Plain English with Derek Thompson "People Feel Lied To": The White House, the Media, and the Joe Biden Blame Game
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Jul 5, 2024 
In this discussion, Mark Leibovich, a Staff writer at The Atlantic, and Alex Thompson, political correspondent for Axios, dive into the fallout from Joe Biden's recent debate performance. They analyze the Democratic Party's 'Project Bubble Wrap' strategy aimed at shielding Biden, examining the tension between optimistic portrayals and public skepticism about his age. They also tackle the hypocrisy of Democrats in privately acknowledging concerns about Biden while maintaining public silence, as well as the speculation surrounding Kamala Harris's potential candidacy.
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Biden's Age: A Longstanding Concern
- Mark Leibovich felt Biden's age was a concern two years ago.
- The White House has been sensitive to age-related questions, dismissing concerns as taboo despite widespread public opinion.
Project Bubble Wrap
- Biden's team limited his public appearances and interactions.
- This strategy backfired, as the debate highlighted his decline.
Private Truths, Public Lies
- Many Democrats privately acknowledged Biden's decline while publicly supporting him.
- This behavior mirrors Republicans' approach to Trump, highlighting a preference falsification.