Those CNBC moderators in last October’s Republican debate were just way too mean, wanting Republican presidential candidates to answer questions about stuff like policy, and to explain some of the things they said about stuff like policy, and about each other. The Republican National Committee can't have any of that, so they've decided they just won't play with NBC anymore.
"The Republican National Committee has decided to move forward without NBC’s participation in the February debate in Houston, Texas. The RNC has awarded the debate to CNN, who will broadcast it on Thursday, February 25 in Houston at a location to be decided," RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. "The RNC is ensuring the partnership with Telemundo and conservative partners National Review and Salem Communications will continue as planned." […]
"We were betrayed, and I think the candidates were betrayed by CNBC," Priebus said in October while explaining his decision to suspend NBC's partnership. "And we need to look out for the candidates in these future debates."
Granted, the CNBC debate was kind of a debacle, but with the material they had in terms of candidates, what else could it be? But the real complaint from Republicans was that they had too many "gotcha" questions. Like how Donald Trump could actually make good on his promises to do outlandish things, like "build a wall and make another country pay for it." Or deport 11 million people. Or cut taxes by $10 trillion without raising the deficit. They also asked Marco Rubio about why he wasn't doing the job he was elected for, and how could he promise to lead the nation when he couldn't control his personal finances. They asked Ted Cruz what exactly he had against equal pay for equal work.
None of that was acceptable to the debaters, so they all ganged up on the moderators and now have escalated their attack to cutting all ties with NBC. That's all following the number one rule for a Republican politician: If you don't want to answer the question, attack the media for asking it. It's also a warning shot to the other RNC debate "partners:” Make the candidates look good or lose your show.