CNN Shows Off Exactly How Mics Will Be Cut Off At Trump-Biden Debate

CNN gave a preview of how the microphones will be cut off during the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle on Thursday between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

A pair of green lights on each candidate’s podium will turn on whenever his microphone is turned on, signaling that it is that person’s turn to speak, CNN anchor Victor Blackwell explained.

When the green lights are turned off, the microphone on that platform will be muted, he added.

CNN demonstrates how the microphones will work during the debate tonight pic.twitter.com/XC0C297E29

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Blackwell and fellow CNN anchor Phil Mattingly then demonstrated how viewers will see and hear when a candidate tries to interrupt when it is the other person’s turn to speak.

Each anchor explained how his “volume remains constant” when his microphone is activated while the other’s voice “can be difficult to understand” when attempting to speak over the other.

“CNN’s production team has shared this demonstration with the campaigns earlier today, and we’re sharing it with you, our viewers, so everyone fully understands how tomorrow night will work,” Mattingly said.

He added, “We should note, by agreeing to participate in this debate, both campaigns and candidates have also agreed to abide by these rules.”

CNN’s debate is slated for 9 p.m. ET on Thursday and is expected to last 90 minutes. “State of the Union” anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash have been selected as moderators and will be directly across from the candidates.

Trump will enter on the right side of the screen while Biden will make his entrance on the left side, said Mattingly, who noted that the podiums will be eight feet apart. There will be no audience in the television studio.

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“Candidates will have two minutes to answer questions and one minute for responses and rebuttals,” Mattingly said. “At the moderators’ discretion, there may be an additional minute for follow-ups, clarifications, or responses.”

Mattingly also expounded on how a candidate will know how much time is left for him to speak.

“Attached to the cameras in the studio and in the candidates’ field of view are the timing lights. When the lights show yellow, there are 15 seconds left in the candidate’s answer or response,” he said.

“When the lights flash red, there are five seconds left, and when the display is solid red, the time is up,” Mattingly continued. “At that point, the candidate’s microphone will be turned off and the other candidate will have their microphone turned on.”