All the rules for the presidential debate between Kamala and Trump on ‘most biased’ network ABC

The Disney exec who oversees ABC is one of Harris' best friends. In fact, she set Harris up on a date with Doug Emhoff, leading the two to marry 10 years ago. Debate hosts David Muir and Linsey Davis have also been called out for their lack of objectivity when it comes to Trump and the GOP. The Media Research Council found that, based on their past efforts, the two would use their position in the moderators' seats to "frame Trump as a 'racist' 'white supremacist' who will restrict 'abortion rights,'" but will portray Harris "as a 'glass-ceiling' breaker as well as a protector of 'reproductive freedom.'"

So what are the rules for the 9 pm prime time debate?

Mics will be muted for candidates when it is not their turn to speak. This was a provision agreed to and requested by the Biden campaign when he was at the top of the Democrat ticket. Harris sought to have unmuted mics, likely so that she could attempt to rile Trump into interrupting her and so she could interrupt Trump herself. In her 2020 debate against then-Vice President Mike Pence, Harris got much play from telling Pence "I'm speaking" when he tried to contest her points. This time, she will be denied that opportunity for what's been called her "I'm speaking" moment.

The debate will run for 90 minutes with two commercial interruptions. There will be no audience, as with the June debate, which was a demand made by the Biden campaign. Moderators Muir and Davis will be the only ones permitted to ask questions and the candidates will not be allowed to question each other. Candidates' response times will be limited to 2 minutes each. However, there will be the opportunity to take another minute each for what the rules call "follow-ups, clarifications, or responses." The two will stand at opposing podiums, will enter the stage from opposite sides, and Trump, who won the coin toss, chose to deliver the last word. Harris chose to stand on the right side of the television screen.

There will be no opening statements and the debate will begin with questions for the candidates. Harris' campaign had requested opening statements, as well as a seated debate where candidates could have their notes with them. Harris has been criticized for what appears to be her inability to speak extemporaneously and her request to have her notes, like an open book freshman year lecture exam, did not aid that appearance. Each of the candidates, however, will have a pad of paper, a pen, and a bottle of water. No questions or topics were shared in advance with either team, per the rules.