Heated Debate — ruling 1

If Heated Debate’s target is illegal (perhaps because it gained protection from red in response) when it tries to resolve, it will be removed from the stack and no damage will be dealt.

Heated Debate : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Heated Debate is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

This spell can't be countered. (This includes by the ward ability.) Heated Debate deals 4 damage to target creature or planeswalker.

How it works : Heated Debate

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1April 16, 2021· Wizards of the Coast
If Heated Debate’s target is illegal (perhaps because it gained protection from red in response) when it tries to resolve, it will be removed from the stack and no damage will be dealt.
No other card is named in this ruling.