Agreed. I also think that debate has evolved to the point where it tends to be solely focused on winning arguments. It has always had a bit of that, but it also used to serve as the most effective way to exchange ideas and develop new perspectives.

The kind of debate where one person is genuinely open to changing their mind (which often leads to the most productive discourse, although not necessarily the most entertaining depending on who you ask) just isn’t suited for politicians who oppose one another and are vying for the same thing. That could be a certain office, or simply power itself, or just attention.

Now the point of political debate is mostly to make your opponents views look less appealing, usually by winning the argument, mostly in very subjective ways. Even when it’s supposed to be casual, people just can’t let go of the polity of it all because of politicized everything has become. Productive discourse can still happen, but truly novel ideas that appeal strongly to both sides of an issue seem to come few and far between.