Summary

Dan Harris, political and current affairs commentator and co-host of the 'Over Here, Over There' podcast discusses the anxiety surrounding the upcoming 2024 presidential election in November and the potential impact on democracy. Dan focuses on the US presidential primary system and the concerns about President Biden's health and candidacy, particularly his debate performance on 27 June. He also references Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea' to illustrate the challenges faced by Biden. The importance of finding a strong candidate to win in 2024 and carry on as the incumbent in 2028 is vital for preserving democracy. Dan's monologue is introduced and concluded by his podcast co-host colleague Claudia Koestler.

Keywords

anxiety, elections, 2024, democracy, primary system, President Biden, candidacy, Hemingway, 'The Old Man and the Sea', strong candidate, Project 2025

Takeaway

• There is growing anxiety about the upcoming elections in 2024 and their impact on democracy.
• The primary system in the US and the selection of presidential candidates is discussed.
• There are concerns about President Biden's candidacy and ability to win the November presidential Election.
• The conversation references Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea' to illustrate the challenges faced by Biden.
• Finding a strong candidate to win in 2024 and maintaining the incumbency going into the 2028 presidential race is crucial for preserving democracy.

Sound Bites

• "There is a feral feeling and anxiety that has been building, I'm sorry to say, for a while about 2024."
• "It's difficult to see him reaching the Democratic nomination in a healthy enough state to be a viable candidate."
• "Nor can it be for democracy in the US, the leading democracy in the world. The stakes are too high."
• "We need a candidate to win in 2024 and, I can’t emphasize this enough, (and carry on) with the crucial advantages of incumbency in 2028.