Three Weeks After The Debate, More Dems Call For Biden To Step Down

Update: 2024-07-18

Digest

This episode of "What a Day" dives into the latest developments in the 2024 presidential election, focusing on the growing pressure on President Biden to step aside. The episode begins with a discussion of Adam Schiff's public call for Biden to leave the race, highlighting Schiff's significance as a high-ranking Democrat and his close ties to Nancy Pelosi. The episode then explores the DNC's decision to hold a virtual roll call to certify Biden as the party's nominee, despite pressure from House Democrats to delay the vote. The episode also discusses Biden's recent COVID diagnosis and his previous statement about reconsidering his candidacy if a serious medical condition arose. The episode concludes with a discussion of the international implications of Trump's attempted assassination and the latest news on the Emmy Award nominations.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the episode and the hosts, Priyanka Erbindi and "Toliver." They express their desire for a return to normalcy and a break from unprecedented times.

00:00:31

Campaign Trail Developments

This Chapter delves into the latest developments on the campaign trail, including President Biden's COVID diagnosis, growing calls for him to step aside, and the DNC's decision to hold a virtual roll call to certify him as the party's nominee. The chapter features an interview with Todd Zwillick, a longtime Washington reporter, who provides insights into the political maneuvering and the growing concerns among Democrats about Biden's ability to win the election.

00:11:42

Headlines

This Chapter covers various news headlines, including the appeal of the dismissal of former President Donald Trump's classified documents case, new details emerging in the attempted assassination of Trump, the recusal of a judge in the racketeering case against rapper Young Thug, and the Emmy Award nominations.

00:16:39

Outro

This Chapter concludes the episode with a call to action for listeners to subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with their friends. The hosts also promote their other projects, including the Crooked Media newsletter and the Pod Save the World podcast.

Keywords

Joe Biden

Joe Biden is the 46th and current president of the United States. He is a member of the Democratic Party and previously served as the 47th vice president under President Barack Obama. Biden's presidency has been marked by a number of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. He is seeking re-election in 2024.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party. Trump's presidency was marked by a number of controversies, including his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, his impeachment by the House of Representatives, and his role in the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. He is currently running for president again in 2024.

Adam Schiff

Adam Schiff is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing California's 28th congressional district. He is a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump and was a key figure in the House impeachment inquiry against Trump. Schiff is running for the United States Senate in California in 2024.

Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi is an American politician who served as the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. She is a member of the Democratic Party and represents California's 12th congressional district. Pelosi is the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House and is the highest-ranking female elected official in US history.

DNC

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the governing body of the Democratic Party in the United States. The DNC is responsible for organizing the Democratic National Convention, which nominates the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates. The DNC also works to elect Democrats to office at all levels of government.

Emmy Awards

The Primetime Emmy Award is an annual American award presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) to recognize excellence in American primetime television programming. The awards are presented at a ceremony held in September each year. The Emmy Awards are considered to be the most prestigious awards in television.

Shogun

Shogun is a historical drama television series that premiered on FX on March 26, 2023. The series is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell. Shogun tells the story of an English sailor who is shipwrecked in Japan in the 16th century and becomes involved in the power struggles of the warring feudal lords.

The Bear

The Bear is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on FX on June 23, 2022. The series follows a young chef who returns to Chicago to run his family's sandwich shop after his brother's death. The Bear has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the restaurant industry and its compelling characters.

Under the Bridge

Under the Bridge is a true crime documentary series that premiered on Hulu on July 12, 2023. The series tells the story of the murder of a young woman in 1990s Los Angeles and the subsequent investigation that led to the arrest of a serial killer. Under the Bridge has been praised for its gripping storytelling and its exploration of the dark underbelly of Los Angeles.

True Detective

True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series that premiered on HBO on January 12, 2014. Each season of True Detective features a new cast, setting, and story. The series has been praised for its complex characters, its atmospheric settings, and its suspenseful plots.

Q&A

Why is Adam Schiff's statement about President Biden's candidacy significant?
Adam Schiff is a high-ranking Democrat and is running for the Senate in California. His statement is significant because it shows that even prominent Democrats are starting to question Biden's ability to win the election.
What is the DNC's rationale for holding a virtual roll call to certify Biden as the nominee?
The DNC is trying to get Biden officially nominated before the convention to quash any discussion of him not being the nominee. They are also concerned about Ohio's ballot rules, which could prevent Biden from being on the ballot if he is not nominated by early August.
What are the international implications of Trump's attempted assassination?
Trump's attempted assassination has shocked the world and signals growing political violence worldwide. The episode discusses the international implications of this event and what the future holds now that Trump has picked his vice president.
What are some of the key takeaways from the AP poll that shows nearly two-thirds of Democrats believe Biden should withdraw from the race?
The poll shows that Biden's popularity does not reflect the success of his presidency. It also highlights the growing concerns among Democrats about his ability to win the election. The poll suggests that many Democrats are looking for an alternative candidate.
Why are Democrats hesitant to be more explicit about the party's successor to Biden?
Democrats are hesitant to be more explicit about the party's successor because it could complicate the issue. The real issue is whether Biden can win the election. If Democrats believe he cannot win, they will need to start thinking about who should replace him.
What are some of the key takeaways from the Emmy Award nominations?
FX has dominated the nominations, with its hit drama Shogun receiving the most nominations. The Bear, Reservation Dogs, What We Do in the Shadows, and Fargo also received nominations. For the first time in decades, Max (formerly HBO) was not one of the top two most nominated networks.
What are some of the shows that the hosts are excited about for the Emmy Awards?
The hosts are excited about True Detective: Night Country, Under the Bridge, and The Bear.
What is the main theme of this episode of "What a Day"?
The main theme of this episode is the growing pressure on President Biden to step aside from the 2024 presidential race. The episode explores the reasons behind this pressure, the political maneuvering taking place, and the potential implications for the Democratic Party.

Show Notes

Wednesday was jam-packed with new developments on and around the Democratic campaign trail. The White House announced that President Biden tested positive for COVID. Biden also appeared to give himself room to exit the presidential race, saying in an interview with BET News he’d reconsider running if “some medical condition” emerged. However, Biden remained defiant and said he had no plans to drop out. California Congressman Adam Schiff became the most high-profile Democrat to publicly call on Biden to exit the race, telling The Los Angeles Times he has “serious concerns” over whether Biden can beat former President Trump in November. And the Democratic National Committee announced it plans to move forward with a virtual roll call vote to officially nominate Biden ahead of the convention, despite calls to drop it amid the ongoing debate within the party over the president’s candidacy. Politics reporter Todd Zwillich breaks down what it all means.

And in headlines: Special Counsel Jack Smith appealed the dismissal of Trump’s classified documents case, investigators looking into the assassination attempt against Trump at a rally this weekend reportedly told lawmakers that Secret Service spotted the gunman on a nearby roof roughly 20 minutes before shots were fired, and ‘Shogun’ and ‘The Bear’ lead this year’s Emmy nominations.

Show Notes: