CNN clarified its microphone muting rules on Wednesday ahead of the first 2024 presidential debate, scheduled for Thursday.
Breaking with tradition, CNN debate moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper were able to mute Trump and Biden's microphones. CNN anchor Victor Blackwell appeared behind the podium to the right of the debate stage to demonstrate what a muted microphone would look like to viewers and both candidates.
“If you go behind the podium, you will see two green lights. When they are on, it tells the candidate their microphone is on. When the green lights are off, it tells the candidate their microphone is off,” Blackwell explained.
First, they showed two green lights lit next to a microphone on a white podium, then a CNN anchor demonstrated what it would look like when the microphone was muted and the lights went out.
“I want to illustrate here what it would look like to the viewers at home if a candidate whose mic is off interrupts a candidate whose mic is on,” Blackwell said. “So I'm going to stand at one podium and I'm going to have Phil stand at the other podium.”
CNN plans to mute microphones during the next presidential debate to stop candidates from talking over each other.
to follow: translation: pic.twitter.com/2R2GAuDMUV
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“So let's say I'm answering a question. My light is green and I'm speaking,” Blackwell said during a split-screen showing the two CNN anchors, featuring Trump and Biden on Thursday evening. “Phil's microphone is off, his green light is not on, and he's going to interrupt me as I'm speaking, and it's going to sound like this.”
Blackwell continued speaking as no sound came from CNN host Phil Mattingly's mouth. Blackwell did not show his CNN colleague's podium lights going on and off as he continued explaining the rules. For the segment, viewers were shown only the podium lights on the right side. (Related: 'I don't trust anyone on camera': Mike Rowe slams CNN's 'Kabuki' debate)
“My volume remains consistent even when Phil's interruptions are hard to understand,” Blackwell said.
President Joe Biden's team won the coin toss to choose where Biden would stand on the stage – the correct spot on the podium – and the result of the coin toss was that the Trump campaign was chosen to make the final remarks of the debate.
“Let's do the opposite,” Mattingly interjected, finally able to be heard. “My mic is on. Victor's mic is off. And he's trying to interrupt me.”
Blackwell appeared to begin to speak, but his voice could not be heard.
“I try to keep my voice volume consistent because sometimes Victor's interruptions are hard to understand,” Mattingly said.
CNN's production team shared the demo video with both the Trump and Biden campaigns, Mattingly added. The CNN anchor said the network is also sharing it with its viewers so that “everyone has a good understanding” of how mic muting works.
“It's important to note that by agreeing to participate in this debate, both campaigns and candidates have also agreed to abide by these rules,” Mattingly said.
