Subject of discussion
Presidential debates are not always the most useful way to learn about the policy goals of candidates, but on Thursday the public will sit down not to learn about the two men vying for the White House, but rather to listen as they once again engage in spirited sparring to disparage each other's administrations.
White House reporter Hysten Willis We've seen the last two head-to-head battles between the president and the Republican Party. Joe Biden Former President Donald Trump It's 2020. The spectre of COVID-19 looms over these discussions, but there are plenty of promises and criticisms that have nothing to do with this nasty pandemic.
As Hijsten pointed out, not everything Biden promised and Trump asserted is outdated.
- “Trump said at the debate, 'By the end of my first term, [appointed] “About 300 federal judges and 300 appeals court judges,” Hasten writes. But that's one of Trump's outdated statements. For one, he ended his term with 234 judges appointed, not 300. More importantly, Biden is on pace to beat his own record, having appointed 201 judges as of June 14, more than Trump had at this point in his term.
- Biden:[There are] 220,000 Americans died [from COVID-19]”If you don't hear anything I say tonight, hear this,” Biden said in his opening remarks of the debate. “Anyone who is responsible for so many deaths should not be president of the United States of America.”
In January 2022, less than a year into President Biden's presidency, the total number of COVID-19 deaths under Biden's administration surpassed those of President Trump, even though vaccinations became widely available early in Biden's administration. By May 2022, there were more than 1 million deaths from COVID-19, 60% of which occurred after Biden took office.
click here It's a powerful reminder of the promises Biden and Trump made four years ago, and a way to contrast their words and actions on Thursday.
Policy Primer
Looking back on 2020, economic reporter Zachary Haraszczak Everyone is looking ahead to the future, helping pick out buzzwords about the economy, a top concern for most voters.
“We expect several questions about the economy,” Zachary wrote. “High inflation has been a top concern for voters since Biden took office. Republicans have used voter dissatisfaction with the economy as an ammunition against Biden and the Democrats, and the two front-runners are likely to spar over economic issues throughout the matchup.”
The debate will undoubtedly focus on inflation, “by far Biden's biggest economic headache.”
If the moderator and the nominee are willing to get into the finer points, the debate could turn to a combination of tariffs and taxes, as both have advocated punishing China with a range of tariffs and Trump has recently floated the idea of eliminating income taxes in favor of a broad tariff regime.
Digging deeper into economic policy here.
Controversial moments
If Hasten and Zachary's policy-centric 2020 review this morning isn't catching your attention, check out the Congressional Reporter Ramsay Touchbury We also looked back at those contests from a broader perspective (with clips!).
Not all moments were as shocking as Trump's ominous call to the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” — a comment that was dissected at the time and scrutinized more closely after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
Also on the list were the occasional moments of lightness, such as when Biden couldn't stand the back-and-forth of the debate and offered a quick rebuke.
“The debate repeatedly devolved into a brawl to see which candidate could outspeak the other,” Ramsey wrote. “At one point, while discussing whether to abolish the 60-vote Senate filibuster threshold or expand the Supreme Court to counter the conservative majority, an irritated Biden told Trump to 'shut up.' While many Democrats called for action on both fronts, Biden ultimately refused to take a position.”
View highlights here.
Dropped out of the presidential election
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy is running as an independent alternative to Trump and Biden, but the environmental lawyer's left-wing leanings have drawn criticism from Trump circles, thwarting the initially cordial relationship between the Trump and Kennedy campaigns.
“RFK is trying to trick voters into believing he is against the globalist system, but no one has been more supportive of the globalist agenda to scare people about climate change, restrict energy consumption, destroy jobs and reduce the quality of life for ordinary people,” Donald Trump Jr., the former president's eldest son, told investigative journalists. Gabe Kaminski.
Gabe turned to Kennedy's press secretary. Stephanie Speer“has said China's 'war on coal' is 'great,' praised climate protesters who have occupied government buildings, and served as a consultant to a left-leaning diversity, equity and inclusion group funded by major Democratic donors.” George Soros. ”
“Speer is a longtime ally of the 2024 independent presidential candidate with less than 10% approval rating,” Gabe wrote. “Kennedy helped Speer launch EcoWatch, an environmental website that records show Speer has used to lobby against coal-fired power plants and urged people to contact their lawmakers to promote green energy policies.”
Read more about RFK Jr. and Spear here.
top of the hill
What's the point of returning to Parliament without a visit from the stars?
Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are rolling out the red carpet for Olympians and their descendants this week, a congressional reporter said. Cami Mondo I previewed it.
“Lawmakers will return to Washington, DC on Tuesday after a week-long recess to resume legislative business and move forward on must-pass spending bills,” Cami wrote. “Meanwhile, the House will also hold hearings this week with notable athletes, including: Michael Phelps Anti-doping measures considered in parliament and high society Paris Hilton To discuss the institutionalization of child abuse.”
click here Read more about why celebs are flocking to the Capitol.
Primary colors
This election season is hotter than ever, but the heatwave hitting the U.S. teeth It will be broken soon. National Political Reporter Mabinti Kwasi It helped us put together the top lines for the biggest contests taking place on Tuesday.
Here's a quick preview.
new york
“Tuesday's most closely watched primary election is [Rep. Jamaal] Bowman's Fighting to Defeat Challenge from Westchester County Mayor George Latimer“I am a moderate Democrat representing New York's 16th Congressional District,” Mabinty wrote.
Latimer appears poised to become the first Democrat to successfully challenge a member of the Squad in a primary. He has the backing of wealthy donors and the backing of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Colorado
Two big battles are coming up in the Rocky Mountain State's 4th Congressional District on Tuesday.
“Former Mayor of Parker, Colorado Greg Lopez He is the favorite to win the special election against three other candidates. [former Rep. Ken] Bucks “For the remainder of this year's term,” Mabinty wrote, but Lopez will not run in the primary. Exchange Buck. That election features a congressman. Lauren Boebert She's a Republican congresswoman from Colorado trying her hand at a new district.
“Boebert is a leading contender in the race and has Trump's support despite the scandal that erupted last year when Trump's security detail scolded the Colorado congresswoman for drunken behavior at the New York Young Republican Club's annual banquet in Manhattan.”
Utah
Utah is a heavily Republican state, and none of the seats are particularly fierce along partisan lines, but there are questions about how much influence Trump's support will have there.
To read more from the Washington Examiner, click here
“Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah), a critic of Trump, is hoping to survive in the Republican gubernatorial primary against Phil Lyman, who rejected the 2020 election results and was booed by delegates at the state's nominating convention for being too centrist. President Trump has not yet endorsed Lyman in the race,” Mavinty wrote.
“Cox is a popular incumbent who has a good chance of beating Lyman, meaning Trump's support could weaken his support,” she wrote.
click here Get everything else you need to know about Tuesday's primary election.
