Convicted felon former President Trump’s top lampreys have come to the conclusion that, according to the Guardian’s Trump beat guy Hugo Lowell, they need “to pray that the former US president ​has a good night at the presidential debate next month,” and that all hopes of regaining momentum hinge on it, “a stunning approach that shows the serious predicament for Trump and his campaign as he struggles to land effective attacks against the vice-president just months before the election.”

Why? “What has happened internally in the Trump campaign in recent weeks is the realization that nothing they do in the period up to the debate is likely to cut through in a significant way that blunts Harris’s gains that have her level in key swing state polls,” Lowell writes, citing sources. “​And because they don’t think the messaging will cut through, senior advisers are left hoping that Trump can energize voters with his performance on stage, the people said,” he continues.

“Trump’s advisers have also been buoyed by the likelihood that microphones will be muted when it is not a candidate’s turn to speak, believing it defangs Harris in being able to fact-check him in real time and in her ability to make quips of her own.” Lowell’s always been good, but this…

This is freaking gold, even without any anonymous quotes in the piece. They’re “buoyed” on the likelihood that mics will be muted this round? Holy fucking shit that is just beautiful.