The fallout from Joe Biden’s failed presidential campaign continues with a new book that accuses senior White House figures of covering up the former president’s “physical deterioration”.

The author, Jake Tapper - who co-authors the book with Alex Thompson of Axios - claims Biden did not recognise George Clooney at a fundraiser last June hosted by the Hollywood star and that at one stage of the campaign, aides discussed putting him in a wheelchair.

A spokesperson for Joe Biden said "evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity" and maintained the Democrat had been "a very effective president".

Why does Jake Tapper believe that there was a cover-up of the president’s condition, and does the American media need to take some responsibility for how they reported Biden’s campaign?

HOST:

- Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter

GUEST:

- Jake Tapper, CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent, co-author of Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again

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This episode was made by George Dabby, Purvee Pattni, Alix Pickles and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Achille Mbembe: "The Earthly Community"