Bending chaos into conversation: CNN builds a framework for "smooth" presidential debates

The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match was recently rescheduled for Nov. 15 at the suggestion of Tyson's medical team following the news of his ulcer flare-up, but fans of bloodsport won't have to wait that long for an epic fight.

On June 27, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will face off in the first of two scheduled CNN debates moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, and, such as in any other grudge match, careful consideration is being taken by the organizers, and numerous rules and stipulations are being put in place by the network, to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Well, as smooth as possible.

Having dodged previous debates, Trump's "Anytime. Anywhere. Anyplace" bravado in recent weeks has caused an already established air of tension to build, ramping up to his one-on-one with Biden. As Trump is known for erupting into wild tangents whenever he's handed a microphone, CNN is hoping to have an easy fix that will, hopefully, allow Biden to get a word in: The mute button.

According to The New York Times, the network's rules for the debates are as follows:

• No opening statements.

• Biden and Trump will each have two minutes to answer questions — followed by one-minute rebuttals and responses to the rebuttals.

• Red lights visible to the candidates will flash when they have five seconds left, and turn solid red when time has expired.

• Each man’s microphone will be muted when it is not his turn to speak.

• They will be barred from huddling with advisers while off the air.

• The candidates will appear without a live audience and at lecterns determined by a coin flip.

Looks reasonable all written out like that, but once the cameras are rolling . . . it'll likely be "game on."

As NYT points out, "The Biden operation is blocking off much of the final week before the debate, after he returns from Europe and a California fund-raising swing, for structured preparations." While Trump "has long preferred looser conversations, batting around themes, ideas and one-liners more informally among advisers." The reading between the lines there hints at what many are already hip to, which is that a mute button will do little to keep Trump from Trump-ing.