Left, Right & Center

Republicans Debate Safety, the House Agrees on Spending

The Republicans hold their last presidential debate of the year.

By Josh Barro • Dec 18, 2015 • 29m Listen

During Tuesday's GOP presidential debate Donald Trump said he wished that the money spent in the Middle East had gone to programs in the United States. It's a comment more universal than most made by the candidate. As host Josh Barro said, sometimes he's the only one who can bring himself to say the sane thing that everybody thinks. But Lizz Winstead said she just thinks he doesn't want to be president, he wants to be Rupert Murdoch. The candidates also debated immigration policy. Megan McArdle said this study by George Borjas proved that immigrants indeed drive wages down. Congress reached a deal on spending and taxes with a surprisingly low level of acrimony. Is this the new world order?

Josh Barro (New York Times) moderates from the Center. Rich Lowry (National Review) is on the Right. On the Left is Lizz Winstead (The Daily Show). Our special guest is Megan McArdle (Bloomberg View).

Photo: Republican presidential candidate businessman Donald Trump (L) reaches out to Senator Ted Cruz (R) as they talk during a commercial break during the Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas, Nevada December 15, 2015. (Mike Blake/Reuters)