1. Face-to-face at last
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will meet tonight on Long Island for their first debate. It begins at 9pm ET and is scheduled to last 90 minutes. Unless you’re camping, it will be extremely difficult to avoid.
Video: comparing debate styles
2. Do debates matter?
The cardinal rule of debates is that they don’t matter ... unless they do. Just ask Marco Rubio, who got mauled by Chris Christie in a primary debate and watched his poll numbers tank. A big moment onstage could change the race.
From the archive: Kennedy-Nixon
3. What the candidates must do
This is a case of pick-your-punditry. In one version, Clinton must avoid feeding voter doubts about her trustworthiness, while Trump must avoid coming across as a massive [redacted]. Some observers detect a double standard at work...
Opinion: fact-checking is vital
Summary
Because of double-standards & sexism, for Hillary Clinton to win tonight, she must... #Debates2016
— Iowa Starting Line (@IAStartingLine) September 26, 2016
4. Questions for Trump
How can you be trusted with the nuclear codes? Why would Mexico pay for you to build a wall? Is there anyone you regret offending? What evidence do you have against climate change?
10 questions to test candidates
5. Clinton and facts are friends
In advance of the debate, Clinton tweeted a link to 112 reasons she should be president and 126 disqualifying things Trump has done. Trump tweeted some poll numbers. Can she fact-check him to death? Which brings us to….
6. The third man
The debate will be moderated by NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt, who has shown his ability to fact-check both candidates in real time in recent interviews. One question tonight: how much will Holt use his whistle?
7. 'I hope so'
Asked whether his foundation follows charity laws – with reporting strongly suggesting the answer is no – Trump told an interviewer: “Well, I hope so, I mean, my lawyers do it.”
... and another thing:
Fact Checking: So hot right now pic.twitter.com/BYe1P4eCQv
— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) September 26, 2016
... and another thing:
@caaataclysm Little Jon Stewart(?) Is a pussy, he would be hopeless in a debate with me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2013
... and another thing:
