Debate director and rhetoric expert on Biden vs. Trump presidential debate

John Koch, senior lecturer and director of debate at Vanderbilt University, is available for commentary on the presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

A recognized scholar on presidential communication and rhetoric, John uses a wide range of methods to understand and explain political and policy debates. His research is guided by the question of how we can improve citizenship practices and debates within our political culture. He has served as chair of the National Communication Association’s Argumentation and Forensics Division and the Committee on International Discussion and Debate. John has published various book chapters on presidential rhetoric.

Topics he can speak to include:

• What arguments to expect from the candidates
• What each candidate needs to do and not do in the debate
• How to determine who wins a debate
• What to watch for/what issues might come up in the debate
• History of presidential debates
• The usefulness of presidential debates and how we might improve them
• How adults can discuss politics and debates with their children by watching debates together
• After debate analysis of who may have won and what issues/moments may be salient to voters
• The debate styles of the candidates and their histories in debates