Intro

This week, Matt and Brian assess a shocking week in politics.

* Are we really going to move on from the Trump shooting attempt if it turns out, as seems possible, that the shooter was an accelerationist right-wing fanatic?

* Will Democratic leaders use the attempted shooting as an offramp from their efforts to find a stronger presidential candidate?

* Does Nancy Pelosi still have the clout and skill to help get Joe Biden to think beyond his ego?

Then, behind the paywall—a whole bunch more. Does Pelosi’s emergence as the leader of the Dems’ replace-Biden effort make Brian reconsider his long misgivings about Pelosi’s leadership? Does Biden’s political failures make Matt reconsider his assessment of Biden’s political instinct and the wisdom of the centrist establishment? How was the public more clear eyed about Joe Biden’s limitations than liberal elites? Also, what’s the significance of JD Vance’s rise and potential vice presidency?

All that, plus the full Politix archive are available to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed.

Further reading:

* Pelosi lieutenant Adam Schiff: “I think if [Biden] is our nominee, I think we lose. And we may very, very well lose the Senate and lose our chance to take back the House.”

* Brian takes stock, after three disorienting week, of the bleak new political landscape.

* Matt on how we (including Joe Biden and current Democratic leaders) have more agency to shape future events than we’re comfortable with.