Biden’s Disastrous Debate | 6.28.24
In this Morning Wire episode, the hosts revisit Biden's recent debate performance, which sparked criticism regarding his shaky demeanor and incoherent responses on key issues. The episode explores Trump's contrasting display of vigor during the debate and the ensuing political fallout from Biden's feeble appearance.
The summary also examines allegations of collusion by former intelligence officials to undermine the Hunter Biden laptop story. The hosts detail how figures like James Clapper and Mike Morrell allegedly coordinated efforts to falsely label the scandal as Russian disinformation, providing Biden with a debate talking point. The episode delves into the consequences of such interventions, which are not without precedent in high-stakes political events.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jun 28, 2024 episode of the Morning Wire
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1-Page Summary
Biden's poor debate performance and its aftermath
Biden struggled during the debate
Politico and other media criticized President Biden's shaky debate performance, accusing him of incoherence. On issues like the economy and border security, Biden stumbled over words and froze up. He also falsely claimed no U.S. troops died under his presidency, which was debunked.
According to Van Jones and MSNBC's Joy Reid, Biden failed to restore confidence, leading allies to panic over his feeble appearance. His campaign later cited a cold as the reason for his difficulties.
Trump took control of the debate
Trump admonished Biden's policies, arguing Americans are worse off under his presidency due to inflation and the handling of immigration. Doug Burgum suggested Biden projected weakness that could pose national security risks.
While not directly attacking Biden's age, Trump implied his opponent's actions were due to an inability to win fairly. Trump contrasted his own border security record against Biden's policies that he said allowed dangerous individuals to enter the U.S.
Allegations of collusion to influence the debate
Former intelligence officials colluded to undermine the Hunter Biden laptop story
John Bickley reports that at the Biden campaign's coordination, James Clapper and others signed a letter falsely claiming the Hunter Biden laptop story was Russian disinformation. According to Mike Morrell, the intent was to give Biden a talking point to use against Trump in the debate, which Biden's campaign later expressed gratitude for.
Intelligence officials have previously influenced debates
In 2016, Clapper issued an advisory coordinated with the Obama White House alleging Russia aimed to help Trump win the election. CNN debate moderators like Dana Bash also had connections to efforts undermining Trump, raising potential conflicts of interest.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- Biden's debate performance could be seen as a single event that doesn't necessarily reflect his overall capability as President.
- Stumbling over words and freezing up could happen to anyone, especially under the pressure of a high-stakes debate, and may not be indicative of one's ability to govern.
- The claim about U.S. troops not dying under his presidency, if indeed false, could be a misstatement rather than an intentional falsehood, which can occur in the fast-paced environment of a debate.
- The assertion that allies panicked over Biden's appearance is subjective and may not represent the views of all allies or the international community.
- Citing a cold as the reason for debate difficulties is a plausible explanation, as illness can affect cognitive and physical performance.
- Criticisms of Biden's policies by Trump could be countered by pointing to data or expert opinions that support the effectiveness of Biden's approach to inflation and immigration.
- The suggestion that Biden's perceived weakness could pose national security risks is speculative and would require concrete evidence to substantiate.
- Implications about Biden's ability to win fairly are serious accusations and would need to be backed by credible evidence.
- The contrast of border security records is a matter of policy perspective, and there may be data supporting the effectiveness of Biden's policies in this area.
- Allegations of collusion to undermine the Hunter Biden laptop story would need to be proven through a transparent investigation to be substantiated.
- The signing of a letter by intelligence officials regarding the laptop story could be based on their professional assessment of the information available to them at the time.
- Previous influences on debates by intelligence officials could be interpreted within the context of national security concerns rather than partisan politics.
- Connections between debate moderators and political efforts could be coincidental or unrelated to their debate moderation.
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Actionables
- You can enhance your critical thinking by practicing fact-checking statements you hear in daily life, using tools like fact-checking websites or primary sources to verify claims. For example, if a public figure makes a statement about a historical event, look up reputable historical records or academic articles to see if the information aligns with the facts.
- Develop your public speaking skills by recording yourself discussing a complex topic, then reviewing the video to identify areas where you might stumble or appear less confident. Work on these areas by researching techniques to improve clarity and reduce filler words, and practice regularly to build fluency.
- Create a habit of analyzing media bias by comparing how different news outlets report on the same event, noting the language used and the aspects of the story they emphasize or omit. This can help you understand the influence of bias in shaping public perception and encourage a more balanced intake of information.
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Biden's poor debate performance and its aftermath
President Biden’s recent debate performance has become a subject of widespread criticism due to his perceived lack of coherence and the misstatements he made during the exchange.
Biden's shaky, incoherent performance drew widespread criticism
Biden struggled to coherently address key issues like the economy and border security
From the beginning of the debate, President Biden appeared to struggle. His voice was shaky and hoarse, and at times he was coughing and freezing up. For instance, during a discussion about Medicare, Biden seemingly stopped mid-sentence, unable to complete his response coherently.
On the topic of border security, Biden claimed a 40% decrease in illegal crossings compared to the end of the Trump administration. However, he was unable to provide a compelling response when challenged on how voters could trust him to manage the crisis despite his proposed total ban and initiatives to add more border patrol and asylum officers.
Biden made false claims, such as saying no U.S. service members died under his presidency
Biden made a factually incorrect statement during the debate, claiming that he is the only president this century under whom no troops have died. This assertion was debunked as 16 service members have died while serving in Afghanistan, including 13 during the withdrawal under his administration.
