Second presidential debate will be remote, which means Trump's interrupting might meet a mute button

“In order to protect the health and safety of all involved,” the next presidential debate will be remote, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced Thursday morning.

Since the debate is planned as a town meeting, the participants and moderator Steve Scully will be in one location, in Miami, Florida, while the candidates will “participate from separate remote locations.”

Thursday, Oct 8, 2020 · 12:27:31 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

And the candidates react … exactly as one would expect:

BIDEN CAMPAIGN STATEMENT, @KBeds: “Vice President Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together and building back better with Donald Trump's failed leadership on the coronavirus...”

— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) October 8, 2020

Trump just now on Fox Business: "I’m not gonna do a virtual debate."

"I'm not gonna waste my time on a virtual debate." pic.twitter.com/VRiGNN7V9q

— The Recount (@therecount) October 8, 2020

One of the technical problems that had been mentioned about cutting off Donald Trump’s microphone when he went over time or interrupted was that his shouting would still be audible over the other microphones in the area. Now, that won’t be a problem. They can mute him and no one will be able to hear a thing—although I dearly hope we’ll still be able to see his angry face on split screen.

More importantly, of course, this will protect Joe Biden and everyone else in the debate from Trump’s recklessness about spreading COVID-19.