The Evening: Biden’s lapses

Also, Donald Trump's sentencing was delayed until September.

View in browser|nytimes.com July 2, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Tuesday. Biden's more frequent lapses Trump's delayed sentencing Plus, summer vacation spots President Biden in Washington, D.C. today. Eric Lee/The New York Times Biden's lapses have increased, according to some insiders Like many other 81-year-old men, President Biden has sometimes mangled a sentence or mixed up a fact during his three and a half years in office. But in recent weeks, people who have spent time with the president said that his lapses appeared to have grown more frequent, more pronounced and more worrisome. My colleagues interviewed current and former officials and others who have encountered Biden behind closed doors over the last few months. They found that Biden's moments of disorientation had generated concern among some advisers and foreign allies. Those worries became increasingly urgent last week after Biden's debate against Donald Trump. Advisers and officials who see him regularly but not every day or week said they were stunned by his debate performance because it was the worst they had ever seen him. By many accounts, Biden is not the same today as he was in 2021. One European official said he appeared "out of it" at meetings last month. His trips to Europe were marked by moments of sharpness — including in a complex session on diverting income from Russian assets to aid Ukraine — mixed with occasional blank-stared confusion, according to people who met with him. Biden is not disoriented or listless all the time. Since the debate, people who have met with the president described him as alert, coherent and engaged in complicated discussions, and his campaign has sought to shore up support from influential Democrats. But some Democrats have taken their panic public. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said that he was "horrified" by Biden's debate performance. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, said it was "legitimate" to ask if it was the result of a "condition," and Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting Democrat in Congress to call for him to withdraw. Donald Trump faces probation or prison time after being convicted during his Manhattan trial.  Dave Sanders for The New York Times Trump's sentencing was delayed until September The Manhattan prosecutors who in May secured a conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts agreed today to postpone his sentencing, as the former president had requested, so that the judge could consider whether the Supreme Court's landmark immunity decision yesterday might imperil the verdict. The judge, Juan Merchan, delayed Trump's sentencing until Sept. 18. Trump's New York case is just one of many ways that the Supreme Court's recent decisions could affect American society. The court's term, which ended yesterday, was a volatile one, and a very good one for Trump, our correspondent Adam Liptak wrote. In related news, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case on a Texas law restricting access to porn, but declined to take on cases about disarming felons and about prohibiting the sale of some rifles. An Israeli tank near the border with Gaza, today.  Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Israel's generals want a truce in Gaza In a major shift in their thinking over the past few months, Israel's top generals want to begin a cease-fire in Gaza even if it keeps Hamas in power for the time being, according to interviews with multiple officials. That position puts them at odds with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has opposed a truce that would allow Hamas to survive the war. The generals are worried that they are running low on supplies and that their forces need to recuperate in case a broader war breaks out with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group in Lebanon. In related news, crowds of Palestinians fled a swath of southeastern Gaza after Israel ordered evacuations and struck several targets. Hurricane Beryl damaged fishing vessels in Barbados on Monday. Ricardo Mazalan/Associated Press Hurricane Beryl is barreling toward Jamaica Hurricane Beryl strengthened into a Category 5 storm last night after carving a trail of destruction across the southern Caribbean. It is the earliest in the season an Atlantic storm has ever reached that level of severity. The storm is now headed toward Jamaica, downgraded to a Category 4 and sustaining wind speeds of 155 miles per hour. We are tracking it live. Here are photos of its impact. More top news Health: The F.D.A. approved a new drug to treat Alzheimer's disease that could modestly slow cognitive decline in early stages, but also carries safety risks. Business: Auto sales grew slightly in the second quarter, but at Tesla they fell for the second quarter in a row. Climate: Alaska's huge Juneau Ice Field is melting twice as quickly as it did before 2010 — an "incredibly worrying" pace, researchers said. Law: Rudy Giuliani was barred from practicing law in New York, largely over election-related misconduct. Labor: The Biden administration announced the first national heat protections for workers. India: More than 100 people were killed in a stampede that was reportedly driven by heat and overcrowding during a religious event. Nature: Ants were recently observed using amputations to treat injuries — the only animal besides humans known to conduct them. TIME TO UNWIND The beach at La Poza del Obispo in Puerto Rico. Sebastian Castrodad for The New York Times Try out a new vacation spot this summer Tens of millions of Americans are expected to travel this holiday week to embrace, or escape, the summer weather. For those looking for something new, my colleagues on the Travel desk have some recommendations. If you're looking for a beach, we picked out six gems across the country (just remember to grab some French fries). If you prefer a national park, consider getting off the beaten path and heading into the backcountry. And for those searching for indoor entertainment, our critic recommends 15 local theaters worth checking out this summer. Chloe Misseldine. Kristina Dittmar for The New York Times This young ballerina's rapid rise was part of a plan An American Ballet Theater soloist, Chloe Misseldine is just 22, but she's already becoming a star in the dance world. Last month, she was riveting as Tatiana in the ballet "Onegin," a role usually reserved for more senior dancers. And tomorrow, she takes on the starring role in "Swan Lake" at the Metropolitan Opera House. Misseldine's distinctive magnetism has been noticeable since she joined American Ballet Theater's junior company six years ago. But her meteoric ascent is in part because of the artistic director Susan Jaffe's master plan: Start them young and give them time to grow. The August issue of Vogue. Norman Jean Roy/Vogue Dinner table topics Vogue's cover star: The latest issue of the fashion bible, which has Jill Biden on the cover, is drawing negative comments after the big presidential debate. The one to watch: Andrew Scott always, no matter the size of the role, draws the eye. Here's a look at his best performances. Goth gardens: Black flowers, spiky branches and poisonous plants are sprouting up across the country. How healthy is watermelon? It's hydrating and not as sugary as you might think. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Cook: These lettuce cups with shiitake and cashews are a perfect summer recipe for ground turkey. Watch: The biographical mini-series "Kafka" is among our five international shows worth watching. Read: This month's new books include novels by Liz Moore and Taffy Brodesser-Akner. Protect: Do you need to wear sunscreen every day? We asked experts. Exercise: Try our favorite workouts of 2024. Compete: How much do you know about the American Revolution? Take our quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Caesar's Restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. Ariana Drehsler for The New York Times Caesar salad, the pride of Tijuana As the legend goes, Caesar salad was invented 100 years ago this week in a cafe in Tijuana, Mexico. It was a different recipe at the time: There was a whole egg and Worcestershire sauce, but no anchovies. But that's not going to stop the city from holding a four-day celebration to commemorate the dish's centennial. Famous chefs are coming to town, and a sculpture of Césare Cardini — the man for whom the salad is named — is being unveiled. But going largely unmentioned is that there is still a dispute over who actually deserves credit for creating the dish. Have a rich and tangy evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Emree Weaver was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editorial Director: Adam Pasick Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Photo Editor: Brent Lewis Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

