But i feel that the large venue is just its a very exciting night, and when you dont have that, it takes a lot of it takes a lot of energy out. Thats donald trump pushing for a crowd at the president ial debates, which is not currently part of the terms he agreed to yesterday. Well go through all the debate drama in just a moment. Also ahead well bring in expert legal analysis on the former president s criminal trial in new york as his former fixer, Michael Cohen, is expected to return to the stand later this morning. Plus, the latest out of china on russian president Vladimir Putins state visit to beijing, which comes amid his arms escalating offensive in North Eastern ukraine. Good morning and welcome to Way Too Early on this thursday, may 16th. Im jonathan lemire. Thanks for starting your day with us. And well begin today with some major, major news on the 2024 campaign. After uncertainty about whether the two leading candidates would ever debate each other this year, President Joe Biden and his gop challenger, donald trump, have agreed to meet facetoface. Following months of trump challenging him saying hell debate him any time, anyplace, biden put the ball back in his opponents court yesterday with this video. Donald trump lost two debates to me in 2020 and since then he hadnt shown up for debate. Now hes acting hike lee wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. Ill even do it twice. Lets pick the dates, donald. I hear youre free on wednesdays. And that last line about wednesdays is a reference to the oneweekday when court is not in session for trumps ongoing criminal trial. Trump quickly responded to that Video Posting on social media he was ready and willing to debate adding, quote, lets get ready to rumble. Over the course of the next few hours both candidates announced they had accepted two invitations to debate. The first on cnn on june 27th and again on abc news on september 10th. I will bring my own transportation, trump told a fox news reporter, to which biden responded ill bring my plane, too. I plan on keeping it for another four years, a reference there to air force one. The rules of this debate will differ from past election cycles. The candidates agreed to bypass the commission on president ial debates, which it organized these faceoffs every four years since 1988. Biden also requested these guidelines, which trump begrudgingly accepted. First, that there be no audience in the room. Second, that no Third Party Candidates be allowed to participate and that includes robert f. Kennedy jr. And also only a select group of news outlets can host and that a candidates microphone be shutoff if they go over their speaking time. Thats by design according to the New York Times which reports that the Biden Campaign want today start a general election early and have voters get more time than usual to make their ballot decisions. Mr. Bidens advisers have long believed the Dawning Realization Of A TrumpBiden Rematch will be a bomb for the president s drooping approval ratings. In past election cycles the first debate typically wasnt held until the fall when early voting had already begun in some states, but by having a second and final debate take place in early september, the times writes it, quote, gives Biden A Freer hand focusing on turning out early voters without having to prepare for a high stakes event on live television. Meanwhile, the president s Campaign Trolled Trump On Social Media yesterday after the debate announcement. It posted this tshirt, which reads simply, free on wednesdays, under a clip of biden challenging trump to the debates on a day when the former president s trial is on rest. The Biden Campaign is indeed selling the shirts on its website. Joining us now politics reporter for semafor, shelby talcott. Theres been a lot of speculation whether thered be debates at all. Theres talks of democrats, a little leery President Biden giving trump they say a potentially convicted felon a platform. Theres been some republicans to say despite trumps bravado they werent sure he wanted today debate either. So take us behind the scenes. Ill be the first one to say i was also skeptical these debates were going to happen. There were some very informal talks over the past few weeks between both campaigns, but really this came about because the Biden Campaign recognized that donald trump, a, was not letting this go, and b, that there could be a benefit. Remember, you know, in the 2020 election donald trump really set the bar extremely low for joe biden when it kwame to these debates. And biden, as he oftentimes does in big moments, surpassed these low expectations. And so thats one of the factors with this. The other factor, of course, as the New York Times reported is that the Biden Campaign truly believes that right now when you look at the polls, the reason that the polls are the way that they are is because voters are just not tuned in, and they havent fully realized this is a matchup against donald trump. And so they want donald trump to be front and center, in front of the press with Joe Biden Standing next to them so voters can fully understand that this is the two options that they have. Yeah, a senior biden advisor telling me late yesterday this was a moment to bring trump back into voters living rooms and remind them, hey, is this really what you want . Both candidates decide to bypass the commission on president ial debates. Trump has been long critical of them, although in recent weeks said he would work with them if needed. But tell us how this happened, these two men dont agree on much, but they agreed on this. They both came to this agreement largely because of that early voting argument. The Commission Set these debates after early voting has already started and both campaigns said this is an outdated practice that needs to be updated. Weve told you this again and again, and yet these debates are still too late in the president ial cycle. So that it really came down to that, and there were other reasons as well. One of the reasons was that large audience that the Biden Campaign argued that it had turned into a sort of spectacle. But the main reason was the debate dates. And so thats why were going to see that really early june debate coming up next month. And briefly, shelby, these dates are agreed to, but there are still things to work out. We shouldnt bank on this just yet. What are some of the last obstacles to be agreed to . Well, of course donald trump seems to have agreed as of now to do it in studio, no audience debate. But as you heard him say, thats what he wants. And so i think one of the questions there is does he continue to agree to do that . Theres also the question of a third debate. Donald trump wants a third debate. He said fox news has agreed to host it. Joe biden has made it clear