Round two of the Democratic presidential debates kicked off Tuesday night in Detroit, airing live on CNN, and compared with the June debates, things were fairly calm. No Spanish. No stunned looks. No one suggesting we get New Zealand on the phone.
But a lively mix of candidates -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Bernie Sanders, author Marianne Williamson, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Gov. Steve Bullock, Rep. John Delaney, former Gov. John Hickenlooper, former Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Rep. Tim Ryan -- found other ways to make themselves heard.
It's expected the candidate field will soon be whittled down, so some of the 20 featured over two evenings this week may not appear again. Last chance to make a meme, ladies and gentlemen. Go to it.
Marianne Williamson: US Ambassador of Candles
New Age author Marianne Williamson might not become president, but Twitter users had a long list of other Cabinet positions that might be a good fit. "Secretary of Keeping it Real," one person suggested. "US Ambassador of Candles," suggested another.
Marianne Williamson probably isn't going to be president but I could totally see her as Secretary of Love.
— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) July 31, 2019
U. S. Ambassador of Candles
— christina pazzanese (@CPazzanese) July 31, 2019
Secretary of Keeping It Real.
— Nathan Hunstad (@doctorgonzo) July 31, 2019
I like her for Space Force Chaplain.
— Linda Therese (@syblcat) July 31, 2019
Or captain of the love boat.
— Roslyn Metchis (@Roslynbooks) July 31, 2019
Bernie Sanders wrote the damn bill
Sen. Bernie Sanders scored points with viewers for a sharply delivered line. When Sen. Tim Ryan tried to tell Sanders he didn't know what would be included in Medicare for all, Sanders snapped back, "I do know! I wrote the damn bill!"
The line was a hit on social media. "Bernie is at his best when he's an angry old grandpa," wrote one Twitter user.
I WROTE THE DAMN BILL
— 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗼 🏳️🌈🌺 (@bendashper) July 31, 2019
Bernie is at his best when he's an angry old grandpa #DemDebate
Live look at Bernie and Tim Ryan right now #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/mttOZf9AG6
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 31, 2019
Bernie to Tim Ryan: "I do know that I wrote the damn bill!" #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/OMKlAHFxLU
— Secular Talk (@KyleKulinski) July 31, 2019
bernie shouting “i wrote the damn bill” is the first time i have felt genuinely happy in 367 years
— Official Enya VEVO (@nachdermas) July 31, 2019
BERNIE WROTE THE DAMN BILL Y'ALL #demdebate
— Bill Neidhardt (@BNeidhardt) July 31, 2019
“You don’t know that,” Rep. Tim Ryan tells Sen. Bernie Sanders when Sanders says “Medicare For All” will provide union members with better health coverage.
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) July 31, 2019
Sanders responds: “I do know that — I wrote the damn bill.” https://t.co/NvsCbeUe5R #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/tjyUHF1DBo
Jake Tapper's ready to fight
Moderator and CNN anchor Jake Tapper got some buzz for posing questions to the candidates some viewed as combative. He asked Gov. John Hickenlooper, for example, whether he considered Bernie Sanders "too extreme" to beat Donald Trump.
"Jake Tapper is moderating this debate like Andy Cohen hosts a Real Housewives reunion," cracked one Twitter user.
Jake Tapper is moderating this debate like Andy Cohen hosts a Real Housewives reunion #DemDebate
— joey morona (@joeyjoe) July 31, 2019
Jake Tapper asking such fight starting questions. He's like that dude who's like "I heard this guy called you a bitch, you gonna take that?" #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/BerkKSYHps
— Luke Oluoch (@broluoch) July 31, 2019
Tapper: please tell our listeners why voters will hate your plan
— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) July 31, 2019
Jake Tapper: "If you had to kill someone ON THIS STAGE"
— roamon (@atlasraf) July 31, 2019
Dem Candidates: “keep going, girl. do your show.”
John Delaney: "Elizabeth Warren"#CNNDebate #cnn #demdebate pic.twitter.com/yx5pX2qSxM
Jake Tapper right now #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/xWA5oCQXzS
— BAXTER (@baxtervaz3) July 31, 2019
Maybe I DO have to yell
Bernie Sanders came back into the spotlight later in the night when Tim Ryan told him, "You don't have to yell, Bernie." Some on Twitter disagreed. One Twitter user made a Friends reference, writing, "Tim Ryan telling Bernie not to yell about climate change is like Ross telling Rachel they were on a break."
