TRENDING

With the election only a month away, the race is close between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump. Trump promises to be a candidate who changes with the times, while Clinton promises to be one of steady progress.

Tonight, you and your 'rents will likely tune into the second presidential debate. The two faced off on their first debate on Sept. 26, where they discussed topics ranging from the Iraq War to beauty pageants with questions posed by moderator Lester Holt. Tonight, the debate will feature questions from the public (in a town hall meeting format) as well as questions from moderators Martha Raddatz and Anderson Cooper. 

Here's a run down of what you need to know before you tune into tonight's broadcast:

In the first debate, Clinton admitted that it was a mistake using a private email as a secretary of state, while Trump stated he would release his tax returns if Clinton would release a cache of her emails.

Trump also remarked that Clinton does not have the stamina to be president of the U.S., where Clinton countered with her accomplishments as secretary of state. When Clinton highlighted that Trump possibly avoided taxes of millions of dollars, Trump insisted such a thing makes him smart. He also discussed his desire to cut taxes immensely for more U.S. workers to be hired. Clinton, in contrast, explained wanting to invest in the wealthy and corporations. Both had much to criticize about the other’s plan. 

Trump defended his temperament (which has been heavily criticized), saying it is his “strongest asset,” while Clinton argued his temperament made him dangerous to be trusted with the nuclear arsenal of the U.S. Trump also criticized Clinton for staying home instead of campaigning, to which Clinton responded that she did stay home to prepare for the debate. Countering with, “And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president, and I think that’s a good thing.”

According to a poll by CNBC, 68 percent of viewers felt that Trump came out on top in the first debate. Meanwhile, The Washington Post argues that Trump was "simply not prepared well enough for this debate." So, really, tonight's debate is anyone's game.

The recently leaked video of Trump making lewd and explicit comments about women in 2005 will no doubt be a topic of conversation. More Clinton emails recently made public by Wikileaks will also likely crop up, as will gun control, social security, healthcare and more.

You can watch the debate, held at Washington University in St. Louis, MI, tonight at 9 p.m. on a plethora of networks: ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, C-SPAN and more. If you are old enough to vote but are not registered, please do so here. If you are not sure if you are registered to vote, you can find out here.

Have you been following the 2016 presidential election so far? Will you tune into the debate tonight?

Photo credit: Mic.

by Amy Garcia | 10/9/2016