New rules and where to watch

President Biden and former President Trump are gearing up for their first debate of the 2024 presidential election. On Sunday, CNN announced that the candidates have formally agreed to new rules for the debate, including updates that will hopefully eliminate interruptions.

CNN, which will host the June 27 broadcast, is adamant about maintaining a respectful and constructive debate. In a statement, CNN declared that hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will “take every step to maintain the timing and ensure a civil discussion.”

Even with those protocols, the showdown between the two rivals is expected to be intense. Biden called his predecessor the greatest threat to democracy, while Trump slammed Biden as “the worst president in the history of the United States of America.” Moreover, their last debate in 2020 was chaotic, with the former president repeatedly interrupting, at one point prompting Biden to yell, “Will you just shut up?”

This time around, CNN is taking steps to keep the debate on track. Here are details on what viewers can expect and how to watch the showdown.

What are the new rules for the presidential debates?

Breaking with tradition, CNN will host the in-person debate instead of the Commission on Presidential Debates, and the network has introduced significant changes to the standard debate format (so far, the candidates have agreed to two debates, with the second to be hosted by ABC on September 10).

Both candidates will stand on a uniform podium and a coin toss will determine their position on stage, and the only items allowed to bring are a pen, notepad, and water bottle, meaning neither candidate will be allowed to bring props or pre-written notes, allowing for a more improvisational, unscripted interaction.

At the start of the 90-minute broadcast, Biden and Trump will not make opening statements, but they will each be allowed two minutes to make closing statements. Red lights will flash when there are five seconds left and turn solid red when time is up. When it is not their turn to speak, each candidate's microphone will be muted to avoid interruptions.

The two will take breaks during two scheduled commercial breaks but will not be allowed to interact with campaign staff during those breaks, and unlike past debates, there will be no studio audience.

How to watch the CNN debate

The first presidential election will be broadcast live at 9 p.m. ET on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and CNN Max and will be available to stream on CNN.com without a cable TV login.

Though no official announcement has been made yet, several rival networks are expected to broadcast the debate, but with some conditions attached, including that CNN must display its logo on screen during simulcasts and that other networks must call the event the “CNN Presidential Debate.”

The number of people tuning in to presidential debates has been declining in recent years: The last matchup between Biden and Trump drew 73 million viewers, down from a record 84 million in 2016. The decline was largely due to the rise of streaming, a trend that continues today as the TV industry undergoes continued upheaval.

But the broadcast, which will be the last public viewing opportunity, could give both candidates a chance to appeal to undecided voters in what is expected to be another hotly contested election.

Of course, each candidate is preparing for prime time in their own way: While Trump is warming up with rallies, Biden is leaning on his team. “The goal is to have no surprises,” said Kate Bedingfield, a former White House staffer. The New York Times. “In some ways, we need to prepare for the unthinkable.”