Everything to know about CNN's Trump-Biden presidential debate — and how it'll be different

What’s Donald Trump thinking?

That is always a dangerous question to ask, and most of the time you probably don’t really want to know the answer. However, he’s been stomping around at rallies and outside courthouses where he’s on trial saying that he will debate President Joe Biden anytime, anywhere. He also says he won the 2020 election, so you know, grain of salt and all that.

But it looks like he’s going to — on a network Trump hates and attacks, with moderators who routinely report honestly and aggressively on his lies, misleading statements and threats to democracy. (Other people’s, too.)

That would be Dana Bash and Jake Tapper on CNN, which will host the first of two agreed-upon debates. (Trump is calling for more.)

The first is scheduled for 6 p.m. Arizona time on Thursday, June 27 on CNN. The second is scheduled on Sept. 10 on ABC.

Biden debate conditions

There’s legitimate, um, debate over how useful a presidential debate will be, especially between two candidates we know as well as any in recent memory. And things didn’t exactly go smoothly the last time around, in 2020, when moderators struggled to rein in Trump's lies and antics. (Though Kristen Welker did the best job in the second and final one then.)

But Biden’s camp wanted some guardrails to keep Trump in check, and apparently got them. The biggest is that there will be no audience for the CNN debate. Yes, at every debate moderators tell the audience to hold their applause, a request the audience ignores, especially the MAGA types who hoot and holler like they’re at a professional wrestling match. (To be fair, Democrats don’t sit stoically, either.)

Biden also reportedly wants moderators to have the ability to cut off microphones. It’s all but a necessity when Trump is onstage. After constant interruption in the first of two debates in 2020, microphones could be muted in the second, the one Welker moderated.

Like everything else in our political lives, it’s all quite weird. There has never been a presidential debate this early — neither Biden nor Trump will even officially be their party’s candidate when the first one takes place. And they’re giving the Commission on Presidential Debates the runaround (as well as, apparently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.).

The idea is to get the debates in before early voting begins — and a chance for Biden, if he performs well, to cut into Trump’s leads in polls in swing states. If he doesn’t? You might hear about it from Trump and his supporters a little bit.

Moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are up to the task

I’m all for it. I think debates still have meaning, even if Trump won’t do anything but lie about his record and Biden’s, and make silly boasts about what a tough guy he is or whatever. For one thing, it’s important to get these things on the record in front of a national audience. This isn’t a rally in front of a Confederate flag-waving crowd of acolytes. It’s a debate moderated by two excellent journalists who have no problem keeping things honest.

It’s also important for Biden. Much like the State of the Union address, it’s a chance for him to knock down accusations that he’s too old and infirm to be president. (Trump has already said, “Crooked Joe Biden is the WORST debater I have ever faced — He can’t put two sentences together!” Biden, for his part, posted, “Trump says he’ll arrange his own transportation. I’ll bring my plane, too. I plan on keeping it for another four years” on X.)

All that’s just the sideshow. The bulk of a presidential campaign, at least the way they’re conducted and reported on now, is, too. But they can have value if the moderators can keep things on track and keep the candidates on task. Tapper and Bash can do their part. We’ll see about everyone else.

How to watch the Joe Biden — Donald Trump presidential debate?

The first debate is scheduled for 6 p.m. Arizona time on Thursday, June 27 on CNN.

The second is scheduled for Sept. 10 on ABC.

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Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump-Biden presidential debate on CNN: Everything to know