No, this video doesn’t show the CNN debate moderator ‘helping Biden’ • FRANCE 24 English

Summary

The video script addresses the surge in misinformation regarding Joe Biden's mental and physical fitness, particularly following a recent debate. It debunks two viral false claims: one accusing debate moderator Dana Bash of signaling to Biden, which was proven deceptive through the full debate context; and another featuring a manipulated video of Biden discussing resignation, which was actually a 2020 interview about shared values with Harris. The script highlights the importance of scrutinizing online content for accuracy.

Takeaways

• 📈 Misinformation about Joe Biden's mental and physical fitness has gone viral, causing pressure from within his own party and the public.
• 📉 A deceptively edited video clip falsely claimed that debate moderator Dana Bash was signaling answers to Biden, which was widely shared on social media.
• 🔍 The clip was taken out of context; the full debate shows Bash's gestures were related to Trump's microphone being off, not assisting Biden.
• 🗣️ A CNN spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the claims of moderator assistance are misleading and false due to the deceptive edit.
• 📹 A viral fake video, posted by Alex Jones, claimed Biden would resign for medical reasons, but the video is from 2020 and taken out of context.
• 🕰️ The video in question was recorded in December 2020, during Biden's transition period, not related to the current presidential race.
• 🎥 The original context of Biden's statement about developing a disease to resign was hypothetical, discussing his working relationship with Vice President Harris.
• 👥 Biden's comments were about moral principles and hypothetical scenarios, not an indication of current health issues or intentions to resign.
• 🚫 Alex Jones has a history of spreading misinformation and has been ordered to pay damages for defamation related to a mass shooting incident.
• 🔎 The script emphasizes the importance of verifying information and the dangers of spreading unverified or misleading claims.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?

The main topic discussed in the video script is the misinformation and false claims circulating online regarding Joe Biden's mental and physical fitness, particularly following a debate performance against Donald Trump.

What was the claim about the debate moderator that went viral on social media?

The viral claim was that the debate moderator, Dana Bash, was helping Biden by using hand gestures to signal him where to look or how to answer questions, implying that he lacked the mental capacity to do so independently.

How did the video script address the claim about the moderator's hand gestures?

The script clarified that the clip showing the moderator's hand gestures was deceptively edited to omit context. It explained that Dana Bash was actually pointing to Trump to look at the other moderator, Jake Tapper, as he was about to ask a new question.

What was the context in which Dana Bash used the hand gestures during the debate?

Dana Bash used the hand gestures when Trump's microphone was cut off as per the pre-negotiated rules of the broadcast, and she was indicating to him to look at Jake Tapper for the next question on immigration.

How did the video script refute the claim about Biden admitting he would drop out of the race?

The script refuted the claim by pointing out that the video was not recent but from 2020, and the statement about developing a disease to resign was hypothetical, made in the context of discussing his working relationship with Harris and their shared values.

Who posted the viral video claiming Biden would drop out of the race?

The viral video was posted by Alex Jones, an internet conspiracy theorist and far-right personality, who has previously been ordered to pay millions of dollars for spreading misinformation.

What was the original context of the video where Biden talks about developing a disease to resign?

The original context was an interview from December 2020, where Biden was discussing his working relationship with then Vice President-elect Harris and comparing it to his relationship with Obama, emphasizing their shared principles.

How did the video script describe the reach of the misinformation on social media?

The script described the reach of the misinformation as massive, with one tweet alone having over 21 million views, and other posts having millions of views across various platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

What did the CNN spokesperson confirm to the news agency AFP regarding the moderator's hand gestures?

The CNN spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the claims of the moderator helping Biden were misleading and false, due to the deceptive cut edit of the video and the clear context available online.

What was the script's conclusion about the claims regarding Biden's debate performance and the subsequent misinformation?

The script concluded that the claims were indeed misleading and false, urging viewers to watch the official debate in its entirety for clarity and relying on official confirmations to dispel the misinformation.