In a contentious back-and-forth, former President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have engaged in a heated debate over whether microphones will be muted when a candidate is not speaking during their upcoming presidential debate. Despite Trump's announcement of his participation in the debate hosted by ABC News, a source from the Harris campaign revealed that the issue remains an open discussion.

Trump's wavering stance on attending the September 10 debate, which he initially agreed to before President Biden dropped out of the race, has added to the pre-debate tensions. In the previous debate between Trump and Biden on June 27, the candidates' microphones were muted when they weren't speaking, a format encouraged by the Biden team and one that the Harris team would like to change.

While the Harris campaign continues to discuss the microphone issue, the debate's host, ABC, has declined to comment on the matter, leaving the decision uncertain. Trump's transition team, meanwhile, has revealed plans to name his former rival, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard, a onetime Democrat, as honorary co-chairs of a presidential transition team that would assist in policy and personnel selection for a potential second Trump administration.

On the campaign trail, both Harris and Trump's running mates have been active. Senator JD Vance of Ohio, Trump's running mate, made appearances in Michigan before attending an evening fundraiser in Nashville. Meanwhile, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, likely to promote Harris's economic message, has been attending events in Wisconsin.

In a major interview since entering the race, Kamala Harris, alongside her running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, will be interviewed by Dana Bash on CNN. The joint interview is scheduled to be broadcast on Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

A super PAC supporting Trump is expected to spend $60 million on ads after Labor Day to boost his candidacy. This significant media buy reflects the already costly advertising season in which over half a billion dollars will be spent to shape voters' final impressions of Harris and Trump.

Doug Emhoff, Harris's husband, has been actively fundraising for her campaign, recently speaking at two fundraisers in the Hamptons, which collectively raised $2 million. He is also set to attend a lunch reception in New York City.

Notably, over 200 former Republican officials, including those who worked for President George W. Bush and Senators Mitt Romney and John McCain, have signed a letter endorsing Kamala Harris. This reflects the deep and persistent opposition to Trump's leadership within the Republican Party.

As the debate approaches, the microphones' fate remains uncertain, with the Harris and Trump teams at an impasse. While Trump himself expressed indifference on the matter, the Harris team accuses him of being influenced by his handlers. The debate in Philadelphia on September 10 is set to be a critical moment in the presidential race, shaping the narrative and discourse leading up to the election.