On Oct. 22, the presidential debate stage at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. was something that we haven’t seen to this point in the race: presidential. Both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden were subject to muted microphones for a two-minute stretch at the beginning of each segment while the other spoke.

The first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden and current incumbent President Donald J. Trump was moderated by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, and allowed each candidate to spar head-to-head for the first time since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic began.