Staff Reports
The highly anticipated presidential showdown between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump is set to hit your screens tonight. And where else would this circus be held but on CNN, the network that’s practically made a sport out of coming after Trump any chance they get?
Moderated by Dana Bash and Jake Tapper in the heartland of liberal media bias, aka CNN’s Atlanta studio, this debate promises to be as fair and balanced as a seesaw with an elephant on one side and a feather on the other. Bust out the popcorn; this is going to be good.
For those brave enough to face the liberal echo chamber, the debate will be broadcast live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and CNN.com. As if that wasn’t enough, the network has roped in Max—formerly HBO Max—to join the fun, making it accessible for streaming. If your remote has survived thus far, you can also catch it on major cable providers, such as YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Hulu + Live TV.
What time is the first presidential debate? How to watch Biden vs. Trump for free https://t.co/YnyrSMoGtY pic.twitter.com/1LsKASzC8H
— New York Post (@nypost) June 27, 2024
Not to be left out, the big guns at ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC/MSNBC will also broadcast the debate. After all, there’s nothing like a shared sense of doom to bring everyone together. Expect wall-to-wall analysis from pundits who are already re-spinning tonight’s events as if Biden won the Nobel Peace Prize just for showing up on stage.
Tonight’s festivities kick off at 9 p.m. Eastern; bless their hearts for thinking of the coastal elites, or 6 p.m. Pacific for those laid-back folks on the West Coast. Ninety minutes of verbal jiu-jitsu with two commercial breaks to let America’s favorite MyPillow ads roll.
The rules are a bit tighter this year, so I wouldn’t want any actual debate going on or anything. No notes, no consulting aides, and muted mics are the flavor of the night. Each candidate gets a pen, a piece of paper, and a bottle of water. No live audience means the only cheers for Biden might come from the CNN control room.
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who failed to meet CNN’s qualifying standards, is strangely absent from the proceedings. He would have needed enough ballot access to hit 270 electoral votes and poll at 15% across four national polls. Looks like the Kennedy magic didn’t quite cut through the mainstream media’s force field.
Mark your calendars—the next presidential debate is slotted for September 10 on ABC. Set your alarms again for the vice-presidential faceoff on July 23 or August 13, where Vice President Kamala Harris will presumably duke it out with Trump’s to-be-announced running mate. Hosted by CBS News—so you know exactly what to expect—this season of political theatre is just getting started.
