Closing summary
In a make-or-break speech at the Nato anniversary summit in Washington DC, Joe Biden delivered a forceful speech about the importance of the alliance. Meanwhile, Democrats in Washington continued to scramble over the party’s prospects in November as focus remained on Biden’s ability to lead and keep the White House. But no groundswell has formed against the president, and it appeared most Democrats would remain quiet while Biden stayed on the ticket.
Here’s what has happened so far today:
After a Senate Democrats lunch meeting, Democrats tried to avoid most direct questions about Biden, with some saying they were united in defeating Donald Trump, sidestepping Biden’s role in that. Majority leader Chuck Schumer and Senator John Fetterman both reiterated they were with Biden, but it was far from a universal view. Vermont senator Peter Welch said “we’ve got a ways to go” to find a consensus.
The White House defended against repeated questions about Biden’s health and mental acuity, and the White House’s candor (or lack thereof) on these issues, in a press briefing. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said Biden is committed to serving a full four years again and is physically and mentally able to, according to his medical team. Several questions revolved around Parkinson’s disease, with reporters pressing over why Biden has not been screened for it. Jean-Pierre said his medical team doesn’t believe testing is warranted.
House Democrats left a meeting this morning about Biden’s fate downtrodden, with many not giving comment to waiting reporters. Some key players – like the Congressional Black Caucus and Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez – stood by Biden. But one representative, Steve Cohen of Tennessee, said that not only is the party not on the same page about Biden, but they are “not even in the same book”.
Biden and House speaker Mike Johnson both confirmed they will meet at some point this week with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy with the Nato summit in town.
Biden spoke at the Nato anniversary summit, and the imporance of an alliance that Trump has threatened to undermine. “The American people understand what would happen if there was no Nato,” Biden said. “They know we’re strong with our friends, and we understand this is a sacred obligation.” He awarded Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg the presidential medal of freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
At a campaign event in Nevada, Kamala Harris doubled down on her support of Biden, describing the embattled president as a “fighter” as she warned Trump would turn the country from a democracy into a dictatorship if he were re-elected to the White House in November.
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Representative Maxine Waters, the most senior woman in the Congressional Black Caucus, remained supportive of Biden’s candidacy
“I’ve absolutely come to the conclusion that we have to move forward with Joe Biden,” Waters told Zerlina Maxwell on SiriusXM’s Mornings with Zerlina. “Number one, I think there is a problem with logistics and timing and all of that, and reorganizing what has been done with the Democratic National Committee. So there’s a practical problem, but the other problem is this, the man has been a good president.”
Maxwell praised Biden’s choice of Kamala Harris as his vice-president, as well as policies and reforms she said have benefitted Black Americans:
And with the Black community, you know, the man chose a Black woman to be vice-president. He put a Black woman on the United States supreme court for the first time in the history of this country. He supported and funded the HBCUs, our community colleges and universities. And so recognizing some of the health needs and the problems that we have, he put a cap on insulin … So I don’t have any complaints about him. If I have any complaints at all, it’s that he has not, and I, and others have not done enough to communicate his accomplishments. And so that’s where I am.
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The White House has sent out more details on an air defense package for Ukraine.
In a joint statement with Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the allies said that Ukraine would receive additional strategic air defense systems.
Today, we are announcing that, collectively, we are providing Ukraine with additional strategic air defense systems, including additional Patriot batteries donated by the United States, Germany, and Romania; Patriot components donated by the Netherlands and other partners to enable the operation of an additional Patriot battery; and an additional SAMP-T system donated by Italy. These five strategic air defense systems will help to protect Ukrainian cities, civilians, and soldiers, and we are coordinating closely with the Ukrainian government so that these systems can be utilized rapidly. We are working on a further announcement this year of additional strategic air defense systems for Ukraine.
In addition, in the coming months, the United States and partners intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of tactical air defense systems, including NASAMS, Hawks, Iris T-SLM, Iris T-SLS, and Gepard systems. These systems will further expand and strengthen Ukraine’s air defense coverage. Several allies – including Canada, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom – will continue to play an integral role in the provision of these systems, and many other supporters of Ukraine will assist in the provision of interceptors. For its part, the United States will re-sequence planned deliveries of foreign military sales of critical air defense interceptors in coordination with partners so they are delivered to Ukraine, providing Ukraine with hundreds of additional air defense interceptors over the next year.
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Kamala Harris: Biden 'is a fighter'
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris was speaking at a campaign event in Nevada.
