There’s a palpable enthusiasm in political circles, à la 2016, ahead of tonight’s historic presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump—the first time that a current and former Oval Office holder have engaged in televised battle about their competing visions for the nation. And given that this election season has coalesced around Trump’s legal headaches, the January 6 plot, Biden’s son’s own legal troubles, and questions about their advanced ages, tonight’s CNN debate promises to be dramatic, or at least less depressing than the rest of the cycle. 

The debate, itself, is almost certain to break viewership ratings for the network, particularly given its various spellbinding cliffhangers: Will Trump interrupt Biden a zillion times, even with his mic turned off, or go apeshit over his recent conviction? Will Biden have a senior moment? Will Trump? Will CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash simply stand by while the former president uncorks one of his provably false bot mots? It’s the stuff of great TV. Unfortunately, the future of democracy may hang on some of these points, too.