For all the talk of living in a “post-truth” world under Trump, this has never really been true. Yes, Trump and his acolytes lie systematically and shamelessly, like past presidents have done. But there has also been a broad and vigilant media effort devoted to tracking and correcting the president’s constant lies, ensuring that with nearly every public appearance Trump makes, his falsehoods are loudly called out (“The 30 most troubling lines from Donald Trump’s latest news conference on coronavirus,” reads one recent CNN headline).

But if we weren’t living in a post-truth world before, last night’s CNN debate confirms we are now.

Last night, former–vice president Joe Biden — who has spent this campaign telling all manner of lies about himself and others — lied nonstop about his record, that of his opponent, and what he plans to do as president, with no pushback other than from his opponent.