Vice Presidential candidates to square off in audience-less debate; here’s how to watch

The duo picked by the nation’s two leading political parties to serve as Vice President will meet for a potentially consequential debate on Tuesday, their first and only currently scheduled meeting before voters head to the polls in November.

Ohio’s U.S. Sen. JD Vance, the Republican, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic candidate, are scheduled to square off at CBS Broadcast Center in New York City at 9 p.m.

Just like the debate already held between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris — and the one before that between Trump and President Joe Biden — this debate will go forward without a studio audience.

But unlike the Trump Harris debate, both candidates’ microphones will remain unmuted while the other is speaking. Harris’ campaign had requested live mics during her meeting with the 45th President, but Trump demurred and insisted on sticking to the rules that Biden laid out in the debate challenge he issued before he dropped out of the race.

Moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan will have the ability to mute the microphones, according to their network, but it will be up to the candidates to fact check each other while maintaining decorum.

The candidates are not expected to give opening statements and will argue for 90 minutes, with two four-minute breaks scheduled. Walz, as the candidate representing the incumbent party, is scheduled to speak first, according to CBS. Candidates will have two minutes to answer questions — which the network says they will not receive in advance — and a minute for rebuttals.

Neither will be allowed to interact with campaign staff during the debate or breaks, and are only permitted access to a notepad, a pen, and a bottle of water.

The debate is scheduled to end with two-minute closing statements. After the debate was scheduled, CBS apparently flipped a coin which Vance called correctly. He elected to speak after Walz, meaning he will get the last word.

Vance’s final thoughts may be the last time any voter sees these candidates or their running mates on a stage alongside their opponents. After the first presidential debate, CNN indicated it would be willing to host a second contest. Harris accepted, but Trump declined.

Tuesday’s debate will be broadcast on CBS, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, NBC, PBS, and Telemundo and will be available on multiple streaming platforms.

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