Ryan just told Bernie he doesn’t have to yell 😂😂😂 #DemocraticDebate #DemDebates pic.twitter.com/RniT4ut0Og
— Alby Schrödinger’s Flerkin (@albyselkie) July 31, 2019
tim ryan: you don’t have to yell bernie
— rudy mustang (@rudy_mustang) July 31, 2019
john delaney: yeah bernie
jake tapper: bernie, stop yelling
bernie: NOOO I WILL NOT STOP YELLING THERE ARE PROBLEMS AND I’M GOING TO YELL ABOUT THEM pic.twitter.com/b1jaWfdHOt
Wait...I dismissed Tim Ryan too fast. "Bernie, you don't have to yell."
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 31, 2019
THIS MAN HAS MY VOTE#DemDebate live
When you tell Bernie not to yell #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/CDQlBbjg8W
— Scott (@unironicsatire) July 31, 2019
If you asked Bernie his phone number, I get he'd yell it at you. #DemDebate
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) July 31, 2019
#DemDebate
— Abeni Davies (@ay_raerae) July 31, 2019
Tim Ryan telling Bernie not to yell about climate change is like Ross telling Rachel they were on a break. pic.twitter.com/YKtQyfzlvN
How about those 'dark psychic forces'?
Marianne Williamson made herself another meme when she cited the "dark psychic force of collectivized hatred," with the unusual phrase earning her a round of applause. But it also attracted social media wits.
"A dark psychic force.... - what does Marianne Williamson have against Miss Cleo??" asked one Twitter user.
it clicked rn that marianne williamson is like professor trelawney in harry potter. she might say some crazy shit but tbh ain’t none of it a lie. the “dark psychic force of collectivized hatred”? yup.#DemocraticDebate #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/FvSDmGKt8Y
— b (@briyetti) July 31, 2019
marianne williamson headed offstage to fight the dark psychic force pic.twitter.com/E06Lh6r871
— Hannah Jewell (@hcjewell) July 31, 2019
#DemDebate Moment of the night for me...
— Adam (@adamaxiom) July 31, 2019
Marianne Williamson: "What happened in Flint would not have happened in Grosse Pointe."
HUGE applause.
Then...
Marianne Williamson: "dark psychic force" pic.twitter.com/xMy0Ysywx1
“The dark psychic force — “ Marianne Williamson is the only candidate onstage ready to battle the society of Scanners. pic.twitter.com/lv1ZgGXhdH
— Joe Hill (@joe_hill) July 31, 2019
“A dark psychic force....” - what does Marianne Williamson have against Miss Cleo?? #DemocraticDebate pic.twitter.com/zstvXZDOGj
— John Edwards (@Anorak_CA) July 31, 2019
Throw your hands up
John Hickenlooper and Bernie Sanders had an interesting exchange. After criticism from Hickenlooper made Sanders gesture with his hands, the two traded words about throwing up their hands. It quickly made for a handy meme. "They definitely did the wave," said one Twitter user.
John Hickenlooper said he thought Sen. Bernie Sanders' policies were too extreme for the White House.
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) July 31, 2019
Sanders then threw up hands, prompting Hickenlooper to say, "Throw your hands up..."
Sanders snapped back, saying, "I will." https://t.co/5KqjTkaZft #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/VzAL44mrLB
I anticipate some good memes of that Hickenlooper/Sanders “throw your hands up” exchange#DemDebates pic.twitter.com/VehE5vkTS8
— Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Ph.D. (@nataliapetrzela) July 31, 2019
they definitely did the wave pic.twitter.com/S8O86nfd3d
— andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) July 31, 2019
— leewah (@leewah) July 31, 2019
Throw your hands in the ayuh / wave 'em like ya don't cayuh pic.twitter.com/uIxshxk0xl
— Dave Brown (@dave_brown24) July 31, 2019
#DemDebate
— Jeremy Werner (@MegaFooboy) July 31, 2019
Hickenlooper: "Alright, throw your hands up, Bernie"
Bernie: pic.twitter.com/cLgN1pPCIn
On Wednesday, CNN will host a second night of debates, featuring former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Kamala Harris, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Gov. Jay Inslee, businessman Andrew Yang, Sen. Cory Booker, former HUD secretary Julián Castro, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Sen. Michael Bennet.
Originally published June 30, 6:04 p.m. PT.