The perception of Biden's rambling and incoherence solidified as the debate progressed. His campaign later informed the press that he was suffering from a cold, yet this information was not shared until his difficulties became apparent on screen.
Biden's allies and the media expressed dismay and concern over his performance
Biden’s performance did not only resonate critically with viewers but also rang alarms among allies and the media. Politico's scathing headline "Biden is toast" epitomized the critical view of his performance. Van Jones, CNN contributor and former Obama adviser, indicated that Biden failed to restore confidence when he most needed to. MSNBC contributor Joy Reid reported Democrat contacts who were verging on panic over the President appearing feeble and weak.
Trump was able to effectively counter Biden and take control of the debate
Trump criticized Biden's policies and highlighted how Americans are worse off under his presidency
During the debate, Trump took the opportunity to cri ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Biden's poor debate performance and its aftermath
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- The criticism of Biden's debate performance highlights concerns about his leadership abilities and credibility, impacting public trust. Trump's effective counterarguments underscored contrasting policy approaches and raised questions about Biden's competence as a leader. Media and political reactions reflect the potential implications of Biden's performance on his presidency and the upcoming elections. The focus on specific policy issues like border security and healthcare underscores the significance of these topics in shaping public opinion and political discourse.
- Biden's allies and the media expressed dismay and concern over his debate performance, with Politico's headline "Biden is toast" reflecting a critical view. Van Jones and Joy Reid, prominent media figures, highlighted Biden's failure to inspire confidence. The media's reaction underscored broader concerns about Biden's perceived weakness and its implications.
- President Biden's debate performance is significant as it reflects ...
Counterarguments
- Biden's debate performance may have been affected by a temporary health issue, such as a cold, which could explain the lack of coherence rather than a deeper underlying problem.
- The claim of a 40% decrease in illegal crossings could be based on specific data sets or time frames that were not clearly communicated during the debate.
- The misstatement regarding U.S. service members not dying under his presidency could be a result of a speaking error rather than an intentional falsehood.
- Media reactions are subjective, and different outlets or commentators may have interpreted Biden's performance in a more positive light.
- Criticism from Biden's allies could be seen as a sign of a healthy democracy where party members feel free to hold their leader accountable.
- Trump's criticisms of Biden's policies could be countered by pointing to data or reports that show positive outcomes or improvements in the areas he cr ...
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Allegations of collusion between the Biden campaign and intelligence officials to influence the debate
Recent allegations raise questions about the collaboration between the Biden campaign and intelligence officials in an attempt to influence public perception during a presidential debate.
Former Obama intelligence officials colluded with the Biden campaign to discredit the Hunter Biden laptop story
The Biden campaign is accused of colluding with former Obama administration intelligence officials to undermine the Hunter Biden laptop story during the 2020 presidential campaign.
The Biden campaign coordinated with former intelligence officials to release a letter falsely claiming the laptop story was Russian disinformation
John Bickley reports that James Clapper and 50 other intelligence officials signed a letter asserting that the Hunter Biden laptop story bore the hallmarks of a Russian information operation—despite the claim being unsubstantiated. This letter was allegedly coordinated with the Biden campaign to serve as a rebuttal against then-President Donald Trump in their debate.
RealClear Investigations suggests that the Biden campaign had a hand in crafting this letter specifically so Biden could use it in the week of the debate to counter Trump’s remarks concerning the laptop. Former CIA deputy director Mike Morrell admitted in a deposition that there had been a conversation about the laptop story with a key Biden campaign aide before the letter's release.
The letter was timed to give Biden a "talking point" to use against Trump in the debate
Morrell, in his deposition, acknowledged that a motivation behind releasing the letter was to aid Biden in the presidential debate. The day after conversing with Biden's campaign, Morrell reached out to former intelligence officials to endorse the letter, explicitly mentioning their intent to assist the Vice President with a talking point for the upcoming debate. Following the debate a statement of gratitude for the letter was conveyed by Biden campaign chairman Steve Ricchetti to Morrell.
This was not the first time intelligence officials had coordinated with Democrats to influence a presidential debate
The use of intelligence officials to influence public perception during a debate is not unprecedented.
In 2016, Clapper issued an advisory coordinated with the Obama White House claim ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Allegations of collusion between the Biden campaign and intelligence officials to influence the debate
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- The letter signed by former intelligence officials, including James Clapper, may have been an expression of genuine concern based on their experience and expertise, rather than collusion with the Biden campaign.
- Accusations of the Biden campaign's involvement in crafting the letter may be speculative and not based on concrete evidence of direct coordination.
- The timing of the letter's release could be coincidental and not necessarily intended to provide Biden with a debate talking point.
- Intelligence advisories, such as the one issued by Clapper in 2016, are typically based on assessments of national security threats and may not be politically motivated.
- Connections between CNN moderators and individuals involved in political events do not necessarily in ...
Actionables
- You can enhance your media literacy by researching the backgrounds of news sources and journalists to understand potential biases. Start by looking at the employment history and public statements of reporters and commentators to identify any possible connections to political parties or campaigns. For example, if a journalist has worked for a political figure in the past, their reporting might be influenced by that relationship.
- Develop critical thinking skills by practicing spotting logical fallacies and biases in political arguments. Engage with a variety of news sources and actively question the motives behind the information presented. When you encounter a political claim, try to identify if it's supported by evidence or if it might be an ad hominem attack or an appeal to emotion rather than fact.
- Encourage transparency by writing to your local representa ...
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