How to watch JD Vance vs Tim Walz vice presidential debate in the UK

US vice presidential hopefuls JD Vance and Tim Walz are about to go head-to-head in their only scheduled TV debate before the November election.

The pair will face each other and an array of questions during a 90-minute session, which is being hosted by US broadcaster CBS in New York.

Republican Ohio Senator JD Vance, 40, is hoping to become Donald Trump’s vice president, while Minnesota Governor and Democrat Tim Walz, 60, is lined up to become Kamala Harris’s deputy if elected.

The debate comes just three weeks after Trump and Ms Harris had their only televised clash on ABC News in Philadelphia.

Can I watch JD Vance vs Tim Walz in the UK?

The debate is taking place at the CBS Broadcast Centre in New York City and is set to start at 9pm (local time) on Tuesday, which is 2am (BST) on Wednesday in the UK.

It will run for an hour and a half and end at 10.30pm (local time) – 3.30am (BST).

CBS will be broadcasting live coverage in the US from 8pm (local time) and it can be streamed on the free CBS News app, on Paramount+, and on platforms where CBS News 24/7 is available, including CBSNews.com and YouTube.

In the UK, the BBC will also show the debate live on the BBC News Channel, BBC One, iPlayer, BBC News website and app.

What can I expect from the debate?

Norah O’Donnell, CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor, and Margaret Brennan, Face the Nation host and chief foreign affairs correspondent will moderate the debate.

Rules of engagement, as agreed by the candidates beforehand, are:

• It will be 90-minute debate with two four-minute commercial breaks
• Campaign staff are not allowed to interact with the candidates during the breaks
• There will be no audience, as with televised presidential debates
• Microphones will not be muted when the opponent is speaking
• Moderators introduce candidates in order of incumbent party, with Tim Walz first
• No opening statements
• Walz will stand behind the lectern on the left side of the stage
• JD Vance will stand behind lectern on the right side of the stage
• Candidates are not permitted written notes or props
• They have two minutes to answer a question and one minute for rebuttal
• Candidates may get an additional minute to continue, at moderator’s discretion
• No topics or questions will be shared with the campaigns in advance
• Each candidate will have two minutes for their closing remarks  
• Vance won a virtual coin toss, opting to go second with his closing statement

Abortion rights, family issues, the climate crisis, immigration and military are among the topics which are expected to be covered in the debate.

Flashpoints are likely to be military service, Mr Vance is a Marine veteran who worked as a military journalist, and Mr Walz served in the national guard but has previously been accused of over-stating his military career.

Women’s reproductive rights could also see them clash. Mr Walz has revealed he and his wife had fertility struggles. Mr Vance was quoted as referring to women in power as “a bunch of childless cat ladies” 2021.

It was a phrase thrown back in his face when Taylor Swift declared her support for Kamal Harris, signing off on her social media post as “Childless cat Lady”.

Immigration is also expected to be a burning issue, especially after Trump accused migrants of eating household pets in a town in Ohio in the previous televised debate.

How many US election debates have there been in 2024?

Prior to this vice presidential debate, there have been two televised presidential debates this year.

The first was held on 28 June this year when Trump and President Joe Biden went head-to-head on CNN.

Mr Biden’s poor performance at the debate eventually led to him withdrawing from the race to return the White House.

On 11 September, a second presidential candidate televised debate was hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia.

It was the first time former US president Trump and Vice President Harris had met in person.

After this event, Ms Harris said she was willing to take part in a second televised debate but Trump declined the offer.