March 3: Biden the Beleaguered

In which, President Biden’s reelection bid is in trouble before it starts, that pesky “lab leak” theory keeps turning up, and NATO inches closer to Scandinavian expansion.

Biden the Beleaguered

As anticipation of the 2024 presidential election builds (in the American media at least), it’s getting harder to ignore the problems facing the West Wing’s current resident.

With President Biden’s approval ratings staying stubbornly low, investigations of his administration's crisis (mis)management picking up steam, and the Supreme Court poised to strike down a major initiative it would appear as though President Biden is a bit adrift and… wait for it… out of touch with the American people.

I know, I know, I’ve made this point numerous times about the Democrats being out of touch with the average American, but it’s worth noting this in relation to Biden specifically who has built a significant part of his political brand on being in touch with the average American.

And yet, Biden insists on backing Ukraine against Russia even as the salience of the conflict wanes for Americans; he continues to insist on a healthy economy despite very mixed signals; and even as cleanup of the toxic spill in East Palestine continues to create frustration and confusion, President Biden appears to remain unmoved by the travails of the blue collar middle class he has so often claimed to champion.

Perhaps that’s why a traditionally supportive publication like the Atlantic is now willing to entertain the notion of a non-Biden Democratic ticket in 2024.