Tonight, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will meet in Atlanta for their first debate of the 2024 general election.
The debate is scheduled to commence at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast live on 90.3 KEDM or at KEDM.org.
Breaking from tradition, the CNN Presidential Debate is occurring earlier this year and introduces a new set of rules agreed upon by both candidates. Typically, presidential debates are held in front of live audiences on college or university campuses, organized by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). However, this event marks the first time a major news network hosts the debate as Biden and Trump opted for an earlier matchup.
Both candidates have agreed to adhere to the following rules for tonight's debate:
- Microphones will be muted unless a candidate is directed to speak.
- Candidates are prohibited from using prewritten notes or props. Each will be provided with a pen, paper, and a bottle of water.
- Podium positions and the order of closing statements were determined by a coin toss. Biden's campaign won the toss and chose the podium to the viewers' right. Consequently, Trump's team opted for the final closing statement of the evening.
NPR's Political reporter Elana Moore comments on tonight's agenda, noting, "I think it's likely Biden and Trump will address significant issues such as the economy and immigration, which are top priorities for many voters. International politics may also surface, particularly given the ongoing debate over U.S. military aid to Ukraine and Israel. Biden's campaign is keen to emphasize protecting abortion access, a rallying issue for many voters where Trump and Republicans have faced challenges."
The debate, moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, will last 90 minutes. NPR will provide live coverage of the event hosted by Steve Inskeep, joined by Senior Political Correspondent and Editor Domenico Montanaro, Chief Economics Correspondent Scott Horsley, White House Correspondents Franco Ordonez and Deepa Shivaram, Immigration Correspondent Sergio Martinez Beltran, and Correspondent Elissa Nadworny, who covers abortion and reproductive rights.
The second debate between Trump and Biden is scheduled for September 10 and will be hosted by ABC News.
