Vice presidential debate with Vance, Walz will have hot mics in stark contrast to Trump, Harris showdown

Are these things on? Yes, they are.

Next week’s vice presidential debate between Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will feature live mics for the entire 90 minutes, CBS News announced Friday.

The hot mic rule is a departure from presidential debates between former President Donald Trump and President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. In both cases, hosts CNN and ABC News said the candidates would be muted unless it was their turn to speak.

CBS News added that it “reserves the right” to mute microphones if producers deem fit.

Walz and Vance will square off Tuesday at 9 p.m. at the Tiffany Network’s studios in New York City.

The debate will be moderated by “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell and “Face the Nation” moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan.

Other rules for the debate are in line with the two presidential showdowns, including no studio audience, candidates standing up rather than sitting at a table, and no notes allowed. 

Each candidate will have two minutes to speak in response to moderator questions and their rival will have two minutes to respond, followed by one minute each for rebuttals.

Vance won the coin toss and opted to give his closing remarks last.

There will be no opening statements.

Walz will be standing on the right side of the stage as TV viewers see it, similar to where Biden Harris opted to be placed in previous debates.