Still doubt the debate happens but, here's the rules: https://time.com/6989767/...debate-rules-cnn-2024/

 
Commercial breaks
For the first time in recent history, the debate will feature two commercial breaks during the 90-minute broadcast, a departure from past commission-hosted events which did not include corporate advertisements. (This year’s debates are not being overseen by the commission.) However, campaign staff will be prohibited from interacting with their respective candidates during these intermissions, denying them the opportunity for strategic consultations or to touch up the candidates’ appearance.

No opening statements
Unlike previous debates, there will be no opening statements. Instead, each candidate will deliver a two-minute closing statement at the conclusion of the debate. The debate will begin with a question, with candidates each allotted two minutes to respond. This will be followed by one-minute rebuttals and responses to the rebuttals, along with additional time at the moderators' discretion. Visual cues, such as flashing red lights, will alert candidates to their remaining speaking time.
 
Muted microphones, no notes
Both Biden and Trump will stand at identical lecterns, with their positions on stage determined by a coin toss administered by CNN. Microphones will be muted throughout the proceedings except when it is the candidate's turn to speak, a measure aimed at curtailing interruptions that have marred previous debates. CNN has said that moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash  “will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion.”
Each candidate will be provided with a pen, notepad, and a bottle of water on stage; however, no props or written notes will be allowed. 

No live audience 
In a departure from tradition, there will be no studio audience in an attempt to minimize disruptions during the debate. Typically, audience members are instructed to remain quiet while the candidates are speaking, but that rule has not always been followed. 

Think both will benefit from a commercial break, as they are 100 years old.
Muted microphones hurt Trump, obviously. 
Opening statements will benefit the viewers. Everyone knows the jist of it.

This debate is to prove Biden hasn't lost his mind, and Trump is still with it as well. 
I expect it to be an embarrassment to the US for the most part. 

Also, just calling it now: Rigged questions, secret teleprompter, Biden pumped full of whatever to make him focus, etc etc will all be used after. 

Maybe. Diet Coke people are strange. Is it really that good? 

All Biden has to do is not fall asleep, and insult Trump. Public ate that up last round. 
"Will you shut up man?" was immediately a T shirt for sale in Bidens campaign store. 

It would serve Trump well to actually point out real issues and lay them in Bidens lap. I mean, I doubt he'll do much of that, but would be a smart move. 
If he wants voters to swap sides, he simply can't be the crying "boo hoo they stole the 2020 election" baby, or the nonsense spouter. 

I would reckon it would be beneficial for Biden to get Trump mad. The madder he gets, the worse he looks. 

DeadGator401

It would serve Trump well to actually point out real issues and lay them in Bidens lap. I mean, I doubt he'll do much of that, but would be a smart move. 
If he wants voters to swap sides, he simply can't be the crying "boo hoo they stole the 2020 election" baby, or the nonsense spouter. 

Trump can’t point out real issues. He could kind of do that in 2016. He definitely had lucid moments back then where he could talk about things like healthcare and actually make some sense. But now he’s just so deep into his own nonsense that half the time it’s like he’s speaking his own language.

A majority of the general electorate seems to be convinced that republicans are better on immigration and the economy, but trump can’t even speak intelligently about these things either. He just benefits from the reputation that right wing messaging has built. And it’s probably better for him that way, because mass deportations and more tax cuts for rich people and corporate America aren’t gonna win him those undecided voters.

psu_fish
Its the economy, stupid. Ppl arent dumb, they see what they are paying at the pump, at grocery store, utilities, EVERYTHING. 

Oh ok. What is trumps plan to fix these things?

Two commercial breaks over 90 minutes doesn’t seem excessive. In fact I think it makes sense to give everybody - debate participants, moderators, technical personnel working the broadcast… everybody gets a chance to take a break or fix some problems or whatever. Seems totally fine to me. All the debate rules do.

But ultimately, like I said, I don’t think any of it makes a difference. Even with better candidates, there is a lot of evidence that suggests debates just don’t really have much of an impact on actual election outcomes anymore.

Once upon a time, in the Nixon vs JFK days, a debate was maybe one of a few select opportunities to put your message out there to voters. That simply isn’t true in 2024, and in fact it really hasn’t been true for quite some time.

This election will come down to turnout, organization, and targetted messaging in swing states aimed at a very small group of voters who inexplicably haven’t made up their minds yet. We’ll see which campaign has better people running the show.

But anyway…. I’m gonna drink beer and catch smallies this weekend. Who does the best house made ice cream cones in tionesta and tidioute? My vote is Hallers. Me and my crew might also get some MAGA gear and roll up to cougar bobs on saturday night. That should be wild AMIRIGHT???

MyWar
 Me and my crew might also get some MAGA gear and roll up to cougar bobs on saturday night. That should be wild AMIRIGHT???

Nightmare first quarter for Biden. Trump wins first quarter.

Very odd to watch this in an empty room. Sounds so strange. 

Agreed. Anyone different on either side would clean this election up. 

Meanwhile, we're gonna be in that movie where I think Kevin Costner is the last vote in a tied race or something.

Bidens settled in as it went on, early on it seems his voice was nearly completely gone. 

Trump spouting nonsense, yet being unable to spew fully as he'll be muted. 

I swear they both spent like 15 minutes each sounding like 12 year olds saying "No he's the worst!"

The White House apothecary done screwed up.

Or maybe that whole 90 minutes was just another Republican deepfake trying to make Dementia Joe look bad.

He’s fine. He’s always been fine.

DeadGator401
Bidens settled in as it went on, early on it seems his voice was nearly completely gone. 

Trump spouting nonsense, yet being unable to spew fully as he'll be muted. 

I swear they both spent like 15 minutes each sounding like 12 year olds saying "No he's the worst!"

So much COPIUM in this one 

Mitchell
They made a huge mistake early in '19 by giving Biden the benefit of the doubt and the benefit of being the chief runner-up of the party

I would totally agree with this part. This does go back to 2019 when the party and almost the entire field of candidates consolidated behind Biden because they were terrified of the idea that Bernie sanders would win.

And much the same way that trump was nominated in 2016, sanders 2020 was gonna win with a plurality- benefitting from a crowded field of candidates, most of whom had no chance to actually win.

So I think a big part of the circumstances that led to bad candidates (both trump and Biden) is the vanity or hubris (or whatever you want to call it) of all these dipshiits that decided to run in these crowded primaries. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that both trump and Biden both came out of messy primaries and crowded fields.

Porktown
If the corpse is left to rot in this election, hands down Trump victory regardless of him going out and looking competent somewhere in the future.  This was so horrible, it will be lasting.  If he looks like that now at a debate, what are the odds he will look like that again in 2 years, 3 years, etc. at a summit with world leaders or addressing Congress.  The GOP Congress already thinks he is a corpse, now half of the Dems do, if not more.
 
I was planning to vote for him to just avoid another circus with Trump.  He completely lost my vote. 

Biden will not be the next president. I’m pretty certain of that. Either he stays on and loses to Trump, or they will be some kind of contested convention and another candidate will be nominated.

If Biden stays on though, this doesn’t affect my vote one bit. Not voting for one candidate is a de facto vote for the other. A second trump term will be an unmitigated disaster without a doubt and even zombie joe Biden can’t do as much damage as a deranged trump.

crappiefisher
16 hours later, WTH?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYghfyxtZnc
 

Yeah, maybe the guy was sick? 

Trump was pretty spot on and his usual self, but still had some cracks in the seams. Misspoke plenty, and spouted some real nonsense, but most was overshadowed by Biden's gaffs. 

It'd be very dumb for Trump to agree to another debate. Time will tell.