Republicans are branching out from the realm of broadcast media with their moderator selections for the fourth primary debate.
Wednesday night’s gabfest will be overseen by SiriusXM radio host Megyn Kelly, Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Eliana Johnson and NewsNation anchor Elizabeth Vargas.
The verbal bout among Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will take place in Tuscaloosa, Ala., with just six weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses.
Once one of the biggest stars in cable news, Kelly will be moderating a Republican primary debate for the first time since January 2016 — another confrontation which Donald Trump did not attend despite being the front-runner for the party nomination.
When asked about the odds of Trump taking the stage Wednesday night, Kelly recently told The Post, “I keep hope alive because the Secret Service went down there and was checking out the venue.”
“But his team is saying no.”
The Post has since confirmed that Trump will be headlining a closed-door campaign fundraiser opposite the debate.
Even with the 77-year-old’s absence, Kelly predicted that “the big winner will likely be Trump unless somebody manages to land a knockout blow.”
After graduating from Syracuse University and Albany Law School, Kelly worked in the legal field for nearly a decade before pivoting to journalism starting in 2003, when she was hired as a general assignment reporter by Washington, DC, ABC affiliate WJLA.
The following year, she jumped to Fox News, where she focused on legal and political reporting.
In 2010, Kelly was given her own afternoon show, “America Live,” which was a ratings hit.
Three years later, she debuted her own evening program, “The Kelly File,” while fronting the channel’s election night coverage in 2012 and 2016 alongside chief political anchor Bret Baier.
For many, the defining moment of Kelly’s FNC tenure came during the first Republican debate of the 2016 cycle, held in August 2015.
Three years later, she debuted her own evening program, “The Kelly File,” while fronting the channel’s election night coverage in 2012 and 2016 alongside chief political anchor Bret Baier.
Questioning Trump about his electability, Kelly noted: “You’ve called women you don’t like ‘fat pigs,’ ‘dogs,’ ‘slobs,’ and ‘disgusting animals.’”
When Trump joked in response, “Only Rosie O’Donnell,” Kelly shot back: “No, it wasn’t.”
“Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks,” she continued. “You once told a contestant on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who is likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?”
The future president responded: “What I say is what I say. And honestly, Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that.”
Trump boycotted the next debate Kelly co-moderated, days before the 2016 Iowa caucuses, which he lost to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
In January 2017, Kelly signed off from Fox News for the last time, accepting an offer from NBC that included the opportunity to front a daytime talk show, “Megyn Kelly Today,” and a current affairs program, “Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly.”
However, her tenure at the Peacock Network was not a success.