I think the play we are seeing is smart here. There is swelling momentum from center right Republicans urging their colleagues to distance themselves from trump and frankly an unprecedented amount of endorsements for Harris from the right side of the aisle.

This mentality of hot mics for the whole debate is trying to fan those flames within that movement.

This move in 2020 or 2016 would not be smart, but he's losing his chokehold as cult leader of the Republican party. It's still a risk in this race but I think much less so when they seem to be planning and preparing. This seems thought out to me.