She doubled down on her support of Joe Biden, describing the embattled president as a “fighter” as she warned Donald Trump would turn the country from a democracy into a dictatorship if he were re-elected to the White House in November.
The vice-president alluded to Biden’s struggles since his calamitous debate performance last month. “We always knew this election would be tough, and the past few days have been a reminder that running for president of the United States is never easy,” Harris said.
“But the one thing we know about our president, Joe Biden, is that he is a fighter. He is a fighter and he is the first to say, when you get knocked down, you get back up.” An audience member shouted back: “Yes, we all know.”
Voters face the “most existential, consequential and important election of our lifetime”, Harris warned at the event focused on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Harris, the first person of south Asian descent to serve as vice-president, noted that Trump “consistently incites hate”, including towards the AANHPI communities.
“Someone who vilifies immigrants, who promotes xenophobia, someone who stokes hate, should never again have the chance to stand behind a microphone,” she added.
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The president was forceful, and in his comfort zone tonight.
This may not be enough reassurance for critics who worry about his performance during unscripted moments, but reading from a teleprompter, Biden delivered a speech without any hitches.
Although he did not mention Donald Trump by name, he spoke of the broad US support for the alliance, and quoted Reagan in a nod to the bipartisan history of the US’s commitment to Nato.
“The American people understand what would happen if there was no Nato,” Biden said. “They know we’re strong with our friends, and we understand this is a sacred obligation.”
• This post was amended on 10 July 2024 to correct the spelling of Ronald Reagan’s surname.
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Joe Biden awarded Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg the presidential medal of freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
He also apologized to Stoltenberg’s wife for keeping him in the job for so long.
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The president also quoted Ronald Reagan: “If you are not at peace, we are not at peace.” He highlighted the importance of defending “fellow democracies”.
• This post was amended on 10 July 2024 to correct the spelling of Ronald Reagan’s surname.
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Biden: 'Ukraine can and will stop Putin'
He said:
Before this war Putin thought Nato would break. Today, Nato is stronger than it’s ever been in its history ...
The war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country. Russia will not prevail.
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Biden announces US and allies to provide Ukraine with air defense system
The US and partners will be providing Ukraine with dozes of new tactical air defense system, Biden announced.
“All told Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors,” Biden said.
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“It’s a pleasure to host you in this milestone year,” Biden said.
He highlighted the strength of the alliance and progress since he took office.
“Today, Nato is better resourced than it ever has been. I want to pause on this because it’s significant,” he said. More Nato allies now are now paying dues – 2% of their GDP – than ever before.
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Joe Biden is now taking the stage for his address.
“History was watching” when leaders first came together to sign the Nato treaty in 1949, Biden began.
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Nato leaders have been emphasising that a record number of members, 23 out of 32, now meet a commitment first agreed 10 years ago to spend 2% of GDP on defence. Trump has repeatedly complained that smaller Nato countries do not “pay their dues” and this year threatened not to defend any country that was “delinquent”.
More recently, allies of Trump have argued that if elected again the Republican would demand a reorientation of Nato where European countries would be asked to increased defence spending further, while the US focuses more on China.
But such is the size of the US defence budget – $860bn, two-thirds of the total of all Nato members – that it would be difficult for European countries to replace a significant reallocation of resources from a Trump White House and to continue supporting Ukraine at the existing level of about €40bn a year.
On Monday Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House of Representatives and a leading Trump ally, said that while Republicans valued the military alliance and would stand by member countries in preventing conflict, “we also believe that Nato needs to be doing more”.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, started by highlighting the history of Nato.
“Our alliance was created by people who have lived through two devastating world wars,” he said. The alliance is “one for all and all for one”, he added.
He also noted that Nato’s alliance was “never a given”.
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The event tonight is taking place at the Mellon Auditorium, where the Nato treaty was first signed in 1949.
A highlight reel showing clips from the end of the second world war and the cold war, featuring clips from John F Kennedy, Ronald Regan and finally Joe Biden is playing before Biden takes the stage.
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Joe Biden walked on stage, along with Nato allied leaders and Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general.
All eyes will be on the president tonight as he fights to redeem his political prospects and convince skeptics that he can win the election.
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Joe Biden to take stage at Nato summit
The president has said that his performance at the summit, which is commemorating 75 years of the transatlantic alliance and his work at the summit, will be a good way to judge his capabilities.
Today’s speech is especially high stakes. Biden is reeling from a disastrous performance at the presidential debates, and this speech will be his first major public address since then. The public will be watching closely for any flubs.
Biden is likely to highlight his foreign policy record – and his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nato. Donald Trump, meanwhile, has emphasized an “America First” approach and said that he would not defend Nato members if the came under attack. He has also questioned the amount of aid the US has provided to Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion.
