Biden Mumbles, Fumbles, Fades in Atlanta Debate

Biden’s disastrous performance sends the left into panic, spin and damage control. Edward Luce of the Financial Times: This is a disaster (X). Damon Linker from the Univ. of Penn: Every Democrat in American should be white-hot livid that this has been permitted to happen (X). More: Biden is toast (X). Kelly O’Donnell of NBC News was quick to circulate the spin to save Biden:  NEW: Two sources familiar with the situation say “President Biden has a cold” (X). Andrew Yang: Guys, the Dems should nominate someone else – before it’s too late (X). Van Jones: “That was painful … he didn’t do well at all” (X). Joy Reid: My phone never really stopped buzzing throughout. The universal reaction was … approaching panic! (X). Matt Walsh: Biden can’t finish a sentence. This is the exact thing he needed to avoid, but he couldn’t (X). Jonathan Martin of Politico: … debate ends with the race even more of a pure referendum on Biden (X). Greg Gutfeld: “if you pulled joe biden over, you’d take away the car keys and call his adult children to have the talk” (X).

Politico Headline: “Dems Freak Out Over Biden’s Debate Performance: ‘Biden Is Toast’”

Politico: President Joe Biden opened the debate with a raspy voice and disjointed, rambling answers, reigniting Democratic concerns about his age and ability to take on former President Donald Trump. Many of the president’s answers were hard to follow. At one point, seemingly losing his train of thought, Biden said “we finally beat Medicare,” misspeaking about his own policy on earned benefits. In text messages with POLITICO, Democrats expressed confusion and concern as they watched the first minutes of the event. One former Biden White House and campaign aide called it “terrible,” adding that they have had to ask themselves over and over “What did he just say? This is crazy….” Jay Surdukowski, an attorney and Democratic activist from New Hampshire who co-chaired Martin O’Malley’s 2016 presidential campaign in the state, said, “Biden is toast — calling it now.” (Politico).

Trump on Biden: “He’s the Worst President in the History of Our Country”

Clip: TRUMP: “Joe, our country is being destroyed as you and I sit up here and waste a lot of time in this debate. This shouldn’t be a debate… He’s the worst president in the history of our country” (X).  Wall Street Journal: In the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign, President Biden gave the kind of delivery that Democrats feared, one that lacked vigor and combativeness. Trump, meanwhile, uncharacteristically was able to keep his composure in a 90-minute show that brimmed with insults and policy contrasts (Wall Street Journal). Frank Luntz: After the second commercial break, I asked my focus group of undecided voters how many are more convinced to vote for Donald Trump. 10 of 14 raised their hands… Even if they didn’t like Donald Trump (X).

Biden Claims Border Patrol Union Endorsed Him; Union Clarifies: “We Never Have and Never Will Endorse Biden”

Colin Rugg: The Border Patrol Union responds after President Joe Biden says the Border Patrol supports him. Biden: “By the way the border patrol endorsed me, endorsed my position. In addition to that, we found ourselves in a situation…” Border Patrol Union: “To be clear, we never have and never will endorse Biden” (X).

Iran “Closer Than Ever” to Nuclear Weapon Capability

New York Times: Iran has moved closer than ever to the ability to produce several nuclear weapons, dramatically bolstering the speed at which it can produce nuclear fuel in recent weeks inside a facility buried so deep that it is all but impervious to bunker-busting bombs…. The sharp technological upgrade goes hand in hand with another worrisome change: For the first time, some members of Iran’s ruling elite are dropping the country’s decades-old insistence that its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes (New York Times). Israel is keenly aware of the threat: “The greatest threat to the future of the world and the future of our region is Iran,” (Israeli Defense Minister Yoav) Gallant said. “Now is the time to realize the commitment of the American administrations over the years to promise to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons” (Times of Israel).

Report: Israel Tests Weapon That Could Reach Iran

Israel Hayom: A Russian military blogger known as “Rybar” has reported that Israel conducted a test of a ballistic missile with a range exceeding 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles). According to the blogger, whose reports primarily focus on the war in Ukraine, Israel launched the missile from the Palmachim base towards the Mediterranean Sea, striking a maritime area south of Italy’s coast. The blogger claimed that the missile’s range is sufficient to cover most of Iran’s territory. “Judging by the lack of media coverage and the distance of observation aircraft, it seems the Israelis were trying something serious,” Rybar stated on his Telegram channel (Israel Hayom). NOFM: Speculating on the distance of 1800 km, which puts Tehran well in range from Israel, Rybar opines that this might be ‘a message to Tehran’ given the current tension around Israel-Lebanon (X).

Another Nation, Another Debate, Another Election: French Leaders Hold Last Debate Ahead of Vote That Could Move Nation Rightward

It is the nation’s “most consequential election in decades.” CNN: France’s snap parliamentary election is one of the most momentous in decades, for both the country and the rest of Europe. Within two weeks, France could have a hard-left or hard-right government – or descend into political deadlock if no bloc wins a majority, leaving Paris hamstrung as problems mount at home and abroad. The election will take place over two rounds on June 30 and July 7 (CNN). Leaders held their last, heated debate before voting: Bardella, whose party is leading in opinion polls and could emerge the dominant political power in the country for the first time…. “I don’t like this way of associating a pseudo-climate of hatred with the National Rally electorate”, Bardella said later in the debate (Reuters).

After Primary Loss, Squad Member Jamaal Bowman Claims Jewish PAC Worked to “Brainwash People”

Free Beacon: After losing his primary campaign against Westchester County executive George Latimer by nearly 20 points, “Squad” member Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D., N.Y.) claimed a “super PAC of dark money”—a reference to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee—spent millions of dollars to “brainwash people” into voting against him (Free Beacon). Seth Barron at City Journal: Jamaal Bowman will now exit elected office, but the schism within the Democratic Party that his defeat exemplifies will haunt the party… Many have suggested that the 2024 Democratic National Convention to be held this summer in Chicago might resemble the famously contentious scene in 1968, when anti-Vietnam War protesters rioted in the streets and battled Mayor Richard J. Daley’s police. But in 1968, the protests occurred outside the convention hall. This year, we will see pro-Hamas AIPAC vilifiers inside the hall as credentialed delegates. Bowman vs. Latimer hasn’t seen its last round. It is the Democratic Party’s future (City Journal).

In Face of Growing Unrest Around the World, Secretary of State Blinken Fights for … Pride: “It’s in Our National Security Interests To Stand up for LGBTQI+ Individuals Around the World”

Speaking to the State Department in honor of pride month: …it’s in our national security interest to stand up for LGBTQI+ persons around the world…. Each of you is an inspiration. Each of you is a motivation. Each of you in so many ways is our conscience. Activists, all of our civil society partners, you know how much work remains to achieve full equality and full rights, but our promise is this. We will be with you every step of the way… (X; full speech C-Span).

Mother Kicked Off United Airlines Flight for Accidentally “Misgendering” Flight Attendant

Daily Mail: A widowed Texas mother says she was only concerned with getting her son and her 75-year-old mother back home when she was kicked off a United flight for misgendering a staff member. Jenna Longoria claims the trio were were removed from a flight from San Francisco to Austin on Wednesday after she ‘accidentally’ referred to a female-identifying employee as a man (Daily Mail).