Here's what it will look like

Yes, it goes without saying that most Americans are incredibly interested in the next general elections in November.

But that doesn't mean there aren't critical stops on the way to that destination, and few dates are more important than June 27.

On that day (a Thursday) the acting president will take place Joe Biden sparring verbally with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee and his immediate predecessor, former Pres donald trump.

It will be the first debate in which any man would have participated during this election cycle.

(Trump considered the other candidates in the Republican primary to be beneath him and refused to debate any of them. Meanwhile, Biden has gone out of his way to avoid a debate with independent presidential candidate Robert F .Kennedy Jr., more on him shortly.)

Given the early nature of this, it's no surprise that most political pundits are waiting with bated breath for that June 27 debate.

For these experts and onlookers, this long-awaited debate is starting to take a slightly firmer shape.

In accordance with CNN — which will host the inaugural debate, while not exactly a haven for pro-Trump thought — both the Biden and Trump camps have agreed to a set of rules regarding the debate.

Some of these rules are expected, while others are breaking with previously established norms.

One key rule both sides have agreed to: All microphones will be muted unless a candidate is actually speaking, in an attempt to minimize out-of-turn interruptions.

One minor rule both sides have agreed to: Both Trump and Biden will debate from podiums, with podium positioning determined by a coin toss.

One potential problem for Trump, 78, and Biden, 81: Neither will be allowed to use note cards or accessories of any kind. Biden, specifically, has been criticized by needing note cards in the past. Anyone who has seen the president rely on these letters has to wonder how much this rule will affect him.

In one way this debate will be different from others in the past: there will be no live audience.

Both men will be able to carry a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water. Attendees will not be allowed to interact with any of the candidates during the debate.

The entire ordeal will last 90 minutes, with two scheduled commercial breaks.

While all of these rules will definitely apply to both Trump and Biden, there is a question as to whether these debate rules will also apply to other presidential candidates.

The aforementioned Kennedy, perennial Green Party candidate Jill Stein and independent philosopher Cornel West are also vying for a seat at the table, but it's unclear whether any of them will make it.

All three candidates largely qualify for the debate except for two key metrics: Candidates must appear on enough ballots to theoretically reach the 270 electoral votes needed for a victory, and candidates must 'get 15% of the polls in at least four nationally recognized polls. .

Kennedy comes the closest by qualifying for 89 electoral votes, reaching 15% of the polls in three nationally recognized polls. Both figures still do not meet the requirements for debate.

After the CNN debate on June 27, the president and likely GOP nominee will meet again on September 10 for a debate on ABC.

---