While his challengers clashed in Milwaukee, Donald Trump skipped the first Republican debate of the campaign for the relative comfort of an interview with ex-Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson.
Did any of the other presidential candidates surprise? It\u2019s an Americast Wisconsin special as the team try cheese curds and sip beer at a bar near the venue and link up with Sarah, who\u2019s in Atlanta waiting for Trump\u2019s latest arrest, to break down the showdown and the no-show.
And Marianna chats to local voters about how the politics has been playing out on their social media feeds.
HOSTS:\n\u2022 Sarah Smith, North America editor\n\u2022 Marianna Spring, disinformation and social media correspondent\n\u2022 Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent
GET IN TOUCH:\n\u2022 Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB\n\u2022 Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480\n\u2022 Email Americast@bbc.co.uk\n\u2022 Or use #Americast
Find out more about our award-winning \u201cundercover voters\u201d here: bbc.in/3lFddSF.
This episode was made by Rufus Gray with Catherine Fusillo. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The series producer is Daniel Wittenberg and the editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.
BBC SOUNDS CHAPTERS:\n00:00 \u2013 Trump\u2019s Debate No-Show\n04:07 \u2013 Debate Winners and Losers\n18:36 \u2013 US Voters Social Media Panel\n33:31 \u2013 Cheese Curd Wisconsinbly