Below are some of the questions that stood out to me the most, slightly edited for clarity: Jake and Dana, we hope you enjoyed reading this – no need to thank us!
Putting pressure on the two presidents
The 2024 election is a battle between two men with ruthless presidential records, and many of you are hoping the moderator will dig in. James Hall, an independent voter from Colorado, asked a question that I liked for its candor.
What have you done that would make you worthy of being President of the United States again?
Ann McKelvey, who was born and raised in Pennsylvania, wants to know about their regrets.
What do you think was your biggest mistake during your presidency?
Trump and the Future of Democracy
Many of you are hoping to see the crisis in our democracy clearly laid out on stage, especially regarding Mr. Trump's plans for a second term. You want to be asked direct questions about his promise to become a “dictator” on day one and about my colleagues' reports that he is using government to exact revenge on his political opponents.
There are also economic questions about his plans to carry out mass deportations, such as one asked by Patty Vick of Pittsford, New York.
How much would deportations cost, and how would they replace the more than $11 billion in revenue the U.S. makes from illegal immigration?
Many of you want to see Trump confronted about whether he will respect the results of the 2024 election. And the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is on many of your minds, including Massachusetts' Betsy Stengel, who referred to two Capitol Police officers who have become critical of Trump.
If you were face-to-face with Capitol Police Officers Michael Fannon and Harry Dunn, how would you respond to their experience on January 6, 2021?
Biden's Economy
Biden is likely to talk about his economic accomplishments as president, but Judy Dunn of Southborough, Massachusetts, is among many who hope he will face tough questions about rising prices.
I want Biden to address the real pain that inflation is causing to ordinary people, and I want to know how he will address the widening income inequality.
A policy debate that has never been held before
Issues like abortion rights, the economy, and the nation's role in overseas conflicts like the wars in Ukraine and Gaza are at the heart of the campaign and will surely feature on Thursday night. But many of you want to hear about issues that aren't getting as much attention. Here's a key quote from Fred Lack:
How would you respond if a new pandemic were to emerge?
Darin Fitzgerald of Massachusetts posed a question that resonates with me personally.
How can we help first-time homebuyers achieve the American dream of homeownership?
And many of you want the candidates to be asked if they believe in climate change and what they'll do about it. That question comes from Keith Hansen in Montana.
I would like to see repeated questions about climate change and what we plan to do to address projected sea level rise and other challenges that scientists are warning us about.
Prank
Paul Gelormino of Portland, Oregon, posed a set of what he called “practical” questions that perhaps we can all answer.
1. Locate Ukraine on the map.
2. Name the first five presidents of the United States.
3. What was the Marshall Plan?
Personal
There are always questions designed to show candidates' softer sides — sometimes they're asked what they admire about each other — but it's unclear whether that's the right question to ask of two people as hostile as Trump and Biden are. But this suggestion from Delaware's Patty Donnelly could be revealing.
Who is your best friend and what do you admire about them? Is there any non-political advice they've given you that has inspired you or changed your life? What would they say about you?
Where do we go from here?
Trump is 78. Biden is 81. Many, including John Caron, 66, of Winter Park, Florida, would like to see the two candidates address the issue directly.
“How can someone who will be 80 during the next term run for president?”
Emile Sykes of Seattle wanted to take the question into more existential but potentially important territory.
How will both candidates respond to the fact that neither may be able to serve out the full term?
M. Lambert of Colorado wonders what happens next.
What will each candidate, whether they win or not, do to attract even better and more qualified presidential candidates in the future?