Why Harris campaign is fighting for unmuted debate mics

They will be muted when it's the other candidate's turn to speak - but Ms Harris's team are pushing back.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersWhy Harris campaign is fighting for unmuted debate micsGetty ImagesThe two presidential candidates are set to go head to head on 10 SeptemberKamala Harris and Donald Trump are set to square off in their first presidential debate next month, but the campaigns are still warring over logistics - namely relating to the microphones.

Trump's campaign is pushing for the microphones to be muted when it is the other person's turn to speak. This is a rule that was originally requested by Joe Biden when he was the Democratic candidate.

Trump's team ultimately agreed to the request - which was an apparent effort by Biden's campaign to limit interruptions. (The pair's chaotic first 2020 debate was marred by constant interruptions, with Mr Biden eventually snapping at his rival: "Will you shut up, man?")

Some analysts say the Trump campaign's eagerness to keep the muting rule in place for the Harris debate on 10 September may be due to the positive reception he received for what was a more reserved performance than many had anticipated against Mr Biden in June. In practice, it made interruptions impossible.

The former president, however, appears less concerned by the rule and to some extent even undermined his own team's statements calling for it to remain in place. "[It] doesn't matter to me. I'd rather have [the microphones] probably on," he said on Monday.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1w79w380dwo

---