CNN is making it easier for the Democratic presidential candidates by announcing in advance which questions won't be asked

The Washington Post

CNN's announcement for its July 30 and 31 debate stated "there will be no show of hands or one-word, down-the-line questions." To which Erik Wemple responds: "What? Even if CNN decided that it doesn’t like the theater of such questions; even if CNN decided that it doesn’t want its debates to make headlines; even if CNN decided that it didn’t want to put the candidates on the spot regarding contemporary controversies; even if CNN decided that it didn’t want good ratings; even if CNN decided that, somehow, these sorts of questions were journalistically corrupt, why would it broadcast this limitation in a public release? Why would it crimp its moderators — Dana Bash, Don Lemon and Jake Tapper — by plucking a wrench from their toolboxes?"