In the wake of a widely criticized debate performance by Joe Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci has stepped forward to offer a “reassuring” perspective on the President’s condition during the event. Despite a more than challenging evening and subsequent dip in polls for Democrats, Fauci claimed that there was nothing medically alarming about Biden’s appearance or behavior during the debate.

Fauci, who has been a central figure in public health across multiple administrations, addressed concerns raised by Biden’s performance. “Did you see the debate? Did anything about that, what you saw medically alarm you?” Fauci was asked during a CBS interview.

Fauci, however, responded with caution, “When you’re just looking at someone on a one-shot basis, you just don’t know what could happen. Did he have a bad cold? You know, did he take an antihistamine to make him… groggy or what have you. We don’t know what went on. I think it would be unfair and inappropriate to try and diagnose something from just a 90-minute clip. It just looked like a bad night.”

Further defending the President, Fauci added, “he’s very reflective on things and just doesn’t jump out with conclusions or anything, but is very analytic, so my interactions with him, I have to say, have been very, very positive.”

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BREAKING – YOUR REACTION: Doctor Anthony Fauci says he watched the debate, and he can say that President Biden had a bad night; nothing was alarming that he saw, his interactions with him have been very positive, President Biden was very calm and probing. WATCH pic.twitter.com/ESFvqyHqa6

— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) July 3, 2024

The polls taken after the debate depicted a discouraging scenario for the Democrats, with many viewing Biden’s performance as lackluster compared to Trump’s more aggressive approach. This has ignited discussions within the party about the need for Biden to significantly step up his game to reassure his base and swing voters of his capabilities.

On Wednesday Biden offered his clearest indication yet that he is seriously weighing whether to suspend his campaign for president, a report by the New York Times that prompted a fresh round of hysteria among Democrats who are growing increasingly afraid of a November wipeout.

With each day closing the window for Democrats to find an alternate presidential nominee, Biden told a key ally that he will soon be forced to decide whether he fully commits to completing his campaign or stepping aside so that another candidate may take his place. The ally, speaking on background with the Times, said that much can change in the days ahead, including depending on how the 81-year-old president performs in an upcoming interview he is slated to do with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. He will appear in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania for campaign stops this weekend, as well.

“He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place” by the end of the weekend, the ally said in reference to Biden’s halting and shaky debate performance where he struggled to issue forceful rebukes of claims by former President Donald Trump. His vacant stare and gaping mouth launched a slew of memes in the days that followed and left his campaign on the defense as his team attempts to assure top donors and party leaders that he stands the best chance to defeat Trump.

Shortly after the Times article was published Wednesday morning, Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, declared the story “absolutely false.” As the election approaches, the Democratic Party and its supporters are likely to scrutinize Biden’s future public appearances and debates closely.

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The White House and President Biden’s reelection team has swiftly denied the New York Times report on Wednesday claiming that after a disappointing debate performance, the president confided to an ally his doubts about saving his candidacy. According to the report, Biden acknowledged the challenges of his re-election campaign after a lackluster debate, and expressed his concerns to a close ally about his chances of revitalizing his candidacy.

Despite the setback, the president appears committed to his campaign. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said to The Hill on Wednesday, “That claim is absolutely false. If the New York Times had provided us with more than 7 minutes to comment we would have told them so.”

“He knows if he has two more events like that, we’re in a different place” by the end of the weekend, an ally said to the New York Times, referring to Biden’s disjointed showing in the debate. The person who spoke with the president within the last 24 hours requested anonymity to talk openly about the delicate circumstances.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday:

The conversation is the first indication to become public that the president is seriously considering whether he can recover after a devastating performance on the debate stage in Atlanta on Thursday. Concerns are mounting about his viability as a candidate and whether he could serve as president for another four years.

A top adviser to Mr. Biden, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the situation, said the president was “well aware of the political challenge he faces…”

Mr. Biden has been slow to personally reach out to key Democrats, which has fueled anger in the party and frustrated some of his own advisers. He called only Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House Democratic leader, on Tuesday night, five days after the debate, and still had not spoken with Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate Democratic leader, as of Wednesday morning. Key donors expressed exasperation that he did not join a campaign call on Monday meant to assuage them…

Key party donors have been privately calling House members, senators, super PACs, the Biden campaign and the White House to say that they think Mr. Biden should step down, according to Democrats familiar with the discussion.

