For more than 200 years, government, education, and media leaders have encouraged open debate on important policy projects. Building on this tradition, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and the Bipartisan Policy Center have partnered to create The Senate Project to facilitate Oxford-style debates between prominent U.S. Senators. On Monday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will debate Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Fox News’ “Fox Nation” will feature the event. Fox News’ anchor Bret Baier will moderate the one-hour policy debate.
Speaking of the coming event, Baier said, “It’s really exciting. You can’t think of two senators who are more ideologically split apart.”
According to Fox News, the inaugural Senate Project event will be held in the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston’s full-size replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber. The event will be streamed live on the Fox platform.
Commenting on the location of the event, Baier said, “They will be in the well of the U.S. Senate, a replicate of that. And that’s where the debate will take place on big issues.”
Ideologically, Sanders and Graham are far apart. Graham is a conservative, pro-Trump Republican, and Sanders is a self-described socialist and Independent.
Graham has been a vocal opponent of progressive policies, claiming in late November that “the enemy is the radical left.” Sanders, a father figure in the party, has urged Democrats to unite and improve their messaging. Recently, Sanders admitted Democrats “have no message.” Noting the grim prospect of losing seats in the upcoming midterms, Sanders told the Conservative Journal Review:
“The Republicans stand an excellent chance of gaining control of the House and quite possibly the Senate.”
Sanders continued: “You can’t really win an election with a bumper sticker that says: ‘Well, we can’t do much, but the other side is worse.'”
According to the Fox report: “The goal of The Senate Project is to reintroduce the culture of seeking common ground and consensus that has been the essence of the Senate since it was conceived in 1789. An in-person audience of approximately 200 invited guests will be on hand.”
The debate will likely touch on many high-interest topics including the work of the January 6 committee, inflation, gas prices, gun control, the war in Ukraine, the recent assassination attempt of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the anticipated Supreme Court decision on abortion.
Anchor Bret Baier noted that “Each senator will have time, and then they’ll sit down with me for some questions and conversation. The idea is to not only highlight the differences but also maybe get to some places where they agree.”
Baier added. “It’s kind of the way the Senate used to work, and that’s the purpose of the project.”
Looking forward to the event, Bipartisan Policy Center President Jason Grumet told Fox News that U.S. “democracy rests on the ability to engage in serious issues and resolve legitimate differences. The Senate Project highlights the creativity and courage required to govern a divided nation.”
FOX News Media President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace said:
“We are pleased to partner with the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute to present this full debate without interruption to our Fox Nation subscribers…The Senate Project’s mission of providing the public with access to thoughtful, extensive debates from all sides of the political spectrum is well-suited for our viewers.”
Two future debates are scheduled in 2022. The next debate will be held in July at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The Second will be held at the Hatch foundation’s campus in Utah.
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