Behind the Scenes at South Carolina Debate: A Glimpse into Hosts' Preparation
National Journal's Rebecca Kaplan caught up with Scott Pelley, host of CBS Evening News, and Major Garrett, Congressional correspondent for National Journal, to talk about their preparations for the upcoming South Carolina Republican debate. As they sipped coffee in a quiet room behind the scenes of the presidential showdown, Pelley and Garrett opened up about how they get ready for these high-stakes events.
"I think we both knew going into this one that it was going to be intense," said Pelley, reflecting on his experience hosting debate after debate. "We've done so many of them now that you start to develop a sense of what works and what doesn't."
Garrett chimed in, explaining how the hosts' dynamic plays a crucial role in shaping the debate's tone. "Scott and I have a great rapport on stage," he said, "and we make sure to keep our banter light while still pushing each candidate to answer tough questions."
The hosts shared that their prep work includes hours of research on the candidates and issues at hand, as well as extensive rehearsals with the debate format. "We rehearse so much in advance that we can anticipate what might happen," Pelley said. "It's all about being one step ahead and staying flexible."
As they took a break to grab a snack, it was clear that their chemistry on stage is key to delivering an engaging experience for viewers. "The goal is always the same: to make sure our audience gets the information they need," Garrett emphasized.
Now with the debate behind them, Pelley and Garrett will spend the rest of the day getting ready for the next event – a grueling schedule that includes interviewing candidates, writing articles, and analyzing data. For these seasoned hosts, it's all part of the job, but it's clear that they're driven by more than just a desire to cover politics: they want to inform the public and spark meaningful conversations.
As the debate wraps up and another one looms on the horizon, it's clear that Scott Pelley and Major Garrett are seasoned pros. But despite their years of experience, they remain focused on what matters most – delivering an engaging, informative experience for the American people.
National Journal's Rebecca Kaplan caught up with Scott Pelley, host of CBS Evening News, and Major Garrett, Congressional correspondent for National Journal, to talk about their preparations for the upcoming South Carolina Republican debate. As they sipped coffee in a quiet room behind the scenes of the presidential showdown, Pelley and Garrett opened up about how they get ready for these high-stakes events.
"I think we both knew going into this one that it was going to be intense," said Pelley, reflecting on his experience hosting debate after debate. "We've done so many of them now that you start to develop a sense of what works and what doesn't."
Garrett chimed in, explaining how the hosts' dynamic plays a crucial role in shaping the debate's tone. "Scott and I have a great rapport on stage," he said, "and we make sure to keep our banter light while still pushing each candidate to answer tough questions."
The hosts shared that their prep work includes hours of research on the candidates and issues at hand, as well as extensive rehearsals with the debate format. "We rehearse so much in advance that we can anticipate what might happen," Pelley said. "It's all about being one step ahead and staying flexible."
As they took a break to grab a snack, it was clear that their chemistry on stage is key to delivering an engaging experience for viewers. "The goal is always the same: to make sure our audience gets the information they need," Garrett emphasized.
Now with the debate behind them, Pelley and Garrett will spend the rest of the day getting ready for the next event – a grueling schedule that includes interviewing candidates, writing articles, and analyzing data. For these seasoned hosts, it's all part of the job, but it's clear that they're driven by more than just a desire to cover politics: they want to inform the public and spark meaningful conversations.
As the debate wraps up and another one looms on the horizon, it's clear that Scott Pelley and Major Garrett are seasoned pros. But despite their years of experience, they remain focused on what matters most – delivering an engaging, informative experience for the American people.
. And you're right, it's not just about asking tough questions but also keeping the banter light too. Scott Pelley and Major Garrett seem like pros though, they know exactly what works. I mean, you gotta stay one step ahead with all that prep work... it's exhausting just thinking about it 
. As a viewer, it's great to have hosts who are on top of their game, making sure we get the info we need without being too scripted or fake. They're like the behind-the-scenes superheroes 
.
They're good at their job, no need to overthink it 
. Just two guys with a job to do, making sure folks get the facts straight 
. Can't go wrong with that 
.
. It's not just about asking questions and getting answers, but also about creating a dynamic atmosphere that keeps viewers engaged 
. Their prep work is on point too - hours of research and rehearsals to anticipate what might happen 
. And I love how they emphasize the importance of sparking meaningful conversations 
. It's not just about covering politics, it's about informing the public and making a difference 
, it's refreshing to see hosts like Pelley and Garrett taking their job seriously 
.
But what I find really interesting is how much prep work goes into all this. Hours on end researching and rehearsing – that's some serious dedication! 
. It's clear that Scott Pelley and Major Garrett take their jobs very seriously, but also know when to have a bit of fun on stage 
, you know? They seem like super pros who really care about doing their job right 
. It's not just about reading from a script and asking questions, it's about creating an atmosphere that gets people engaged and informed about what's going on in politics 
.
. It's like they're trying to make politics sound cool again (spoiler alert: it never will be). But in all seriousness, Scott and Garrett do seem like pros at what they do – they want to inform the public and spark conversations, which is more than I can say for some politicians 
. Maybe one day we'll get a debate that's not so... scripted 
.
. And then there's the banter – it's like a funny little dance they do on stage 
. That's what makes debate watching so compelling for me – it's not just about who's going to win, but about what we can learn from each other 
... and you can tell it's not just about asking tough questions 
, but also about creating that flow of conversation 
.
. And hey, if we can make it fun for both the candidates and the audience, that's even better 
their prep work must be super chill since they're not sweating bullets on live TV... or are they? 
. It's all about being one step ahead and staying flexible - I can totally relate that to my own mindfulness practice! 
They're not just reading from a script, they're actually having a conversation with the candidates... it makes such a difference in how engaging and informative the debate is. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good banter between two hosts 
. I mean, you're sipping away, and then suddenly it's like a sad cup of liquid at your desk. Anyway, back to the debate hosts... did you guys know that there's this one cafe near my place that has the best pastries? 
The goal is to inform the public, not just push their agendas. It's all about sparking meaningful conversations and getting people the info they need 
.
.
. You can feel the energy and the tension building... it's like they're trying to have this epic conversation with the whole country 
. And at the end of the day, that's what it's all about: getting the information out there and starting meaningful conversations 
anyway gotta respect pelley and garrett tho they seem super down to earth and just wanna give the american ppl the facts