Following the first presidential debate, the race for the White House has tilted towards Trump. A new CBS News poll released Wednesday morning revealed that Trump is now ahead of Biden, with a 2-point lead nationally at 50 percent to 48 percent, and a slightly larger 3-point advantage in battleground states at 51 percent to 48 percent.

Over 90% of supporters on both sides stated they would never consider switching their allegiance to the other candidate, a sentiment that was unchanged by the recent debate. Despite a temporary boost for Biden in June following Trump’s felony convictions in New York, the overall dynamics of the race were not significantly affected. Currently, the polling suggests a potential Electoral College advantage for Trump.

According to the poll, half of the voters who supported Biden in 2020 now believe he should not be running this year. This skepticism is dampening their enthusiasm for the upcoming election, making them less likely to vote and more inclined to support either Trump or a third-party candidate. On the other side, most Republicans are feeling energized following the debate, with many saying it has increased their likelihood of voting. Meanwhile, the independent vote remains a close contest, with Trump currently gaining a slight edge among this critical group.

As the dust settles from a contentious debate, top Democratic Party members are not shying away from the fact that President Joe Biden had a challenging night. However, they are quick to point out that the reasons behind the debate fiasco extend beyond the president’s age or cognitive abilities. Instead, they are emphasizing a range of other factors, suggesting that these issues are more to blame than the president himself for the less-than-stellar performance.

In an attempt to solidify support and quash any dissent within party ranks, the Democratic National Committee is now considering moving up the formal nomination of Joe Biden. This decision would aim to ensure that the president secures his place on the November ballot well in advance. With a proposed date of July 21 for Biden’s nomination, when the party’s credentials committee is scheduled to meet virtually, Democrats would look to reaffirm their commitment to Biden amidst calls from some corners of the party for a new nominee, according to Bloomberg.

Bounded by political maneuvering, President Biden, or those around him, remain loyal in his determination to pursue victory in the upcoming November elections. Speaking at a campaign event in Raleigh, North Carolina, Biden dismissed the increasing calls from within his party to step aside, following a debate performance against Republican Donald Trump that many labeled disastrous. The declaration marked another moment in his campaign, highlighting his desire to not only lead the party, but also to confront the challenges head-on as he eyes another term in the White House.

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Following Thursday’s debate, Biden dedicated the weekend to revitalizing his reelection campaign, yet he continues to confront doubts about his ability to continue as a candidate. Secluding himself with his family at Camp David, Biden aimed to quell the concerns of Democratic voters, officials, and donors, which intensified after the debate. His performance on Thursday night, perceived as weak and disjointed during a CNN event, led to increased calls for him to pass the torch to a younger candidate, with the election just over four months away.

Over the last five days, Biden’s supporters actively defended him against media critics urging him to withdraw from the race, arguing that despite the negative reception to his debate appearance, the overall dynamics of the campaign remain unchanged. Meanwhile, senior figures in the Democratic Party took to the Sunday talk shows in a concerted effort to shift the focus back to former President Trump, attempting to redirect the narrative during the ongoing campaign turbulence.

However, the American people seem unconvinced. A recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College revealed that 69 percent of voters, including 55 percent of those who voted for Biden, believe he is too old to effectively lead the nation. This is not a sudden revelation—nearly two years ago, a significant number of Democratic voters expressed their desire for fresh leadership.

These deep-seated concerns among the American populace are now finding a voice among influential figures within the Democratic Party. High-profile pundits, along with lawmakers, donors, and strategists, are openly sharing their apprehensions. They fear the potential repercussions of the upcoming 2024 election, particularly the prospect of losing to former President Trump, who is seen by many as a critical threat to the country’s future.

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Amidst swirling questions about President Joe Biden’s ability to serve a second term, reports have emerged that his closest aides have tightly controlled his interactions since the onset of his presidency. The guarded approach has significantly limited access to Biden, both from figures within and outside the White House.

The strategy came sharply into focus following Biden’s performance at Thursday night’s debate, which left many current and former White House aides stunned by the 81-year-old president’s apparent limitations according to reports. The debate’s aftermath intensified concerns, with insiders since openly questioning Biden’s capability to handle the demands of another four years in office.

“It’s time for Joe to go.”

These were the blunt words of Chandler West, the White House’s deputy director of photography from January 2021 to May 2022, shared in an Instagram story following the recent presidential debate. According to screenshots obtained by Axios, West expressed his concerns that have been privately acknowledged by insiders for some time.

