Discussion on Trump assassination attempt, debate on Biden's health and capacity, analysis of political unity and euphemisms, exploration of narratives in politics, and challenges in assessing fitness for work
Critiques of Biden focus on age and performance, sidelining crucial policy discussions.
Calls for unity overshadow concerns about Biden's capacity, reflecting strategic priorities in politics.
Deep dives
Debate on Biden's Future in the 2024 Election
Prominent Democrats and major media figures are urging Biden to step down, focusing on his age and performance in the debate as reasons. The discourse sheds light on how mainstream US politics associates health and capacity with policy decisions and political eligibility. Despite other pressing issues like COVID response and Palestine, the debate centers on Biden's age and abilities.
Trump's Assassination Attempt and Political Fallout
Following an assassination attempt on Trump and escalating calls for Biden to step down, the Democratic Party faces internal dissent and pressure to unite. Democrats, previously critical of Biden, now emphasize unity over discussing his age or capacity, reflecting a strategic shift amid the election dynamics. The discourse around Biden's performance and calls for unity reveal broader themes of political norms and appearances.
Complexity of Assessing Biden's Health and Aging
Public discussions delve into assessing Biden's cognitive state, highlighting the limitations of medical diagnoses and societal perspectives on aging and health. The scrutiny reflects broader issues with healthcare frameworks, ableism, and ageism, questioning the assumptions around mental capacity and normalcy. Media coverage scrutinizes Biden's physical and mental attributes, prompting debates on diagnostic journalism and its implications for political figures.
Subscribe on Patreon and hear this week's full patron-exclusive episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/108202947
Beatrice, Artie and Jules discuss the Trump assassination attempt before diving into the weeks-long discourse on whether Biden should step down and the many assumptions and conjectures being made about Biden’s health and capacity.
Find the earlier episode referenced at the top of the show here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/99264802
Get Health Communism here: www.versobooks.com/books/4081-health-communism
Find Jules' new book here: https://www.versobooks.com/products/3054-a-short-history-of-trans-misogyny
Runtime 1:21:24, 15 July 2024
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