that he only wants to do two debates. Does there end up being problems over that . So there are certainly hurdles, but hopefully well get to see both of them on stage. The Biden Campaign pretty ifsistent last night therell just be two and also a Vice President ial debate in july with harris. Thanks for starting us off this morning. Shelby talcott, we appreciate it as always. President biden also slammed biden took the opportunity to sell his record to listeners. Take a listen. Where trump was you know, his threats that he posted in 2020 are greater today, the guy is sort of lost his mooring. He seems like the guy who just doesnt know what the hell hes doing anymore. And he probably is the guy, who just if you read the times article hes talking about being a dictator day one and be a return to violence of the maga republican extremism, and theres so much at stake, democracy, freedom and the dmae all on the line. Biden making a real push this week for African American voters. Still ahead what israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu is saying about moving ahead with Military Operations in rafah despite growing frustrations at that prospect from the white house. Plus, what were learning about an Assassination Attempt on slovakias Prime Minister. Well bring you a new update on his condition this morning. Those stories and a check on sports and weather when we come right back. K on sports and weather when we come right back psst psst ahhh with flonase, allergies dont have to be scary. Spraying Flonase Daily gives you long lasting nondrowsy relief. Flonase all good. Also, try our Allergy Headache and nighttime pills. Ah, these bills are crazy. 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Can katie sleep over tonight . Sure, honey this generation is so dramatic move with xfinity. Welcome back as we turn more to news overseas. 600,000 people have now fled rafah, the Southern Gaza city where israel is planning to launch a fullscale attack. Despite growing operation from leaders including President Biden. Yesterday the European Unions top diplomat urged israel to end its Military Operation in rafah immediately saying if the idf continues its mission, trld, quote, put a heavy strain on the eus relationship with israel. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, remains. In an interview with Cnbc Yesterday Netanyahu said the Rafah Operation is necessary to protect his nation. Yes, we do have a disagreement on gaza, rather on rafah. But we have to do what we have to do, and, you know, sometimes you have to you just have to do what is required to ensure your survival and your future. We cannot continue into the future by having hamas retake gaza. Doing what we have to do and i hope we can see eye to eye with the United States. Were talking to them, but ultimately we do what we have to do to prevent such savageries from being repeated again and again. Initially the United States has docked a floating pier onshore of gaza to help with humanitarian aid deliveries. Officials made the announcement overnight saying no u. S. Troops entered the enclave. The Temporary Pier was assemblied in israel a few weeks go but the pentagon waited to move it due to weather and security concerns. Officials say that they believe the pier can provide significantly more aid than airdrops. Meanwhile, a world leader is in stable but serious condition this morning after a brazen Assassination Attempt in broad daylight. Nbc news chief International Correspondent keir simmons has the latest on whats being called a politically motivated ambish. Reporter a tense europe shaken again, gunshots and a possible glimpse of the shooter, then slovakias Prime Minister staggers to his car, hit in the stomach, his Security Bundling him inside. I heard three shots, this woman says, and then he fell next to the barrier. Airlift today the hospital, moments after the attack Police Handcuffing a man. The countrys president says a suspect has been arrested. I am shocked, she says. Its an attack on our democracy. The attack coming after a spate of political uhuh sasination attempts. In 2022 japans former Prime Minister shinzo abe was struck dead in the street. A year later an assassins gun jammed and in january a south korean Opposition Leader was stabbed in the neck. Last month ukraine claimed it foiled a russian attempt to assassination president zelenskyy. But slovakias prorussian Prime Minister had run for reelection opposed to military aid to ukraine only to uturn months later. His politics divisive, Thousands Protests in the streets over plans to bring the state further under government control. That was nbcs keir simmons reporting, a very important story. We, of course, will keep you posted. Next up, though, well turn to sports with the latest Playoff Action in the nhl and nba as the Boston Celtics punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals again. Those highlights plus a check on the Weather Forecast when we come right back. When we come right back. Oh, yeah, man. Take it from your inner child. What you really need in life is some freakin torque. What . The dodge hornet r t. The totally torquedout crossover. man mm, hey, honey. Looks like my todo list grew. Paint the bathroom, give baxter a bath, get Life Insurance, hm. I have a few minutes. I can do that now. Oh, that fast . Remember that Colonial Penn ad . I called and i got information. They sent the simple form i need to apply. All i do is fill it out and send it back. 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Power e trades awardwinning trading app makes trading easier. With its customizable options chain, easytouse tools, and Paper Trading to help sharpen your skills, you can stay on top of the market from wherever you are. E trade from Morgan Stanley pleased with their progress. Theyve got to be happy to see some of the great from those young guys. But the celtics Mission Accomplished for the second round. The Boston Celtics have punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth time in eight years. The Boston Celtics known by some as Americas Team knocked out the Cleveland Cavaliers with a lopsided 11398 victory in game five last night. It was close for a while, though. Jason tatum led the way scoring a team high 25 and just one shy of a tripledouble. The celtics are now set to make their third consecutive appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, and they await the winner of the second round series between the New York Knicks and the indiana pacers. The knicks lead that series three games to two. Game six is tomorrow night ipindianapolis. Out west, Oklahoma City the Dallas Mavericks last night pushed the thunder to the brink of elimination. A 31point tripledouble posted by luka doncic helped the mavs to a 10491 win. Game six back in dallas sat