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Seventh House Democrat asks Biden to stand aside in election
Mikie Sherrill, a representative of New Jersey is the seventh congressional Democrat to ask Biden to step down.
“I realize this is hard, but we have done hard things in pursuit of democracy since the founding of this nation. It is time to do so again,” she wrote in a statement.
I know President Biden cares deeply about the future of our country.
— Mikie Sherrill (@MikieSherrill) July 9, 2024
That's why I am asking that he declare that he won't run for reelection.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/rR2rmZ1ewN
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The White House clarified on Monday that Joe Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physicals, following a heated exchange between the president’s press secretary and journalists seeking an explanation for why a Parkinson’s disease specialist visited the White House eight times in as many months.
In an evening letter the White House physician, Kevin O’Connor, said the specialist, Kevin Cannard, has been a neurology consultant to the White House medical unit since 2012. He said Cannard had visited multiple times a year since then, and that the neurologist was chosen for his breadth of experience and expertise.
“Seeing patients at the White House is something that Dr Cannard has been doing for a dozen years,” O’Connor wrote. “Dr Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems.”
He added that Cannard was the neurologist who had examined Biden for his three annual physicals since becoming president.
Biden’s last medical examination in February had not shown “any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or ascending lateral sclerosis, nor are there any signs of cervical myelopathy”, O’Connor wrote.
The letter, which O’Connor said he was releasing with the permission of both Biden and Cannard, followed intense speculation about the president’s cognitive powers following last month’s stumbling performance in a debate with Donald Trump in Atlanta, in which he repeatedly appeared confused and lost his train of thought.
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Later today, Joe Biden will be speaking at the Nato summit in Washington, DC. Dan Sabbagh and Andrew Roth report:
World leaders flew into Washington DC on Tuesday for a two-day Nato summit where they are expected to agree to enhanced military support for Ukraine against a backdrop of questions about Joe Biden’s mental sharpness.
Britain’s new prime minister, Keir Starmer, and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, were among those arriving at the US capital amid a warning that Russia could step up missile strikes on Ukraine this week, repeating a barrage that killed at least 38 on Monday.
The summit is expected to agree to a fresh package of military aid for Ukraine, including at least four additional Patriot air defence systems and progress on supplying F-16 fighters, to help Kyiv better fend off devastating Russian attacks.
Concerns about Biden and his ability to defeat Trump hang over the summit, given Trump’s past scepticism about Nato and uncertainty about whether he would be willing to continue to supply large volumes of military aid.
Nato leaders have been emphasising that a record number of members, 23 out of 32, now meet a commitment first agreed 10 years ago to spend 2% of GDP on defence. Trump has repeatedly complained that smaller Nato countries do not “pay their dues” and this year threatened not to defend any country that was “delinquent”.
More recently, allies of Trump have argued that if elected again the Republican would demand a reorientation of Nato where European countries would be asked to increased defence spending further, while the US focuses more on China.
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A long day for Democrats ...
Democrats in Washington continued to scramble over the party’s prospects in November as focus remained on Joe Biden’s ability to lead and keep the White House. But no groundswell has formed against the president, and it appeared most Democrats would remain quiet while Biden stayed on the ticket.
Here’s what has happened so far today:
After a Senate Democrats lunch meeting, Democrats tried to avoid most direct questions about Biden, with some saying they were united in defeating Trump, sidestepping Biden’s role in that. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator John Fetterman both reiterated they were with Biden, but it was far from a universal view. Vermont senator Peter Welch said “we’ve got a ways to go” to find a consensus.
The White House defended against repeated questions about Biden’s health and mental acuity, and the White House’s candor (or lack thereof) on these issues, in a press briefing. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said Biden is committed to serving a full four years again and is physically and mentally able to, according to his medical team. Several questions revolved around Parkinson’s disease, with reporters pressing over why Biden has not been screened for it. Jean-Pierre said his medical team doesn’t believe testing is warranted.
House Democrats left a meeting this morning about Biden’s fate downtrodden, with many not giving comment to waiting reporters. Some key players – like the Congressional Black Caucus and Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez – stood by Biden. But one representative, Steve Cohen of Tennessee, said that not only is the party not on the same page about Biden, but they are “not even in the same book”.
Biden and House speaker Mike Johnson both confirmed they will meet at some point this week with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy with the Nato summit in town.
Coming up today, Biden is expected to speak at Nato, while Trump is expected to hold a rally in Florida, a return to the campaign trail after acting more subdued after Biden’s debate performance.