“I know many of these people and how the White House operates. They will say he has a ‘cold’ or just experienced a ‘bad night,’ but for weeks and months, in private, they have all said what we saw last night — Joe is not as strong as he was just a couple of years ago,” West wrote. When reached by phone, West confirmed he wrote the post because “the debate was not the first bad day, and it’s not gonna be the last.”

The White House’s residence staff, who serve the first family in the mansion’s living quarters, has been kept at a distance. A former residence official told Axios, “Jill Biden was so protective of the president, and then Anthony [Anthony Bernal, Jill Biden’s top aide] just protects her, and they often wouldn’t let us do anything for them.”

The official added, “The separation between the family and the residence staff was so big, so divided. It’s not supposed to be and usually isn’t, even in the Trump White House.” A White House official stated, “He is deeply appreciative of the residence staff’s work, but is unused to being waited on regularly or having butlers, so some staff are often allowed to go home early.”

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CNN contributor Scott Jennings said on Monday, “I don’t think you can compare it to anybody’s previous bad debate performances. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen in presidential campaigns. The deterioration of Joe Biden over four years is painfully obvious to everyone. To me, it really goes beyond the campaign. I mean, there’s reporting this morning from Axios about Joe Biden’s closest aides working very hard to shield access to him from virtually everyone over the last three and a half years.”

“I think people don’t just have questions about the campaign today; they have questions about how the White House is running right now! They have questions about whether he can do the job today, let alone for four more years,” Jennings said. “What we saw Thursday night, he’s not just a candidate; he’s the president right now. And so, a lot of people I talk to want to know what’s going on in there and if he is up to the task.”

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A Florida judge unexpectedly released the transcripts of a 2006 grand jury investigation into Jeffrey Epstein on Monday afternoon. The transcripts delve into allegations of sex trafficking and rape against the late financier, stemming from incidents that initially surfaced in Palm Beach County.

The release could have marked the beginning and the end of the Epstein saga back in 2006. Instead, Epstein was only indicted on a single charge of prostitution 17 years ago. The documents, totaling about 150 pages, are now available to the public.

The decision to release these documents ahead of schedule was unexpected, especially since Circuit Judge Luis Delgado had a hearing planned for the following week to discuss the timing and method of their release. The move follows legislation signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in February, which permitted the release of these documents on Monday or at any later time as directed by Judge Delgado.

“The details in the record will be outrageous to decent people,” Delgado wrote in the court order. “The testimony taken by the Grand Jury concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape — all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting, and criminal.”

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗽𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

This is from the 2008 case:

Palm Beach prosecutor Lanna Belohlavek in front of the grand jury tells Epstein victim that she committed the crime of prostution, even though she was 14 years old when Epstein molested her… pic.twitter.com/uBmvE86ila

— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) July 1, 2024

“For almost 20 years, the story of how Jeffrey Epstein victimized some of Palm Beach County’s most vulnerable has been the subject of much anger and has at times diminished the public’s perception of the criminal justice system,” the judge continued.

“Epstein is indeed notorious and infamous and is widely reported to have flaunted his wealth while cavorting with politicians, billionaires, and even British Royalty. It is understandable that given those reports the public has a great curiosity about what was widely reported by news (agencies) as ‘special treatment’ regarding his prosecution.”

Newly released court documents in the Epstein case includes this video walkthrough of his home. pic.twitter.com/8ulTkdFHP5

— Catch Up (@CatchUpFeed) July 1, 2024

The Epstein documents is a trove of released legal and court documents related to his criminal cases and civil suits brought by his alleged victims. These documents include depositions, police reports, and correspondences that shed light on Epstein’s activities and the network of contacts that were scrutinized during the investigations.

Epstein was a financier and convicted sex offender, best known for his extensive legal battles and the high-profile connections that came under scrutiny following his charges and eventual conviction. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Epstein worked various roles, including teaching and banking, before establishing his own financial management firm.

Epstein’s legal troubles began in the mid-2000s when he was investigated by the Palm Beach Police Department in Florida for allegations of sexual abuse of underage girls. These investigations led to his 2008 plea deal for soliciting prostitution from a minor, for which he served 13 months in custody with significant work release privileges— a sentence widely criticized as extraordinarily lenient.

In 2019, Epstein faced new charges related to sex trafficking minors in Florida and New York. His arrest reignited interest in his previous plea deal and raised questions about his connections with influential figures, including politicians, royalty, and celebrities. Epstein died in his jail cell in August 2019, and his death was ruled a “suicide.”

