President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump finally squared off on Thursday night in the first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign.
CNN hosted the debate, which took place in Atlanta. The network declared that the first presidential debate would take place without a live audience, but would include two commercial breaks—the first presidential debate in history to have ads.
CNN also granted the debate moderators a new power: the ability to mute either candidate at will.
Many of these choices drew ire from critics, but the network’s choice for the debate’s two moderators probably drew the most backlash. Moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash have consistently expressed open disdain for Trump, accusing Trump of crimes ranging from Russian collusion and corruption to channeling Adolf Hitler and not “trusting the science” during…
