Should Trump's Microphone Have Been Cut? New Rules May Change After Constant Interruptions In First Debate

The Commission on Presidential Debates Wednesday announced changes to the debate format following Tuesday’s chaotic matchup between President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden.

The commission said it is adding new “tools to maintain order” for the two remaining debates Oct. 15 in Salt Lake City and Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Moderator Chris Wallace was at a loss in trying to rein in Trump, who interrupted Biden more than 70 times during the confrontation. Biden interrupted Trump more than 20 times.

The debate degenerated into name-calling – Biden called Trump a “clown” and Trump essentially called Biden stupid – and personal attacks. At one point, Biden said: “Will you shut up, man?”

The nonpartisan commission issued a statement saying it intends to take action to maintain order in the remaining debates and is “carefully considering changes that it will adopt.”

Observers described the confrontation as the worst presidential debate in history and a “mess” that served neither the candidates nor the American people. Some pundits called for the remaining debates to be canceled.

Economist Paul Krugman had a few suggestions for how to keep the debaters in line, suggesting giving the moderator the ability to mute the president’s mic or “drop a plexiglass cone of silence on him if he still won’t shut up,” a reference to the mid-1960s spy spoof “Get Smart.”

Author Kimberly Olson Fakih had her own suggestion: