First Thing: Joe Biden and Donald Trump agree to two debates

Leading candidates for presidency to debate on 27 June and 10 September. Plus, magician David Copperfield accused of sexual misconduct, which he denies

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Good morning,

Joe Biden and Donald Trump will debate each other on 27 June and 10 September, it has been agreed, after the Biden re-election campaign proposed two TV debates, bucking a tradition of three.

Fighting talk. Biden said in a video shared on social media: Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020, and since then he hasn't shown up for a debate. Now he's acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. I'll even do it twice."

Two's company, three's a crowd. The independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr accused Biden and Trump of colluding to lock America into a head-to-head matchup that 70% say they do not want. They are trying to exclude me from their debate because they are afraid I would win."

Vote Biden, says Sanders. Biden is not running against God," Bernie Sanders writes. He is running against Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in American history, whose second term, if he is re-elected, will be worse than his first. And, on his worst day, Biden is a thousand times better than Trump."

Inside the story. The Guardian is examining these allegations as part of a series of stories that has drawn on interviews with more than 100 people and analysis of court and police records obtained through freedom of information act requests.

The defence. When asked about the claims, Copperfield's lawyers denied all the allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior. They said he had never, ever acted inappropriately with anyone, let alone anyone underage".