The first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle is set to take place on Thursday night, featuring a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. This highly anticipated event will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who previously described the 2020 Trump-Biden debate as a “hot mess” and a “s—show.”
The 2020 debate was marked by constant interruptions, personal attacks, and a failure to address key issues, leaving many viewers and political analysts dismayed. Tapper and Bash, who will be moderating the upcoming debate, were vocal in their criticism of the 2020 event. Tapper famously described it as “a hot mess inside a dumpster fire, inside a train wreck,” while Bash bluntly called it a “s—show.”
In the aftermath of the 2020 debate, Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, who moderated the event, expressed his disappointment. Wallace admitted that he struggled to maintain control and placed much of the blame on Trump for his incessant interruptions. “I’m just disappointed with the results. For me, but much more importantly, I’m disappointed for the country, because it could have been a much more useful evening than it turned out to be,” Wallace said.
As the 2024 debate approaches, CNN has taken steps to ensure a more orderly and substantive discussion. The debate will be held without a studio audience, and the candidates’ microphones will be muted when it is not their turn to speak. CNN has expressed confidence in Tapper and Bash, stating, “There are no two people better equipped to co-moderate a substantial and fact-based discussion.”
Jake Tapper, CNN’s lead anchor for Washington, D.C. events, has a long history of covering politics and moderating debates. He hosts “The Lead with Jake Tapper” and the “State of the Union” Sunday morning show. Tapper has previously moderated presidential debates, including a GOP debate in 2015 and the last Democratic debate in 2020 between Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders. He graduated from Dartmouth College and has authored several books.
Dana Bash, CNN’s chief political correspondent, anchors “Inside Politics with Dana Bash” and co-anchors “State of the Union.” She has extensive experience moderating political town halls and debates, having moderated two presidential primary debates in the 2020 election and six in the 2016 election. Bash graduated from The George Washington University and has launched special CNN series like “Being…” and “Badass Women of Washington.”
The upcoming debate will be the first face-to-face meeting between Biden and Trump since Biden took office in 2021. The 90-minute event is expected to cover a range of key issues, and both candidates will have the opportunity to present their visions for the future of the country.
In preparation for the debate, CNN has implemented several rules to prevent a repeat of the chaos seen in 2020. Microphones will be cut off when it is not a candidate’s turn to speak, and the moderators will enforce strict time limits. Despite these measures, it remains to be seen whether the debate will proceed smoothly or if it will devolve into another contentious showdown.
The debate will air live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español, and CNN Max. For those without a cable subscription, the debate will be streaming on CNN.com. The event is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27.
As the nation prepares for this pivotal moment in the 2024 election cycle, all eyes will be on Tapper and Bash to see if they can steer the debate towards a more productive and informative discussion. The stakes are high, and the moderators’ ability to maintain control and ensure a fair and balanced debate will be crucial.
Source: CNN, USA TODAY, The Hill, New York Times