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Schumer says 'I'm with Joe' after Democrats meet
Senate Democrats were tightlipped leaving their weekly lunch, after an hours-long discussion about the viability of Biden’s candidacy. Few wanted to speak to reporters, save for Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who stressed Democrats were firmly united behind the goal of defeating Donald Trump.
Of course, the question is whether Biden is the candidate that can do that.
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, one of the president’s most vocal supporters following his debate, believes he is, though he appeared to acknowledge his view was not universally held among his colleagues. “He’s our guy,” Fetterman told reporters.
Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer deflected questions about Biden’s ability to win the White House in November, repeating three times: “I’m with Joe.”
Just like this morning, several senators dodged reporters, darting to the Senate floor to vote or ducking onto the elevator.
Senator Debbie Stabenow, the Michigan Democrat who is retiring at the end of the year, declined repeatedly to say whether some Democrats had called on Biden to exit the race. So far no Democrats have said so publicly.
Calling the meeting a “private family discussion” she said Biden had been “the best president Michigan has ever had” but would not say what the best path forward was for the party. “It’s in his hands,” she said, apparently in reference to the president.
A reporter, trying a different tack, asked her about speculation that Michigan’s governor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, could be Kamala Harris’s running mate on a very hypothetical Democratic ticket.
“Wouldn’t that be exciting,” she said whimsically.
Through the senators’ reticent, clipped commentary, it was clear they were still searching for a consensus. Surrounded by a scrum of reporters, Vermont senator Peter Welch said: “We’ve got a ways to go.”
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Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said the decision to call in to MSNBC and call donors this week was Biden’s because he wants to talk directly to the American people.
“He’s on fire, he’s ready to go,” she said. “He wants to get out there.”
Biden wants to do more appearances and talk to the press more to prove he can continue to do the work of the presidency, she said.
She said Biden is accustomed to being counted out, with people saying several times in past elections that he couldn’t win, pointing to the 2020 election.
Fighting past those claims is the “quintessential Joe Biden story,” she said, concluding the press briefing.
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Did Biden watch the debate himself? Biden said during an ABC interview with George Stephanopoulos last week that he didn’t think he did.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said she had not followed up with Biden on this but intended to.
“I’m sure he’s seen clips,” she said. “It’s getting around-the-clock coverage, right, from all of you.”
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The White House said Joe Biden is committed to serving a full four years if he wins in November.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said a comment that Biden made about how his health was good, “it’s just my brain,” was a joke.
“He was making a lighthearted joke as he was speaking off the cuff,” she said. “You know the president, he likes to joke a lot. He’s the same guy who says, I know I look 40.”
She also has been defending against repeated questions over Biden’s health and neurological exams, particularly as it relates to concerns of Parkinson’s disease that some in the press have raised.
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Biden spokeswoman says White House keen to 'turn the page' on campaign questions
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, is defending against calls from some members of Congress for Biden to end his re-election bid or saying they are concerned about his ability to beat Trump in November.
She noted the hundreds of members of Congress who had stood beside Biden as the nominee.
“We do want to turn the page. You heard me say this last week. We want to get to the other side of this. We want to continue doing the work, and that’s what the president’s going to do,” she said.
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A White House press briefing is under way, with the White House confirming that Joe Biden will meet with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
You can stream the press briefing live on YouTube.
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A new poll has some Democrats fretting over the drag Biden could have on Democrats in close races, an ongoing worry in swing districts about the lower-ticket races that could be in jeopardy if voters defect from Democrats or stay home in November.
The poll of Wisconsin voters commissioned by the AARP after the presidential debate shows a shocking gap between Biden’s support and support for Tammy Baldwin, the Democrat running for US Senate there. Baldwin grabbed 50% of voters compared to Republican Eric Hovde’s 45%.
But Biden is trailing, with 38% to Trump’s 44%.
It’s just one poll – it’s always good to keep that in mind. But this is the same voters polled on Baldwin and Biden, and the gap has Democrats concerned.
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Hello from the Ohio clock corridor in the Senate, where we are waiting for Senate Democrats to emerge from their weekly lunch meeting. It’s the first time they’ve all been together in Washington since the president’s disastrous debate performance last month.
No Senate Democrats have publicly called on Biden to step down, but given the president’s decades of service in the chamber, their opinion and support is seen as crucial and influential as the president attempts to defuse concerns about his political viability.
