President Biden and former President Donald Trump will face off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election on Thursday night in Atlanta.
It begins a new phase of the presidential race, less than five months out from Nov. 5, Election Day, as the matchup remains extremely tight. Biden and Trump stand virtually tied, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, which echoes a months-long trend of recent national surveys.
The debate also breaks with campaign tradition, occurring months earlier than usual and with a new set of rules both candidates have agreed to, including no live audience. It’s also the first debate either candidate has participated in this campaign season. Biden largely ran unopposed, and Trump notably skipped the GOP primary debates.
Here’s what you need to know about this first debate.
When and how to watch
The event starts at 6 p.m. PT and will run for 90 minutes. It will be moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash and take place at the network’s studios in Atlanta.
The debate will be available on CNN and the streaming platform Max, formerly known as HBO. Viewers without a cable login can watch on CNN’s website.
NPR and LAist will be providing live on-air special coverage of the CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast. Plus, you can follow NPR’s live blog for updates and analysis during the debate. You can also listen live here on LAist.com or at 89.3 FM in Southern California.
Who will be there?
Biden and Trump are the only presidential candidates who qualified for the debate stage.
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to meet the threshold,…
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