GET ME REWRITE: Why is the media talking to 81-year-old Newt Gingrich anymore? He hasn't been relevant since 1994.

 

New York Times, 9/11/2024

And some of Trump’s allies say he did just fine, thank you very much, given a setup — with a pair of moderators who frequently fact-checked Trump — that many Republicans have already dismissed as “rigged.”   

“What we didn’t want, and what she did want, was for him to lose control in a way that would seem inappropriate dealing with a female,” said Newt Gingrich, the Republican former House speaker. “And I think he managed to avoid that.” 

Still, when I asked Gingrich about one particularly defensive moment — when Trump let Harris bait him into a disjointed and conspiracy-laden defense of the crowds at his rallies — he acknowledged it wasn’t ideal. 

“I frankly would just as soon he didn’t say that,” Gingrich said, “but I think compared to his potential for getting angry, it was fine.”