White House MELTDOWN As Biden Yells At Americans
Added: Jul 10, 2024
The podcast begins by discussing recent polling data that shows Donald Trump leading Joe Biden in several key battleground states. According to Emerson polling, Trump is currently up by 5 points in Pennsylvania and Georgia, 1 point in Michigan, 4 points in Arizona, 3 points in Wisconsin, and 6 points in Nevada. This represents a significant shift from four years ago, when Biden was leading Trump by 9 points at this stage of the race. Ben Shapiro argues that the idea that polls underestimated Biden's support in 2020 "does not hold any water" and that if anything, polls have tended to underestimate Republican support in recent elections.
Biden's Response to Calls for Him to Step Aside
Despite growing concerns about his age and mental acuity, Joe Biden has made it clear he intends to stay in the race. The podcast quotes from a letter Biden sent to fellow Democrats, in which he states he is "firmly committed to staying in this race" and believes he is "the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024." Biden argues that Democratic voters have already chosen him as their nominee through the primary process, receiving over 14 million votes. He pushes back against the idea that party elites or donors should be able to override the will of voters.
Biden's Interview on Morning Joe
To address concerns about his fitness for office, Biden called into MSNBC's Morning Joe for an interview with Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. The podcast plays clips from this interview, in which Biden attempts to reassure voters about his mental state. He acknowledges having a "bad night" at the recent debate but insists this was an anomaly. When pressed on why he won't take a cognitive test, Biden becomes defensive, saying "I've been testing myself" through his daily activities as president. He also pushes back against "elites" in the Democratic party who are questioning his candidacy.
Shapiro is critical of Biden's performance in the interview, noting that he seemed to be reading from prepared notes at times and struggled to articulate clear answers to questions about his cognitive abilities. Shapiro argues this interview likely did little to assuage concerns about Biden's mental fitness.
White House Press Briefing Controversy
The podcast then discusses a contentious White House press briefing where Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced tough questions about Biden's health. Reporters pressed her on why Biden won't take a cognitive test and about reports that a Parkinson's specialist had visited the White House multiple times. Jean-Pierre struggled to provide clear answers, leading to heated exchanges with reporters. Shapiro argues this demonstrates the White House's inability to effectively address growing concerns about Biden's fitness for office.
Democratic Party in Disarray
The podcast paints a picture of a Democratic party in disarray as it grapples with Biden's declining poll numbers and questions about his ability to serve another term. It cites reports that some Democratic donors are shifting their focus to down-ballot races out of concern about Biden's chances. Several Democratic senators and representatives are quoted expressing doubts about Biden's candidacy or distancing themselves from him. The podcast argues this public wavering by party leaders is further damaging Biden's standing.
Trump's New Campaign Platform
In contrast to the Democrats' struggles, the podcast discusses Donald Trump's newly released campaign platform for 2024. Shapiro argues this platform represents a shift to more moderate, centrist positions on many issues compared to Trump's previous campaigns. The platform focuses on popular issues like border security, bringing back manufacturing jobs, and protecting Social Security and Medicare. Shapiro contends this strategic move to the center could help Trump appeal to a broader swath of voters.
Democrats' Response: Comparing Trump to Hitler
With Biden struggling, the podcast argues Democrats are resorting to extreme rhetoric in attacking Trump. It cites a New Republic magazine cover depicting Trump as Hitler and quotes from Democratic politicians comparing Trump supporters to those who followed Hitler in 1930s Germany. Shapiro pushes back strongly against these comparisons, arguing they are baseless and likely to backfire politically.
Controversy Over Voter Citizenship Requirements
The podcast discusses a new Republican-backed bill that would require voters to provide proof of citizenship before casting ballots in federal elections. House Democrats are united in opposition to this bill, arguing it would place an "extreme burden" on voters. Shapiro is skeptical of this argument, contending that providing proof of citizenship is a reasonable requirement that most Americans already do for other purposes like getting a passport.
Biden Administration's Border Policies
The podcast criticizes the Biden administration's handling of unaccompanied minors at the southern border. It cites a Wall Street Journal report alleging that in 2021, the administration overrode concerns from caseworkers and placed some migrant children with potentially unsafe guardians in an effort to avoid bad headlines about overcrowded detention facilities. Shapiro argues this demonstrates the administration's prioritization of optics over child safety.
Political Deadlock in France
The podcast briefly touches on recent elections in France that have resulted in a fractured parliament with no clear majority. It notes that President Emmanuel Macron's attempts to marginalize right-wing parties have inadvertently empowered far-left communist factions, leading to political gridlock. Shapiro sees this as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mainstream politicians trying to delegitimize their opponents on the right.
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