Debate night: Biden, Trump square off in Atlanta

(The Center Square) – Inflation and the economy. The border and migrant crisis. Abortion rights. Criminal convictions. Age and mental capacity.

Wars in Israel and Ukraine.

Skyrocketing national debt.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have plenty to argue about as they square off in the first of two debates Thursday night in Atlanta.

Hosted by CNN, the debate will be the first time the political rivals face each other in person since 2020, when Biden edged Trump in several key swing states to secure the Electoral College victory. The debate begins at 9 p.m. eastern and is expected to last 90 minutes.

The story lines and potential for verbal squabbles seem limitless.

How will Biden perform given his age (81) and serious questions about his mental capacity?

How will Trump respond to questions about his recent conviction on 34 counts in the New York City hush money trial?

Will the border crisis and the 12 million illegal border crossings since Biden took office be a focal point of the debate after his administration changed major Trump immigration policies on Day 1 of his presidency?

Will the candidates be asked about foreign policy – U.S. funding of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the growing China national security threat, the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, tariffs on imports.

Trump and Biden don't agree on much of anything, and Thursday night's debate is expected to further display those differences.