Media

Fox News to air Graham, Sanders debate on cable  

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) speak to reporters on designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism during a press conference in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

Fox News plans to air a recent debate between Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) this weekend on its main cable channel. 

The debate, which took place on Monday, was originally broadcast via live stream on Fox Nation, the network’s streaming service. The network said the Sanders-Graham debate was the most-watched program on Fox Nation that day, and viewers spent an average of 46 minutes watching the hourlong event. 

Moderated by Fox anchor Bret Baier, the Oxford-style debate featured at times pointed jabs from the two leading senators on issues ranging from gun control to former President Trump’s claims about the 2020 election to the state of the economy. 

In one highlight, Graham told the liberal senator from Vermont, “You just can’t tax people into oblivion and turn every problem over to the government.” 

During a discussion on gun reform laws, Sanders pressed Graham, saying, “You’re going to have to ask your Republican colleagues whether or not they think it’s OK that anybody can walk into a gun store, go through a background check. You could be suicidal, you could be homicidal and have all kinds of issues.” 

Fox said it would air the debate in full on Saturday at 7 p.m.