The 2020 presidential debates are now implementing a feature where the microphones can be muted — and why it is just being added is beyond me.

The Commission on Presidential Debate (CPD) announced on Oct. 19 that it planned on muting Donald Trump and Joseph Biden’s microphone during the opening statement of each topic. 

“In order to enforce this agreed upon rule, the only candidate whose microphone will be open during these two-minute periods is the candidate who has the floor under the rules,” the CPD said. 

It’s an effort from the commission to “avoid the unruly spectacle that played out at the candidates’ first meeting in Cleveland last month.” 

I find this not only very funny, but also really sad. It’s very funny because two “seasoned” adult men (mostly one in particular) can’t let the other person talk without being interrupted. 

That reason is also why I find it really sad. Like, really guys? You HAVE to talk right as the other person is talking? 

Trust me, I think the person will still be there after the first minute of them talking. 

This would have been extremely helpful in the 2016 presidential debates.

You know what i’m talking about. If this had existed back, then I wouldn’t have had to listen to a minute long compilation of Trump interrupting Hillary Clinton with the word “wrong”.

I apologize for any flashbacks you might have gotten from that sentence. It was bad for me, too. 

Unfortunately, their microphones can’t be muted the whole time. After their opening statements, they can speak freely. 

Trump isn’t a fan of the change of rules , stating it’s “very unfair.”

I think it’s a needed change whenever Trump speaks. 

The commission added in a statement: “We realize, after discussions with both campaigns, that neither campaign may be totally satisfied with the measures announced today. One may think they go too far, and one may think they do not go far enough. We are comfortable that these actions strike the right balance and that they are in the interest of the American people, for whom these debates are held.”

Honestly, the muting of microphones was very nice. 

Ok, I have a conspiracy theory. I’m sure that if the CPD told both candidates that the microphones were muted, and they actually weren’t, the outcome would be the same.

The moderator telling the candidates to speak one at a time was a nice touch.

I thought Trump was disrespectful towards Biden during his opening statement. Biden didn’t shake his head or show any signs of not caring about what Trump was saying.

Trump did the exact opposite — he shook his head, and it looked like he rolled his eyes?

What is this, high school? 

I thought the beginning of the debate was very civil and as the NBC pre-debate discussion mentioned, it needed to be to somewhat save Trump’s campaign. 

Overall, the microphone muting I think should be integrated into all debates. It worked out well and created some calmness within the gradual chaos.