Abbreviated Pundit Roundup is a long-running series published every morning that collects essential political discussion and analysis around the internet.

The Bidens Need to Have a Talk
Let’s be candid about what happened in last night’s debate.

THE ONLY REASON THE xxxxxx EXISTS is that we all want to speak frank truths about Donald Trump. Some of us bailed on political careers over it. Others had their voices silenced by a billionaire who only wanted a mouthpiece for the Trump regime.

For that reason, it is our obligation to be as forthright as possible about the threat a second Trump term poses, what we think is the best way to stop it, and when we think the current approach isn’t working.

Given Joe Biden’s historically disastrous debate performance, there is a real question about whether he can handle the job.

I heard that question from dozens upon dozens of people on Thursday night. Black and white, young and old, political insider and casual observer. Liberal Democrat and Haley Republican.
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Poll shows low trust in Supreme Court ahead of Trump immunity decision
The Supreme Court is set to rule on whether former President Donald Trump is immune from criminal prosecution, a decision that could redefine presidential power and impact the court's reputation as a new poll suggests public confidence is already low.

"Most people that I’ve talked to think this is political, and it's just further evidence of what the poll results show, that the justices are favoring Trump or helping Trump avoid trial,” said American University Law Professor Stephen Wermiel. “I'm not in that camp. I think the court is going to issue what, in its mind, is a major constitutional decision.”

According to the latest Associated Press-NORC Center survey, 7 in 10 Americans think justices are more influenced by ideology, rather than impartiality.
Israel's Labor Party, Left-wing Meretz Merge Into One Party, to Be Called 'The Democrats'
According to the agreement signed by Labor Party chair Yair Golan and Meretz leader Tomer Reznik, this is not a technical merger, but rather the creation of a brand-new party that will operate as a single entity moving forward.

Additionally, the parties agreed that at least one Meretz delegate would be included down to the fourth place spot in the current Labor Party list, another representative down to the eighth place, and so on down to the 12th and 16th places.
A Wasted Opportunity for Biden (But Still Time for Redemption)
Ronald Reagan overcame a bad debate that triggered panic about his age. Here’s how Biden can do the same.

Yes, Donald Trump was a colossal liar. Yes, America would be better off if its president had a raspy voice instead of a rap sheet. But clearly, many voters are worried that Biden is deteriorating.

Biden also could have helped himself on that front by acknowledging the raspy voice and low energy. It wasn’t until well into the debate that Biden aides told reporters, in response to questions about his voice, that he had a cold. The president could have said so upfront. More broadly, Biden could be more forthright about aging in general—that while he may walk more gingerly and talk more haltingly, he has the record to prove he can still do the job of Commander-in-Chief. Candor breeds confidence.

History tells us Biden can recover. Reagan did, with his famous quip in the second debate: “I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” (As I’ve written previously, that line drew attention away from what could have been a disastrous moment earlier in the evening when Reagan clumsily contradicted himself about alleged illegal CIA activity in Nicaragua.)
The Case for Joe Biden Staying in the Race
The known bad candidate is better than the chaos of the unknown.

I don’t think it’s possible to clearly say one option is much better than the other, but I would argue, almost by default, that acting in a rash manner without a real contingency plan tends to lead to bad results, especially when you’re dealing with inept actors. I would feel differently if there were one obvious replacement for Biden or even two but the task of whittling down a field of contenders in four months feels like a principled protest rather than a measured and pragmatic strategy. By the slimmest of margins, I find myself opting for the known bad candidate over the chaos of the unknown. The Democrats have to hope that Biden can keep giving speeches like he did in North Carolina and that the debate will become an unpleasant but fading memory. They have to believe the polls are wrong. They need Trump to remind the country why they rejected him in 2020. The situation is certainly dire, but the irony here is that the Party’s foolishness and Biden’s arrogance, stubbornness, or blindness, means that we are stuck with him. There is no realistic Plan B.
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How the Trump vs Biden debate played on Wall Street
I'm sorry if this upsets you, I'm just telling you how it is.

What I’m about to say is a gross generalization of how tens of thousands of people feel. I believe it is directionally right, but, of course, it doesn’t accurately portray the feelings of every single individual. Try to understand that I am trying to capture the general feeling, not dwell on every exception. If you work on Wall Street and this doesn’t represent you, that’s great - no worries. But I highly doubt you’d be able to honestly say that this doesn’t represent the majority of your co-workers.

Trump's victory means a higher likelihood that the 2017 tax cuts from his first term will be extended rather than sunset. This is priority one for people who are involved in the stock and bond markets professionally or who cater to wealthy families. "How can they be so cynical and selfish?" You would be too. People mostly vote their own self-interest, yourself included. Teachers vote for what's best for teachers, oil and gas workers vote for what's best for oil and gas workers, let's keep it a buck.

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