Trump’s Shadow Over the Republican Debate Readers discuss the debate and an interview with the former president. Also: Madonna; welcoming immigrants; animal shelters.
On the Debate Stage, Republicans Offered a Brief Glimpse of Trumpism Without Trump At times onstage, Republican rivals could imagine the primary race was about issues, ideology and biography. Then reality set in.
Takeaways From the First Republican Debate As Republican presidential candidates traded fire at their first debate, they mostly left their party’s dominant front-runner unscathed.
The Republican Debate Was an Infuriating Display of Moral Cowardice The candidates refused to tell the full truth about Trump’s lies.
The Trump-Free Debate That’s All About Trump Michelle Goldberg on the G.O.P.’s dilemma — and the competing strategies to beat Trump.