October 10, 2016

After watching Donald Trump's second presidential debate, Fox News' Shepard Smith wondered if "he's not really trying to win" so he can start a media network with Breitbart's Steve Bannon, who is also his campaign CEO.

Smith wanted answers from the WSJ's Glenn Hall and explained that Trump's debate performance was the kind that was sure to invigorate his already die hard supporters, but did nothing for the people he needed to convince to help him win the election.

Smith said, "His attack is what the base always wanted and the base got it in spades."

Smith also wondered if Trump saying that he'll set up a special prosecutor and throw Hillary in jail was "borderline unconstitutional, and even definitionally fascist, but it doesn't help with the ones [voters] you need, which is why I ask is he not really trying to win this race?"

Shep explained that Speaker Paul Ryan abandoned him after the debate and not before it, and asked, "He's brought his base together in a way -- if that didn't do it last night, they are together. Now, what does he do with them? Does he give them a media network or what is he doing?"

The WSJ's Glenn Hall said that Trump was trying to do damage control to keep the support he has, but Smith disagreed and said he never tried to reach out to voters that Trump still needs.

Smith then discussed how ill-prepared Trump was when discussing foreign policy asked again, if Trump was trying to develop a media network.

Shep said, "You have 40% or so. They're the ones who want to hate on the Clintons and want to make sure this and that Supreme Court justices and the rest. When you get asked a question about Aleppo and what are you going to do about Aleppo and you say a couple of words, a little word salad about Aleppo and then move on the something going on in Iraq, which is nowhere near Aleppo."

He continued, "You decided you'll just shore up your base, and why do that? Well, he might want to do something with that base after this election is over and there's been all kinds of talk about him develop something sort of media network that would play to that base with the former Breitbart editor, Bannon, who was in the room. It's all set up not as a guy who is trying to win what is left to get, but a guy who has another agenda. And I just wonder at the the Wall Street Journal. Do you have an idea what it is?"

Do any of us, Shep? Trump is being Trump.

Can you help us out?

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