This is a developing story

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MSNBC host Joy Reid unleashed a torrent of criticism at the Supreme Court’s decision to grant former President Donald Trump immunity. In a landmark 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court vindicated Trump’s long-held assertion that he is immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken in his official capacity, including his controversial tweets prior to the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach.

Reid, known for her outlandish liberal commentary, made up a dire scenario where Trump’s reinstatement could lead to a total repeal of progressive 20th-century reforms. “This election is no longer about the old guy that’s in the White House now… It’s above me now. There’s a Waffle House next door. There’s a Best Western next door as well,” Reid ranted, dismissing current President Joe Biden’s role.

“Donald John Trump cannot be allowed back into the White House. Because if you combine that madman with this court, two of whose members are insurrectionists, one of whom flew an upside down flag at his home… You combine this court, two of whose members are going to immediately resign and put 30 year olds in there, including probably the guy who wrote the opinion in the beaters case, meaning that beaters should be able to get machine guns, which by the way, they have now arrogated to themselves the power to decide all federal rules, everything.”

“The century when super-rich white men, unchecked and untaxed, amassed great wealth, passed it down with no taxation to their descendants, and pretended that they had earned it on their own, that they were just masters of the universe,” Reid claimed. “They want that era back. They think that the 20th century was an abomination and they are dismantling it. They’re coming for every single one of our rights. They’re not done. They’re not done. If you love having your freedom, having the freedom for contraception, LGBTQ rights, that’s going too.”

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In April the court heard arguments from Trump’s attorneys stating that his actions involving classified documents and J6, both central to his two federal cases, were protected under presidential immunity. Smith, the Biden Justice Department prosecutor, countered that Trump was acting as a private citizen when he allegedly took classified documents from the White House for his own personal possession and when he encouraged supporters to breach the Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 election.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, wrote in a dissent that the court’s majority ruling “makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.”

REACTIONS:

I thought that was the guy from Hotel Rwanda

— Ryan McLean (@Ryanamclean) July 1, 2024

she even got rid of her DJT haircut for this

— Mavjones.com (@Mavjonesdotcom) July 1, 2024

It’s a sight to see

— Jacktron (@jacktronprime) July 1, 2024

Tantrum.

— BG Anders (@bg_anders) July 1, 2024

Cry more….

— C to the B (@CookieBarth) July 1, 2024

On Monday morning, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of granting presidents absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions undertaken in their official capacity. The decision, deeply rooted in a constitutional debate, had massive implications for the presidency and the legal landscape surrounding the 2024 election.

Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in her dissent, claimed that the decision undermined the foundational principles of American law. Sotomayor wrote, “Today’s decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency. It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.”

“Relying on little more than its own misguided wisdom about the need for ‘bold and unhesitating action’ by the President, the Court gives former President Trump all the immunity he asked for and more,” she lamented. “Because our Constitution does not shield a former President from answering for criminal and treasonous acts, I dissent.”

“The Court now confronts a question it has never had to answer in the Nation’s history: Whether a former President enjoys immunity from federal criminal prosecution. The majority thinks he should, and so it invents an atextual, ahistorical, and unjustifiable immunity that puts the President above the law,” Sotomayor wrote.

“Never in the history of our Republic has a President had reason to believe that he would be immune from criminal prosecution if he used the trappings of his office to violate the criminal law. Moving forward, however, all former Presidents will be cloaked in such immunity. If the occupant of that office misuses official power for personal gain, the criminal law that the rest of us must abide will not provide a backstop.”

She finished, “With fear for our democracy, I dissent.”

In April the court heard arguments from Trump’s attorneys stating that his actions involving classified documents and J6, both central to his two federal cases, were protected under presidential immunity. Smith, the Biden Justice Department prosecutor, countered that Trump was acting as a private citizen when he allegedly took classified documents from the White House for his own personal possession and when he encouraged supporters to storm the Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 election.

“The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official,” the majority wrote. “The President is not above the law. But Congress may not criminalize the President’s conduct in carrying out the responsibilities of the Executive Branch under the Constitution. And the system of separated powers designed by the Framers has always demanded an energetic, independent Executive.”

“The President therefore may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled, at a minimum, to a presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. That immunity applies equally to all occupants of the Oval Office, regardless of politics, policy, or party.”

“BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!” Trump exclaimed on his signature social media platform, Truth Social. He later told Fox the decision is a “big win for our Constitution and for democracy.”

“I have been harassed by the Democrat Party, Joe Biden, Obama and their thugs, fascists and communists for years,” Trump said Monday. “And now the courts have spoken.” He added: “This is a big win for our Constitution and for democracy. Now I am free to campaign like anyone else. We are leading in every poll – by a lot – and we will make America great again.”

