This podcast explores the challenges faced by elderly presidential candidates, focusing on Joe Biden's memory issues and the impact on his campaign. It compares Biden's forgetfulness to Donald Trump's and discusses the fractures within the Democratic party. The release of the Special Counsel's report and a poll on Biden's age are also discussed, along with the feasibility of replacing him as a presidential candidate.
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Quick takeaways
Memory concerns about Joe Biden are negatively impacting his campaign, while Donald Trump's memory lapses do not seem to affect his popularity.
Democrats view Biden's memory issues as indicative of a lack of authenticity and fitness for office, while Republicans overlook Trump's memory problems due to his perceived strength and persona.
Deep dives
Memory Concerns and Incoherence: Impact on Biden and Trump
Both presidential candidates, Biden and Trump, exhibit signs of memory lapses and incoherence, typically associated with old age. However, while these issues are negatively affecting Biden's campaign, they do not seem to hinder Trump's. Despite Biden's forgetfulness and confusion, polls show that it is not diminishing Trump's popularity. Trump leans into his incoherence, playing up his persona at rallies and making headlines by encouraging Russia to attack NATO allies. This stark contrast in the impact of memory concerns on the two candidates reflects the divided reactions among their respective supporters.
Special Counsel Report: Impact on Biden and Allegations of Memory Problems
A Special Counsel report issued by Republican Robert Hur investigated whether President Biden should be charged for taking classified materials from the White House. The 300-page report concluded that Biden should not be charged, based partly on the reason that he could portray himself as an elderly man with a bad memory. The report highlights instances where Biden's memory was questioned and criticized, with observations about its significant limitations. Biden responded with a forceful press statement, defending himself and dismissing the allegations. However, subsequent mistakes and mix-ups during public appearances further fueled concerns about his mental acuity.
Age and Memory: Impact on Democratic and Republican Voters
Memory concerns seem to have different effects on Democratic and Republican voters. For Democrats, Biden's memory issues contribute to a larger narrative about his lack of authenticity and raise doubts about his fitness for office. This parallels the 2016 email scandal with Hillary Clinton, which eroded trust in her. On the other hand, Republicans are less bothered by Trump's memory lapses, attributing them to his existing persona of being boisterous and not caring for details. The more unified nature of the Republican coalition and the association of Trump with strength make it easier for them to overlook his memory problems. This divergence in perception highlights the fractures within the Democratic coalition and the various reasons for skepticism towards Biden.
Joe Biden’s age and mental acuity are center stage after a Justice Department prosecutor described him as an “elderly man with a poor memory.” Vox reporter Christian Paz explains why Democrats are stuck with him.
This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Jesse Alejandro Cottrell, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard with help from Avishay Artsy, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.