Mother Jones; Julio Cortez/AP; Getty

Like many Americans, I am dreading the first presidential debate of the 2024 election, an event that’s all but certain to feature a litany of vile lies by one candidate and awkward, if not painful stumbles by another.

But Thursday’s high-stakes 90-minute encounter will also see an exceedingly rare moment: Donald Trump onstage with a mic muted—at least when it’s President Biden’s turn to respond—after the two candidates agreed to CNN’s rules. An audience won’t be present for the event either, another key departure from previous presidential debates.

The new rules appear to be an attempt to avoid the incoherent mess American voters witnessed during the 2020 debates, with Trump spewing toxic rhetoric, lies, and vicious personal attacks at a relentless clip. But will guardrails prove to be enough to shut up a man who, during countless moments, seems genuinely incapable of even the slightest restraint?

“I was surprised that Trump’s people let them agree to the muting of the microphone issue,” Will Baker, director of New York University’s Debate Fund, told me. “It’s going to be interesting to see how that actually plays out.”

For decades, Baker has coached some of the country’s top college debaters and I reached out to hear his thoughts ahead of Thursday’s rematch. He offered some insight into what strategies Biden could employ to win over a serial liar, what he about those absurd cocaine insinuations, and what Trump could do to circumvent the mic-muting.

Let’s start by reflecting on the 2020 debates. What was your reaction at the time?

It was disappointing. It fell apart so dramatically and voters were ultimately deprived........

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