Signage at the media filing center ahead of tonight's presidential debate between Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.Pablo Martinez Monsivais/The Associated Press
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will face off for the first time in a presidential debate tonight. As the two candidates go head-to-head on a range of policy issues, they will each aim to break open what has recently become a fairly close race.
Here’s what you need to know about catching the debate in Canada:
What time is the presidential debate? How long will it last?
The debate will start at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday and is expected to last 90 minutes. It’s being moderated by ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir and Prime anchor Linsey Davis. The debate is taking place in Philadelphia, at the National Constitution Center.
What channel will the debate be on in Canada?
Several U.S. and Canadian networks will simultaneously broadcast the debate at 9 p.m. ET. Depending on your cable package, you can watch on any of the following channels:
- ABC
- CNN
- CBC News Network
- CTV News Channel
- PBS
- NBC
- CBS
- Fox Network
How can you stream the debate online?
Several of the networks mentioned above, including ABC, will also stream the debate on their YouTube channels. Viewers can tune in on YouTube.com or on their mobile devices using the YouTube app.
Is there an easy way for me to follow along with what’s mentioned?
The Globe and Mail has put together a quirky debate bingo card, which you can print out and cross off squares as familiar jibes and political clichés make their way into tonight’s debate.
We’ll also be running a context tracker during the debate that will be featured on our homepage and X account.
What debate rules will the candidates have to follow?
ABC has laid out parameters, from the basic form – 90 minutes, with two commercial breaks – to the specification that moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis “will be the only people asking questions,” perhaps in a bid to avert a free-for-all between the candidates.
“Moderators will seek to enforce timing agreements and ensure a civilized discussion,” the network said.
The candidates’ microphones will be muted when it is not their turn to speak. The Harris campaign agreed to this rule after weeks of back-and-forth with the Trump campaign, with Ms. Harris’s team initially hoping for so-called “hot mics” throughout the debate and Mr. Trump’s team pushing for muted mics.
CNN’s June debate between President Joe Biden and Mr. Trump also had muted microphones when candidates were not speaking. In addition, the CNN debate banned any props, had no live audience and included two commercial breaks, conditions that are expected to be replicated tonight.
After a virtual coin flip won by Mr. Trump, the GOP nominee opted to offer the final closing statement, while Ms. Harris chose the podium on the right side of viewers’ screens.
There will be no audience, written notes or any topics or questions shared with campaigns or candidates in advance, the network said.
Will there be more debates?
So far, the presidential candidates have not come to an agreement on meeting again for another debate.
CBS News will host a vice-presidential debate on Oct. 1 between Ms. Harris’s running mate Tim Walz and Mr. Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. That event is planned to be held in New York.
With files from the Associated Press