Des Moines Register: How every GOP presidential candidate performed with likely caucusgoers in new Iowa Poll
• NYT: DeSantis Tweaks His Messaging and Tactics After a Tough Campaign Stretch
• NY Post: DeSantis calls MAGA supporters in Congress ‘listless vessels,’ says Trump didn’t drain swamp
• CNN: Asa Hutchinson says he has qualified for the Republican debate
• WaPo: What to watch for in the first Republican debate
• NYT: Democrats, Popcorn in Hand, Root for a Rowdy G.O.P. Debate
• The Atlantic: Vivek Ramaswamy’s Truth
• NBC: Trump has already recorded his debate-night interview with Tucker Carlson, sources say
• NYT: How G.O.P. Views of Biden Are Helping Trump in the Republican Primary