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Amid the bustling political climate as the 2024 Presidential election approaches, AtlasIntel, whose predictions were spot-on in 2020, released a new poll that places former President Donald Trump ahead of President Joe Biden. The data comes at a critical time as public concern regarding Joe Biden’s cognitive health and fitness for office has escalated following his debate with Trump.

For months, there has been growing unease among the electorate regarding whether Biden is capable of fulfilling the demands of the presidency. This concern has grown significantly following Thursday’s debate performance, which many viewed as lackluster compared to Trump’s commanding presence. The debate intensified discussions within the Democratic Party, with nearly half of its members now expressing their doubts about Biden’s candidacy.

AtlasIntel, whose insights have been heralded for their accuracy, conducted a poll that revealed Trump leading Biden by 5.2 points in a full-ballot estimate. This is an increase from a February poll by the same agency, which had Trump leading by 2 points.

ATLAS/CNN BRASIL POLL – US ELECTION
Trump leads the race for the White House with 45.5% of voting intentions, while Joe Biden sits at 40.3%, according to the Atlas poll released on GPS CNN this Saturday.
Robert Kennedy Jr. is the preferred option for 10% of the electorate. pic.twitter.com/HNT5a6z81Z

— AtlasIntel (@atlas_intel) June 29, 2024

They not only nailed the 2020 popular vote but also accurately captured the mood in 2022. Now, their data suggests a solidifying lead for Trump, placing him at 45.5% over Biden’s 40.3%, with Robert Kennedy Jr. picking up 10% of the vote as a third-party candidate.

In the aftermath of the debate, a retreat at Camp David was swiftly organized, where Biden’s closest family and advisors rallied to strategize and bolster his campaign. The meeting aimed to mitigate the fallout and stabilize his campaign which seems increasingly besieged by public skepticism and internal party doubts. However, according to AtlasIntel, 48% of Americans now believe Biden should withdraw from the race, a stark increase post-debate. Only 9.3% think there is a high chance Biden will actually drop out.

New poll from AtlasIntel, n = 1,634 RV sample, has Trump leading Biden by +5.2 on a full-ballot (post-debate data is included).

Poll is 538 verified, their last poll was Trump +2 on a full-ballot back in February. AtlasIntel was also one of the most accurate polls in 2020. pic.twitter.com/jxVyXyf2dn

— evolian (@gen0m1cs) June 29, 2024

Other findings from the poll included 56.3% disapprove of Biden’s performance as President while only 39.7% approve. 52.5% said they evaluated Biden’s performance as “bad/terrible,” 29.4% said “excellent/good,” and 17.6% said “regular.”

The poll indicates a potential turning point in the 2024 Presidential race, signaling a growing appetite for change, possibly swayed by perceptions of leadership strength and clarity—a domain where Trump seems to have an edge. Now, the Democrats face a crucial decision: rally behind Biden or reconsider their strategy in light of burgeoning internal and external pressures.

ATLAS/CNN BRASIL POLL – US ELECTION

48% of Americans believe Biden should drop out of the race, while 44% think he should stay in, according to the latest Atlas poll.

After the debate, Biden’s permanence as the Democratic candidate was widely questioned. pic.twitter.com/OTRnOLvy2w

— AtlasIntel (@atlas_intel) June 29, 2024

In terms of topics, Biden led the most of over Trump with +14 points in environment protection, while Trump separated himself with +13 points over the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Trump has led the way in: China- U.S. competition, national debt, immigration, war in Ukraine, combatting taxes, corruption, job growth, and safeguarding democracy. Besides environment, Biden only led in two other categories: health care and inequality.

Trump continued his momentum on Monday by celebrating the Supreme Court’s ruling that grants broad immunity to sitting presidents for “official” acts. The 2024 frontrunner described the decision as a validation of his claims of being targeted by a political witch hunt led by Biden and Special Prosecutor Jack Smith. The ruling, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, stated that presidents cannot be prosecuted for exercising their core constitutional powers. However, the court noted that non-official acts are still subject to prosecution.

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The airwaves of “Morning Joe” had a noticeable void this Monday morning, as co-host Joe Scarborough was nowhere to be seen. The absence comes in the wake of a fiery on-air disagreement with his co-host and wife, Mika Brzezinski, who spent Friday’s opening segment lavishly praising President Joe Biden.

