The CNN Exclusive Presidential Debate

The highly anticipated prime-time matchup on Thursday between President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump is set to be a historic event full of promise and peril.

For the first time in decades, a single television network, CNN, will have complete control over the general-election presidential debate. Unlike previous years overseen by an independent commission, CNN has taken charge of selecting the moderators, designing the set, and determining the camera angles that viewers will see.

The red CNN logo will be prominently displayed throughout the event, a reminder of who is in control. Rival channels seeking to simulcast the debate had to agree to keep the network’s on-air branding unchanged.

Scheduled for 9 p.m. Eastern, this debate is expected to draw a massive audience and could become the most-watched moment of the entire presidential campaign. The outcome of this event will have far-reaching implications leading up to the November elections. CNN, facing challenges such as declining ratings and viewer disinterest, acknowledges the weight of responsibility on their shoulders.

Mark Thompson, CNN’s chairman, expressed confidence in their ability to handle the pressure. “The fact that we secured this opportunity was a significant moment for us,” Thompson stated. “The public’s reaction, along with the media and politicians, will largely depend on the performances of President Trump and President Biden, who are the focal points of this televised showdown.”