The Great Democratic Party Freakout of 2024
1Digest
The New Yorker's political scene podcast discusses the growing concerns among Democrats about Joe Biden's age and fitness for office. The podcast hosts discuss Biden's recent press conference, where he addressed these concerns, and the various camps that have emerged within the Democratic Party regarding his candidacy. They also discuss the potential impact of Biden's age on his ability to win the 2024 election. The hosts also discuss the upcoming Republican convention and the potential impact of Donald Trump's return to the political spotlight. They discuss the advantage that Republicans believe they have in this election cycle, and the potential for Trump's return to energize the Democratic base. They also discuss the potential for Trump's return to turn off on-the-fence voters. The hosts conclude by discussing the potential for Biden to be replaced as the Democratic nominee, and the challenges that the party would face if they were to do so.
Outlines
Biden's Age and Fitness for Office
This Chapter discusses the growing concerns among Democrats about Joe Biden's age and fitness for office. The podcast hosts discuss Biden's recent press conference, where he addressed these concerns, and the various camps that have emerged within the Democratic Party regarding his candidacy. They also discuss the potential impact of Biden's age on his ability to win the 2024 election.
The Democratic Leadership's Response
This Chapter explores the Democratic leadership's response to the concerns about Biden's age and fitness for office. The hosts discuss Nancy Pelosi's cryptic comments about Biden's decision to run, and the collective action problem that follows from the legitimacy problem. They also discuss the possibility that Biden is in denial about the concerns about his age, and the potential impact of this on his campaign.
The Republican Convention and Trump's Return
This Chapter discusses the upcoming Republican convention and the potential impact of Donald Trump's return to the political spotlight. The hosts discuss the advantage that Republicans believe they have in this election cycle, and the potential for Trump's return to energize the Democratic base. They also discuss the potential for Trump's return to turn off on-the-fence voters.
Keywords
Joe Biden
Joe Biden is the current president of the United States and is running for re-election in 2024. He is facing criticism from some Democrats who believe he is too old and not fit to be president.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the former president of the United States and is running for re-election in 2024. He is a controversial figure who has been accused of inciting the January 6th insurrection.
Democratic Party
The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. It is generally considered to be more liberal than the Republican Party.
Republican Party
The Republican Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States. It is generally considered to be more conservative than the Democratic Party.
2024 presidential election
The 2024 presidential election is the next presidential election in the United States. It will be held on November 5, 2024.
NATO summit
The NATO summit is a meeting of the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It was held in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 2023.
Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus is a group of African American members of the United States Congress. It is a powerful lobbying group that advocates for the interests of African Americans.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is a group of Hispanic members of the United States Congress. It is a powerful lobbying group that advocates for the interests of Hispanics.
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is a weekly magazine that covers news, culture, and politics. It is known for its in-depth reporting and its sophisticated writing.
Q&A
What is the Democratic leadership doing at this point?
The Democratic leadership is facing a difficult situation with Biden's age and fitness for office. They are concerned about his ability to win the election, but they are also reluctant to challenge him directly. They are also concerned about the potential impact of replacing Biden on the party's unity and enthusiasm.
Does the Republican convention happening now maybe stop this democratic rebellion in its tracks?
The Republican convention is likely to be a reminder of why Democrats are terrified of a Trump presidency. However, it is unclear whether this will be enough to arrest the slide in support for Biden.
Do you think that when Trump gets the attention and is in the spotlight, it's good for the Democrats?
The hosts believe that Trump's return to the political spotlight is likely to be good for the Democrats. They argue that Trump is a polarizing figure who turns off as many voters as he attracts. They also believe that Trump's campaign is likely to be focused on attacking Biden, which could backfire and energize the Democratic base.
What is the tragedy of Biden's struggles in this election?
The hosts believe that Biden's struggles in this election cycle are a tragedy because they are preventing him from showcasing his strengths as a leader. They argue that Biden's support for Ukraine and his commitment to working with allies are key strengths that he is not able to fully demonstrate due to the concerns about his age and fitness for office.
Show Notes
The Washington Roundtable: Susan B. Glasser, Jane Mayer, and Evan Osnos discuss President Joe Biden’s struggle to retain voters’ confidence in his bid for reëlection and his animosity toward the “élites” he says are insisting that he step down. Plus, Donald Trump’s campaign strategy amid Democratic turmoil and ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
“The problem is the meta-narrative, which seems to be centered on: Will Biden faceplant or won’t he?,” Jane Mayer says. “And, so long as that’s the narrative, the narrative is not on Donald Trump and the threat to democracy that he poses.”
This week’s reading:
- “Joe Biden’s Less-Than-Awful Press Conference Does Not Mean Everything Is Now O.K.,” by Susan B. Glasser
- “The Controlled Normalcy of Kamala Harris’s Trip to Las Vegas,” by Antonia Hitchens
- “A Congressional Democrat Explains Why He’s Standing with Biden,” by Isaac Chotiner
- “Joe Biden’s Cynical Turn Against the Press,” by Jay Caspian Kang
- “Joe Biden Is Fighting Back—but Not Against Trump, Really,” by Benjamin Wallace-Wells
To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send in feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com with “The Political Scene” in the subject line.
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