The End of Macronism?

After a first-round win, the French far right is ascendant, plus: Should Biden stay or go?; the immunity ruling and US presidents as kings; Fareed's take; and the stakes in Iran's presidential runoff …

View this email in your browser  Insights, analysis and must reads from CNN's Fareed Zakaria and the Global Public Square team, compiled by Global Briefing editor Chris Good   Seeing this newsletter as a forward? Sign up here.   July 2, 2024 The End of Macronism? After the far-right National Rally (RN) led the first round of France's legislative elections on Sunday, leaving President Emmanuel Macron's coalition in a distant third, the final three years of his term have been cast into new doubt. Macron had dissolved France's National Assembly and called snap elections after a surprisingly strong RN result in European Parliament elections last month. At Le Monde, columnist Solenn de Royer writes: "The French president's brutal dissolution of the Assemblée Nationale on June 9 has resulted in the dissolution of his own majority … Beyond the severe electoral defeat inflicted on the presidential camp, further reinforced by the high turnout (66.7%), it's Macronism, in its essence, that self-dissolved on Sunday. Macron's original promise—that the French should 'no longer have any reason to vote for the extremes'—has in fact been swept aside, a dark stain on his record." Ahead of the July 7 runoff round, New Statesman columnist Wolfgang Münchau notes that many of the runoff elections will feature three candidates, not two, leaving the RN in better position to win seats unless Macron's coalition can cut deals with the hard left to narrow the field. A legislative majority for the RN would see its 28-year-old leader, Jordan Bardella, become prime minister. As for broader implications, Münchau writes that the first-round result "is also a defeat for [Macron's] brand of pro-Europeanism. … Macron's centrist radicalism during his first campaign [in 2017] was seen as an antidote to the two big events in Western politics of that period: the election of Donald Trump as US president and Brexit. Seven years later, Brexit is a reality; Trump is looking like he's on his way back. Macron is on his way out." Note to readers: The Global Briefing will be on hiatus this week for the July 4 holiday. We'll return to your inboxes next Tuesday, July 7. If you missed its premiere, this Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on CNN you can see Fareed's new special report, "America's Mess With Mexico." In it, Fareed delves into conundrums over immigration, drugs and democracy in a country of huge but often overlooked importance to the US. Biden: Stay or Go? The reaction from President Joe Biden's supporters has been damning. After his stumbling, at-times-incoherent performance in last week's presidential debate, The New York Times' Ezra Klein argues that the left's current predicament is a result of today's weakened political parties. The Democratic Party, Klein writes, would replace Biden on November's presidential ticket if it were "doing its job." The New Yorker editor David Remnick, joining prominent calls for Biden to step aside and allow a different Democrat to seek the White House, writes: "At this point, for the Bidens to insist on defying biology, to think that a decent performance at one rally or speech can offset the indelible images of Thursday night, is folly." And yet, The Economist writes that Biden is unlikely to step aside, and the party is incapable of convincing or forcing him to. "Right now, the Democratic Party is paralysed by the sunk costs of the president's re-election bid, the lack of a charismatic vice-president, and, above all, a fear that disagreement only benefits [former President Donald] Trump's chances," the magazine concludes. "It will probably work in cowing the president's own party. But it is a flawed strategy for convincing voters." The New Yorker's Jay Caspian Kang, another Trump critic, makes a counterargument: "I don't think it's possible to clearly say one option [replacing Biden] is much better than the other [keeping Biden on the ticket], 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.e., the Democratic Party]. 