Here's how to watch Tuesday's vice presidential debate between Vance and Walz: NPR

Left: Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) speaks during the Republican National Convention in July. Right: Minnesota Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks at a campaign event at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in August.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Jae Hong/AP

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Jae Hong/AP

Vice presidential candidates Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) will do it face each other in a debate Tuesday about the 2024 election cycle.

This will be the only time the candidates will meet on stage while presenting their policy positions to the broader American public, who may know them less than their partners on the presidential ticket.

The two have similar roles in their respective campaigns: They want to appeal to working-class voters in the blue wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin this fall.

Here's what you need to know about the historic only debate between the vice presidential candidates.

When and how can you watch?

This debate will be moderated by CBS News in New York City at 9:00 p.m. ET.

CBS Evening News Presenter and editor-in-chief Norah O'Donnell and Face the nation Moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan will moderate the debate at the CBS Broadcast Center. The debate will be broadcast live on CBS, CBS News Streaming Network and Paramount+ and streamed live on CBSNews.com without a cable login.

Follow NPR's live blog Tuesday for the latest updates, analysis, fact-checks and color — and also watch CBS News' simulcast of the vice president debate. And you can hear NPR's special debate coverage on many public radio stations and on the NPR app.

Who are the comrades-in-arms?

Former President Donald Trump Vance announced as his vice president on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this summer.

The first-term senator, once a critic of Trump, rose to political relevance when he wrote the book Hillbilly Elegyby blaming Biden and the Democrats for the fighting rural economy He grew up there. In the Senate, Vance has at times positioned himself against the Republican leadership, but he is closely aligned with Trump on issues such as abortion, immigration and election integrity.

Vice President Harris chose Walz Just weeks after she was named to the top of the list to succeed President Biden.

Walz was nicknamed “Coach Walz” because he was a former football coach and teacher. As Governor Walz secured several progressive victories in his state, including clean energy regulations, universal free school meals, family and medical leave benefits, and abortion protections.

What you should pay attention to

Since his nomination, Vance has had to deal with controversies that will likely resurface during the debate, including: Jokes about the sofa and criticism of him naming prominent Democrats “Childless cat ladies.” Vance has also come under fire for spreading false claims Haitian immigrants eat pets in Ohio.

Walz, a two-term governor, also faced questions about himself Responding to unrest in Minneapolis after 2020 George Floyd's murder and widespread fraud during the COVID-19 crisis in a federal program aimed at providing food assistance to students after school closures. Audits have highlighted failures in oversight by the state Education Department.

Walz received support for the debate from Pete Buttigieg, the US Secretary of Transportation. Buttigieg helped Harris prepare for her vice presidential debate in 2020. It was not immediately clear who Vance was preparing with.

It's likely that both candidates' military records will also come up.

Vance criticized Walz for his military accomplishments, including saying he carried weapons “in war” when he wasn't in combat.

Walz, who served in the National Guard for 20 years and re-enlisted after 9/11, only saw combat duty in Italy in 2003. Vance, who served in the Marines and completed a six-month deployment to Iraq, also was not deployed in combat.

What are the rules for the debate?

The debate will last 90 minutes and both campaigns have agreed to a set of rules.

There will be no audience present and the candidates will stand behind podiums. The candidates have two minutes to make their final speech. Vance won a virtual coin toss on September 26 and settled for second place with his closing statement.

Vance and Walz are not allowed to have pre-written notes or props, and topics and questions are not shared with campaigns in advance. Unlike the presidential debates, the microphones will remain on, but CBS News reserves the right to turn them off.

According to CBS News, each candidate is given two minutes to answer each question and the other candidate is given two minutes to respond. Each candidate is then given one minute to present further counterarguments. At the discretion of the moderators, candidates may each be given an additional minute to continue the discussion.

What's next?

This is likely to be the last debate before Election Day. Mail-in ballots have already been sent out in several states.

Harris asked Trump for another debate on October 23, but Trump declined, saying it was “too late.”

Election day is November 5th.