"Almanac" Debate Rules

"I've produced more televised political debates than any Minnesotan, living or dead."

- Brendan Henehan, 2018

This may sound like a big claim, but it's hard to disprove.  For nearly 35 years, series producer Brendan Henehan has decided which political candidates will receive an invitation to the "Almanac" studios, and he's used a nearly unchanged set of criteria the entire time.

On a recent episode of The Wrap, David Gillette asked Brendan about his debate inclusion policy, the history of its use, and how he arrived at the often-debated "5%" rule.