After the debate: Gauging how the candidates fared

⋅ The first showdown has concluded. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump arrived in Atlanta this afternoon (amid interstate-closing motorcades) and spent about an hour and a half tonight taking personal shots and trading accusations at the CNN presidential debate.

⋅ In a key question, Trump declined to commit to accepting the results of the presidential election in November. “If it’s a fair and legal and good election, absolutely,” Trump said.

⋅ In a key question, Biden blamed rising inflation since he took office on his predecessor, saying it was the situation he inherited from Trump amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that when Trump left office, “things were in chaos.”

⋅We will continue to bring updates on the aftermath through this evening.

This was originally published on our Live Updates page.

Trump says inflation is 'defeated' and the Fed has cut rates, yet prices remain too high for many

Inflation has risen in three of the last four months and is slightly higher than it was a year ago

Republicans see shutdown fight as a test for Ossoff’s 2026 playbook

Ossoff is widely viewed as the most vulnerable Democratic senator up for re-election next year, the lone Democrat running in a state President Donald Trump carried in 2024.