Scarborough’s empty seat caused some speculation and among viewers, given his recent critical comments about Biden’s ability to continue campaigning for the 2024 Presidential race. The discord between the co-hosts erupted after Joe Biden’s debated performance against former President Donald Trump last Thursday.

While Brzezinski opened the show with commendations for Biden, Scarborough had previously called for Biden to consider withdrawing from the 2024 race due to a less-than-stellar debate showing. Brzezinski, undeterred by her husband’s critiques, argued that Biden’s public appearances post-debate were markedly improved, describing them as “night and day” compared to his performance during the debate.

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“Okay, hold on a second. I — I agree with everything you said, except for the last part of it. Everybody calm down, and I’ll tell you why. It’s fine to not spin what happened last night and we’re not going to,” Brzezinski started. Scarborough butted in to refute the charge. “By the way Mika, everybody’s calm here. You’re the only one raising your voice. Everybody is calm here.”

Continuing on, Brzezinski said the knee-jerk tendency of “let’s just pull this, let’s end this, let’s find someone else” is tantamount to admitting defeat. “That’s not what Mike said,” Scarborough interjected.

“That, uh, attitude toward this is what I am saying slow down on because, again, there’s no spinning it, but let’s be balanced. Let’s for once show some balance in a media world that is so shrill with imbalance that we’ve become inured to these two candidates,” she finished before turning to another panelist.

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“Wait, wait, I just have to stop you,” Scarborough said. “First of all, we always show balance. Second, nobody’s panicking. I said these are questions that Democrats and Joe Biden needed to ask themselves, and Mike said he missed one pitch down the middle after another, wasn’t up to it last night… so I will say it’s not panic. It’s not being panicked to understand what’s at stake and the window is closing very quickly. And if last night did not reveal that to you and other Democrats, then it needs to be revealed pretty soon.”

Weeks before the first debate, Democrats reportedly settled on a desperate last-minute strategy to replace Biden if his first debate performance went worse than expected, which by all accounts it did. In this scenario, some of the party’s top leaders — including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, as well as congressional leaders like Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) — would need to form a unified front in proposing to Biden that he step aside for the good of defeating Trump. “It would have to be the four of them collectively,” one source told the Daily Mail.

A wall of negative media coverage overwhelmed post-debate coverage as nearly all opinion columnists at the New York Times, Washington Post, and other staples of mainstream media declared Biden’s performance an unmitigated disaster. If he remains in the race, the 81-year-old will face off against Donald Trump one final time on September 10th in a debate that will be televised by ABC.

After Thursday night’s first 2024 election cycle debate on CNN, tensions boiled over as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump exchanged fierce criticisms on key issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion. However, it was the aftermath that caught the nation’s attention, with CNN’s John King reporting a sense of panic among senior Democrats over Biden’s performance, raising questions about his continued candidacy.

Supporters of Biden were optimistic that he would present a clear and succinct message on immigration, aiming to counteract Trump’s critiques on this highly contentious issue. However, the performance did not meet expectations.

John King said right after the debate, “But minutes into the debate—and it continues right now—it involves party strategists, involves elected officials, it involves fundraisers, and they’re having conversations about the president’s performance, which they think was dismal, which they think will hurt other people down the party in the ticket, and having conversations about what they should do about it.”

“Some of those conversations include whether we should go to the White House and ask the president to step aside,” King continued. The discussion within the party suggests that some members believe it might be necessary for prominent Democrats to publicly call for Biden to reconsider his campaign.

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(VOTE NOW: Did TRUMP or BIDEN Win The First Debate?)

Although Biden regained some composure later in the debate, his closing statements did little to calm the fears of party leaders. The growing doubts cast a long shadow over the campaign, with implications that could reshape the Democratic strategy moving forward with only a few moths left.

“[Biden] stuck to his official position. I think he could’ve expressed it more strongly,” a source close to the White House told CNN. “He needs to remind the American public of his record, both on the border and on helping long-term undocumented immigrants. He hasn’t done that yet,” another source added, describing a moment when Biden unexpectedly brought up immigration while discussing abortion as “awkward and not helpful.”

When questioned about his age, 78-year-old Donald Trump boasted about his cognitive abilities and his recent achievements in golf. “I took two cognitive tests. I aced them, both of them,” Trump said. “I’m in very good health. I just won two club championships.”

As the situation evolves, the calls for potential changes at the top of the Democrat ticket could bring a dramatic shift in the 2024 presidential race. November is only a few months away. Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gavin Newsom could be possible replacements for Joe Biden.

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