What Biden’s presser did, and didn’t, clear up

Plus: Custom Olympic fits, Arab voters on Biden, and more.

July 12, 2024 View in browser  Hi! I hope you've had a great week. Sean Collins here with a piece on someone who didn't have his best week ever: President Joe Biden. He had a big NATO press conference last night. It wasn't a disaster. My colleague Andrew Prokop explains what's next.  —Sean Collins, editor of news Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg/Getty Images Was Biden's decent press conference enough to save him? With the future of his reelection campaign in doubt, President Joe Biden made a move on Thursday that was very unusual for him: He answered a lot of questions from reporters in a press conference.    The press conference, at the close of this week's NATO summit in Washington, went fine for Biden. He took questions for about an hour, speaking about several foreign policy, economic, and political issues. Some of his foreign policy responses in particular were praised as detailed and substantive.   Now, he did at one point mention "Vice President Trump" when he meant to say "Vice President Harris."   And at an earlier event he accidentally introduced Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as "President Putin."   But they were simple slips of the tongue and not borne of substantive confusion — Biden spoke extensively on the Ukraine/Russia war and about Harris's qualifications.    Biden's performance was not exactly commanding, but he didn't ever seem lost or fully out of it as he did at points in the debate. He did just fine.   The question is whether "just fine" is good enough to stem what's becoming a tide of Democratic calls for him to step aside. Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images) Biden's okay press conference came after two very bad days for him — and more bad days may be coming Just a few days earlier, it seemed Biden had managed to ride out the storm over his bad debate performance. But a slew of bad news Wednesday and prior to the press conference Thursday ensued.   His fundraising is plummeting. His own campaign aides are telling reporters he should quit. More Democrats have come out publicly against him staying in the race, with one going so far as to say he should resign the presidency. Reports circulated that top party figures — Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain — have in private been less than fully supportive of Biden.   Biden's team had announced plans for the presser last week, as part of a strategy for the president to prove his fitness by doing more unscripted public events. In addition to his interview with ABC News last week and a call-in chat with MSNBC's Morning Joe program, the president called into two local radio stations last week. But the radio interviews became problematic when it was reported that the Biden campaign had drafted the questions the hosts would ask and that the campaign had requested that two comments Biden made be edited out.   Then, by the time the NATO press conference drew near, leaks suggested that, even if it went well, it might not help him much. Axios's Andrew Solender reported that House Democrats were poised to issue "a flood of new statements urging Joe Biden to exit the 2024 race" no matter how the presser went.    Margaret Brennan of CBS News said that "dozens" of such statements from lawmakers were expected in a pre-planned coordinated effort and that a source predicted that, by next week, Biden would find it untenable to stay on the ticket. Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg/Getty Images So far, Biden remains unmoved At the press conference, Biden professed utter confidence that everything would be fine for his campaign.   Asked if he'd free Democratic convention delegates pledged to him to back someone else, Biden said such delegates were "free to do whatever they want." If delegates decided at the convention to back someone else, that would be democracy in action, he said, but "that's not gonna happen."   Asked what would spur him to end his campaign, he said he'd only do so if his advisers told him "there's no way you can win." But, he added, "No one's saying that."   Other presidents, he asserted, had been trailing at this point by more than he is now. He would campaign hard and turn things around.    "We're just gonna keep moving," he said.    Shortly after the press conference ended, Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) released a statement calling President Biden "a remarkable leader."   "I hope," Rep. Himes added, that he "will step away from the presidential campaign." Which means that, despite the presser, Thursday ended close to where it began: with Democrats at an impasse between a party skeptical of its nominee and a nominee resolute about staying in the race.    — Andrew Prokop, senior correspondent  Listen What is Project 2025? Donald Trump is trying to distance himself from it. Joe Biden wants you to Google it. Semafor's Shelby Talcott explains what's going on with the conservative plan for a second Trump presidency. Listen now ALMOST TIME FOR THE OLYMPICS! Dominance: The US Olympic basketball teams hold dizzying gold medal streaks: This year, the women's team hopes to break their tie with the gents (who won seven straight from 1936 to 1968) and win an unprecedented eight straight golds. [AP News] Don't get caught up: Gambling companies are betting on an explosion of Olympics wagers this year now that Americans can bet on sports. Just maybe keep our friend Dylan Scott's piece in mind when it comes to putting down cash. [CNBC] Fresh fits: Every athlete wants to look their best as they go for gold; if you've ever wondered how gymnasts' outfits come together, check out this from the Post. [Washington Post] Nikolas Liepins/Anadolu/Getty Images PALESTINE His age isn't the only problem: Even before the debate, many Muslim and Arab Americans said they wouldn't be voting for Biden due to his Gaza policy. My colleague Danya Issawi caught up with several Arab American women to see how they're feeling about Biden now. [The Cut] Rising hunger: Every article on Gaza makes it clear there's not enough food to go around. How are people staying alive? By eating things like mulberry leaves. [Reuters] A deadly week: Israel's Gaza offensive continued this week and included several deadly strikes on schools; Israel claimed Hamas militants were hiding at the facilities. Ceasefire talks continue. [France24, New York Times] AND WE HOPE YOU'LL CHECK OUT Heat is deadly. Why are we pushed to ignore it?: Heat is something to complain about, and even to view with existential dread. However, the way we look at it is becoming a dangerous problem. [Vox] Ad How do you know it's time to retire? Everyone's got to call it quits sometime. Allie Volpe explains how to know when that time is. Read more » Are you enjoying the Today, Explained newsletter? Forward it to a friend; they can sign up for it right here.  And as always, we want to know what you think. Specifically: If there is a topic you want us to explain or a story you're curious to learn more about, let us know by filling out this form or just replying to this email.    Today's edition was produced and edited by Sean Collins. I hope you have a fantastic rest of your day — and a wonderful weekend as well! 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