How to watch CNN’s GOP presidential debate with Haley, DeSantis in Iowa

Republican presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are set to go head-to-head Wednesday in the next Republican presidential primary debate, just days before the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses.  

Former President Trump, the party front-runner, is skipping the events, leaving just two candidates to square up in Des Moines, Iowa, at the event hosted by CNN. 

When is the debate? 

The DeSantis-Haley showdown is set for 9 p.m. EST Wednesday, hosted by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash at Drake University in Des Moines.  

Where can I watch the debate? 

The debate will be available live on CNN Max and for pay TV subscribers on CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps, according to the network.  

Starting Thursday, the day after the debate, the program will be available on-demand at CNN.com, on CNN apps and cable operator platforms.  

What were the qualifications? 

The Republican National Committee (RNC) recently released candidates from a requirement to participate only in party-sanctioned debates, triggering CNN and ABC to announce a trio of January debates in Iowa and New Hampshire, two critical early states.  

CNN required candidates to meet a polling bar of at least 10 percent in three national or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers or primary voters that meet CNN’s reporting standards, including one that’s an approved CNN poll of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers. 

Only Haley, DeSantis and Trump cleared that threshold. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who made the party’s previous debates, were left off the stage.  

Will Trump be at the debate?  

Trump is planning to take part in a Fox News town hall at the same time as the CNN event. He’s passed on the party’s four previous debates, opting for counterprogramming, which has included a campaign rally and a prerecorded interview.