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 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." America Is Now a Kingdom? That's what Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissenting opinion, after the court's conservative 6-3 majority ruled that former President Donald Trump enjoys "at least presumptive immunity" for any allegedly criminal acts he may have committed while acting in his official capacity as president. Trump has denied wrongdoing as Special Counsel Jack Smith has brought a case against the former president for his efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 election. "In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law," Sotomayor wrote of the precedent. The case will have bearing on this November's election, in that it will delay Smith's prosecutions of Trump until after Election Day. The ruling does not exempt former presidents from prosecution for acts in their capacities as private citizens, The Economist notes: "Other matters in the indictment, the court said, such as allegations that Mr Trump pressed Mike Pence, his vice-president, to reject the electoral-college vote, are a grey area. Along with communications with 'state officials and certain private parties', as well as tweets and other messages to the public about the riot on January 6th, these acts are less clearly within the bounds of a president's official conduct. They should be presumed protected but 'present more difficult questions', Chief Justice Roberts wrote, that should be sorted out by the lower courts." Arguing in favor of the ruling, David B. Rivkin Jr. and Elizabeth Price Foley write in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that a functioning presidency depends on this kind of immunity: "Without immunity and prompt pretrial determination thereof, former presidents could face years of court proceedings fighting novel charges predicated on public speeches; negotiations with state, foreign or congressional leaders; or executive orders lacking clear statutory authorization such as vaccine mandates, eviction moratoriums or actions opening the border. Clever prosecutors could conjure up indictments based on opaque criminal statutes such as conspiracy against rights, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., obstruction of justice, mail or wire fraud, racketeering, and false statements or misrepresentations." Watch Fareed's Take Despite the pessimism engendered by last week's presidential debate, on Sunday's GPS Fareed made the case for optimism in the Western world order. As autocracy advances, Fareed pointed out, polling shows that people around the world generally prefer liberal, Western values to their autocratic alternatives when given the choice. The Stakes in Iran's Presidential Runoff Iran's presidential election has advanced to a runoff after Sunday's vote narrowed the field of candidates to two. Iranian elections are not considered free or fair, but The New York Times' Vivian Yee explains the results and key takeaways: "The runoff on July 5 will offer voters a final choice between a reformist former health minister, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, and an ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, neither of whom managed to get more than the 50 percent of votes needed to win the presidency. … That postpones for another week the question of who will steer Iran through challenges including a sickly economy, the gulf between rulers and ruled and a nearby war that keeps threatening to drag Iran further in. But despite belonging to two different camps, neither man is expected to bring major change to Iran, given that they must govern with the ultimate approval of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei." Bloomberg columnist Marc Champion argues the vote will, indeed, matter: "Iranian elections may be a sham, but they do affect policy. [Reformist presidents Mohammad] Khatami and [Hassan] Rouhani made different decisions—including how severely to impose hijab laws and whether to engage with the West—than did more conservative presidents, such as [Ebrahim] Raisi or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. For Iranians deciding whether to turn out for round two of voting on July 5, the choice is between ensuring a marginal improvement in their situation and holding out for regime change, with all the potential for chaos and renewal that implies. If they stay away again, Jalili will almost certainly win." What did you think of today's newsletter? Send ideas, questions and feedback to globalbriefing@cnn.com   You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up for Fareed's Global Briefing. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or sign up to manage your CNN account   Learn more about the CNN app |  Get CNN web alerts  |  Sign up for a free CNN account   ® © 2024 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. 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