Someone give me a good reason, other than the clearly obvious one, for why a major news network would delay the live coverage of a debate between two presidents - arguably the most important debate in the lives of all Americans currently living.

From Ben Mullins of The New York Times:

That's right.

WHCA is deeply concerned that CNN has rejected our repeated requests to include the White House travel pool inside the studio. Through conversations and advocacy, we urged CNN to grant access to at least one print pool reporter for the duration of the debate. WHCA has been informed that one print reporter will be permitted to enter the studio during a commercial break to briefly observe the setting. That is not sufficient in our view and diminishes a core principle of presidential coverage. The White House pool has a duty to document, report and witness the president's events and his movements on behalf of the American people.

The pool is there for the 'what ifs?' in a world where the unexpected does happen.

Yes, but the pool might notice that the Hunger Games coverage is rigged!

UPDATE: 4:37 p.m. - Our favorite ex-CNN potato is here with CNN's reponse:

ROFL. So the press can sit in a box outside the studio and watch the delayed feed while a few handpicked photographers stay inside. Mmk.

A few of the facts:

• Joe Biden has been out for a WEEK preparing for this debate.

• His staff built a replica of the debate stage at Camp David. 👇

• The moderators are extremely biased against Trump.

• CNN will potentially delay what we see by 2 full minutes.

• There will be no audience as a witness of what's actually happening.

• Non-CNN journalists are banned.

Talk about a propaganda machine!!

Trump is walking into the lion's den, folks. There's truly never been anything like this.

(PS - If there's a brave CNN staffer out there who records what actually happens for us, they would be the hero of the hour.)

P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