CNN announced Thursday that Kennedy did not qualify. All along, he looked to be a long shot. Email not displaying correctly?
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** OPINION
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** Two’s a party, three’s a crowd as RFK Jr. kept out of debate
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Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during the Libertarian National Convention in Washington last month. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hoped to elbow his way into next Thursday’s debate on CNN and, at the very least, play spoiler.

Turns out, any spoiling he does will have to be done from the sidelines.

CNN announced Thursday that Kennedy did not qualify for the debate, and so the first presidential debate will feature President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Not that any of this is surprising. All along, Kennedy looked to be a long shot for the debate.

CNN’s requirements stated ([link removed]) , “… a candidate’s name must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency prior to the eligibility deadline; agree to accept the rules and format of the debate; and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting.”

For starters, Kennedy reached the threshold in only three of the national polls, one fewer than the minimum.

Geoffrey Skelley, a senior elections analyst at 538, wrote for ABC News ([link removed]) , “Yet even if he had gotten a fourth poll, Kennedy sat well shy of CNN's requirement for ballot access at the end of the qualifying period. Unlike the major-party nominees, independent and third-party contenders aren't all but guaranteed ballot access in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, so they must navigate each state's rules for garnering a spot on the ballot — a process that usually involves gathering a sizable number of petition signatures. Kennedy's campaign claims to have made the ballot in 23 states worth 310 electoral votes, but CNN said last Saturday that it had only confirmed he'd made the ballot in six states worth 89 electoral votes.”

Kennedy has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging that CNN “colluded” with the Biden and Trump campaigns to keep him out of the debate.

Skelley wrote, “(The Kennedy camp) also argued that CNN is using different qualification criteria for Biden and Trump by mandating that Kennedy meet the 270-electoral vote ballot status requirement even though the two major-party contenders won't be formally nominated — and thus secure ballot access as their respective parties' nominees — until their conventions happen later this summer. In response, a CNN spokesperson said in May that ‘the law in virtually every state provides that the nominee of a state-recognized political party will be allowed ballot access without petitioning. As the presumptive nominees of their parties both Biden and Trump will satisfy this requirement.’”

In a statement on Thursday, Kennedy said, “My exclusion by Presidents Biden and Trump from the debate is undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly. Americans want an independent leader who will break apart the two-party duopoly. They want a President who will heal the divide, restore the middle class, unwind the war machine, and end the chronic disease epidemic.”


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** Flip of the coin
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President Joe Biden had an interesting choice after a coin flip this week. Ahead of next week’s debate against Trump, Biden’s camp chose “tails” in the biggest coin flip since the Super Bowl. The coin came up tails.

So Biden’s choice: Pick which podium to stand behind during next Thursday’s debate or the order of the closing statements.

Wouldn’t most people pick to go last in the debate, and thus have the final word?

Instead, Biden and his team decided they wanted to stand behind the podium that will be on the right side of viewers’ TV screens.

Maybe Biden thinks he has a “good side?” Or, perhaps, he just feels more comfortable on that side. Or maybe Biden’s team worked with a bunch of psychological experts who determined that viewers favor people who stand on the right? (I’m just throwing that last one out there for fun.)

Either way, that was Biden’s choice. Trump has decided to go last in the closing statements, meaning he will have the final word.


** And now for more media news, tidbits and interesting links for your weekend review …
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* Speaking of the debate, CNN’s MJ Lee, Alayna Treene, Kayla Tausche and Kevin Liptak with “How Biden and Trump are preparing for their first presidential debate.” ([link removed])
* Also, Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman of Poynter’s PolitiFact with “Prep for the first presidential debate with our guide to Biden, Trump talking points.” ([link removed])
* Fox News ([link removed]) and CBS announced they will pick up CNN’s simulcast of the debate. ABC News previously announced it would air the debate, as well.
* The Washington Post’s Drew Harwell with “TikTok slams U.S. in challenge to possible ban: Punishment ‘was the point.’” ([link removed])
* Tom McTague writes about the influx of British journalists in leadership positions at American media outlets in “Revenge of the Brits.” ([link removed])
* In a candid Facebook post, Washington Post associate editor David Maraniss, who has won two Pulitzer Prizes at the paper, weighed in on the controversies surrounding the Post, writing, “I don't know a single person at the Post who thinks the current situation with the publisher and supposed new editor can stand. There might be a few, but very very few. Jeff Bezos owns the Post but he is not of and for the Post or he would understand. The issue is one of integrity not resistance to change.”
* In a response to Maraniss’ post, Scott Higham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter at the Post, wrote, “Will Lewis needs to step down for the good of The Post and the public. He has lost the newsroom and will never win it back.”
* Assuming Lewis does stay on, he wants to start a “third newsroom” inside the Post. The Wall Street Journal’s Alexandra Bruell writes, “Washington Post CEO Plans a Mysterious ‘Third Newsroom.’ His Past Offers a Clue.” ([link removed])
* In news that could have an impact on Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held in Russia on false charges of espionage, The Wall Street Journal’s Ann M. Simmons writes, “Russia Says It Is Awaiting U.S. Response on Prisoner Swap.” ([link removed])
* Variety’s Cynthia Littleton and Todd Spangler with “What Went Wrong: Inside Paramount’s Failed Merger Talks and the Battle to Salvage the Company.” ([link removed])
* The New York Times’ Cara Buckley with “The Weatherman Who Tried to Bring Climate Science to a Red State.” ([link removed])
* There aren’t many actors and actresses who have been in at least 10 truly great movies. Not just good movies. Great movies. Donald Sutherland easily did that, with “M*A*S*H” and “Ordinary People” leading the list. The Canadian-born actor and father of actor Kiefer Sutherland died Thursday after a long, unspecified illness. He was 88. It’s unfathomable that he never received an Academy Award nomination. (In 2017, he received an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement.) But he will go down as one the best and most versatile actors of his or any generation. The New York Times’ Clyde Haberman has a good remembrance ([link removed]) .
* ESPN’s revolving door of analysts on its lead NBA announcing team continues. JJ Redick replaced Doc Rivers, who only worked a half season before leaving the booth to coach the Milwaukee Bucks. On Thursday, Redick reportedly agreed to become head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
* Fun stuff from Jake Kring-Schreifels for The Ringer: “The Oral History of ‘Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.’” ([link removed])
* Finally today, a solid and light list. The New York Times’ Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz with “The 40 Best Songs of 2024 (So Far).” ([link removed]) The list includes my favorite song of the year so far: “Right Back To It” ([link removed]) from Waxahatchee featuring MJ Lenderman.


** More resources for journalists
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* GlobalFact 11 ([link removed]) — June 26-28. Get yourvirtual ticket ([link removed]) to the world’s largest and most impactful annual summit for professional fact-checking.
* Applications are now open for Leadership Academy for Diversity in Media ([link removed]) .
* Manage big responsibilities without direct reports? Try Lead With Influence ([link removed]) .
* Understand U.S. Immigration From the Border to the Heartland ([link removed]) — Start any time.

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .
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