This is how you know she lost.

Mike Pence debated Kamala Harris last night, and it was not a pretty sight for the Democrat. As per her usual arrangement, Harris ended up grimacing, cackling, and making faces most of the night because she had no ability to respond substantively to most questions.

In the end, Pence was a solid winner, having put in the best debate performance of the entire political season so far, including the primaries. But the media can’t just let Pence be the winner of a debate he obviously won. Instead, they’ve come up with one of the more pathetic excuses to brush aside a rather horrid performance by Harris. Apparently, Pence was not being fair to her because he “mansplained” the whole night.

The talking points went out immediately.

ABC's George Stephanopoulos:

"A lot of people were noticing some mansplaining going on tonight." pic.twitter.com/5FtQlyxL9p

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 8, 2020

Every woman I know has given this look when some man attempts to mansplain or present an idea that isn’t theirs. #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/l02K8eIzO4

— Jamira Burley (@JamiraBurley) October 8, 2020

I asked a man I know what he thought of the debate. He said: “The debate was over when she said Mr. Vice President you are interrupting me” #mansplaining

— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) October 8, 2020

Pence dominated Kamala so thoroughly and convincingly that the media's only available tactic is to accuse him of being a sexist for debating a woman at a debate. These people are such clowns. Parodies of themselves. pic.twitter.com/OXaIKnV58Y

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 8, 2020

Harris also complained about getting “equal time” throughout the night. The media dutifully pretended that was an issue for her.

"I would like equal time": Kamala Harris pushed back after Mike Pence repeatedly went over his time for answers at the #VPdebate https://t.co/K93TgPwUao pic.twitter.com/z2qhukL6yZ

— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 8, 2020

In reality, Harris spoke for three minutes more. If there was any real time disparity, it favored her throughout the night.

unofficial speaking times –

Pence: 35:22
Harris: 38:48

via @Kjwalsh_news

— Rick Klein (@rickklein) October 8, 2020

The moderator (who appears to have written a biography for Nancy Pelosi) spent most of her time interrupting Pence while she allowed Harris to have the run of the place. Yet, the narratives were written before the debate even started. We all knew that no matter how cordial Pence was, and he was fairly cordial, the media would claim that he was being sexist. That’s exactly what they are doing. It’s hard to fathom how inappropriate it is for Andrea Mitchell, for example, to post #mansplaining when she’s supposed to be a journalist.

But that’s where we are. Pence destroyed Harris so they needed to come up with a reason for why she lost. It doesn’t matter that she talked more. It doesn’t matter that Pence had to debate the moderator as well. They want voters to believe that things were somehow unfairly tilted toward the orange man’s campaign. It’s insane, but it’s the same playbook they use every single time.

(Please follow me on Twitter! @bonchieredstate)