What to know about CNN's Republican presidential debate ahead of Iowa caucuses

CNN is set to host the next debate in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, just days ahead of the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses on Monday.

The debate, the first of two that will be hosted by CNN, is set for Wednesday night in Des Moines, Iowa.

With more stringent qualifications, even fewer candidates are expected to appear on the stage. Front-runner Donald Trump, again, isn't set to attend.

Here's what to know.

The debate, which will take place at 9 p.m. ET at Drake University, will be streamed live on CNN, CNN International, CNN en Español and CNN Max and for pay TV subscribers on CNN.com as well as CNN-connected TV and mobile devices.

The debate will be moderated by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

ABC News will provide key takeaways while 538 has a preview of why it matters.

On Tuesday, CNN announced the GOP primary candidates who qualified for the debate: former President Trump, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Trump, who has not participated in any of the previous GOP presidential primary debates in light of his enduring polling lead, is not expected to join this one either. Instead, he is countering the debate with a Fox News live town hall in Des Moines at the same time as the CNN debate — so the stage will be occupied by only Haley and DeSantis.

The qualifying window for CNN's Iowa debate closed on Tuesday. Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not meet the qualification requirements.

To make the stage, candidates needed to receive at least 10% (without rounding) in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of Republican caucusgoers or primary voters that met CNN's standards for reporting. One of