It comes as new polling suggests Biden may be a drag on vulnerable Democrats. Many Senate Democrats are on the defensive this cycle, defending seats in states Trump won, like Ohio and Montana. With so much at stake, dozens of reporters are gathered outside the room waiting for the lawmakers to emerge. The leaders will speak to reporters afterward.
A US navy sailor tried three times, but ultimately was not able, to get access to Joe Biden’s medical records from a military database, CBS News reported today.
The attempts occurred in February, and the navy investigated and disciplined the sailor, described as a “junior enlisted sailor serving in the Navy’s hospital corps” based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for the attempted breach. The navy said the president’s records were not accessed at any point in the attempts. One official said the sailor “did not pull up the right Joe Biden” and that the sailor was looking for the records “out of curiosity”.
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After the 27 June debate, Donald Trump had kept his commentary on social media. Tonight, he will address an in-person crowd at a Florida rally. We’ll be watching closely for Trump to announce a 2024 running mate, which he needs to do before the Republican national convention next week. Richard Luscombe reports on Trump and the GOP strategy of keeping quiet and letting Democrats fight after the debate:
Donald Trump will host a rally in the Miami suburb of Doral on Tuesday night and break a relative – and uncharacteristic – silence over the turbulent aftermath of June’s presidential debate that raised questions about Joe Biden’s candidacy.
A Trump campaign source and some political opponents say the former president’s strategy has been to sit back and let Democrats tear into each other following Biden’s dismal debate performance, intensifying calls for him to drop out of November’s general election.
“We’re trying something new and shutting up,” an anonymous campaign insider told ABC News last week, a position effectively confirmed by Trump’s decision to largely avoid public appearances since a prearranged rally in Virginia the day after the 27 June debate – and to limit his posts on his Truth Social platform.
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Mike Johnson to meet with Zelenskiy on Wednesday
The Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, will meet with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, tomorrow, per a media advisory from Johnson’s office.
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Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who unsuccessfully challenged Donald Trump in the Republican primary, will release the 97 delegates she won and encourage them to vote for Trump at the Republican National Convention, Politico Playbook reports this afternoon.
Haley cast the move as a push for unity among Republicans as they seek to defeat Joe Biden in November. Haley wasn’t invited to attend the RNC, her spokesperson told Playbook, “and she’s fine with that”.
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Another House Democrat voices 'concerns' over Biden in 2024 race
Another House Democrat has expressed concern about Biden’s ability to win in November, joining a relatively small list of lawmakers who have spoken out against the president’s candidacy.
The Massachusetts representative Lori Trahan said in a statement issued today that, though she believes Biden and House Democrats have delivered “unprecedented progress” for Americans, she has been hearing from fellow Biden voters in her district who have “real concerns” over whether Biden can beat Trump. “I share those concerns,” Trahan said.
“While President Biden has made clear he feels he is the best candidate to win this election, nothing that has happened over the past 12 days suggests that voters see things the same way,” she said, adding that she will do everything she can to ensure Democrats win the House and beat Trump.
New statement from Rep. Lori Trahan, D-MA, a New Democrat and member of leadership, on Biden’s viability: pic.twitter.com/4bNFLXZ7RR
— Ben Siegel (@bensiegel) July 9, 2024
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US officials announced today that they stopped a Russian “bot farm” that created fake social media accounts to promote pro-Russian ideals and pro-Kremlin stances on the war with Ukraine. The operation used artificial intelligence to help spread the messages, the US government said in a press release today that includes screenshots of the kind of messages the bots were posting, like videos of Vladimir Putin.
Fears over foreign and domestic disinformation campaigns, especially those supercharged by AI, have floated over the US presidential election for months.
More from Reuters:
The alleged operation, according to prosecutors, was organized through a private intelligence organization based in Russia staffed by Russian intelligence officers and a senior employee of the Moscow-based, government-funded news outlet Russia Today, or RT.
This private organization had designed a custom, AI-powered platform to create, control and manage hundreds of fake social accounts, which were made to look like real Americans, according to court documents.
In total, it created roughly 1,000 accounts on social media platform X. Those profiles have since been banned.
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Democrats not on same page, 'not even in the same book', about Biden's 2024 campaign
For prominent Democrats, public appearances lately involve a barrage of questions on Joe Biden’s fitness for office.
The California governor, Gavin Newsom, one of Biden’s most vocal surrogates, answered some of these questions while eating doughnuts at a New Hampshire rest stop, the New York Times reported today.
After a TV newsperson asked whether Biden should drop out, “Mr. Newsom chewed for a moment, reiterated the next-levelness of the doughnut, then turned to the microphone. ‘The answer is no,’” the Times reported.
After a meeting of Democrats at Democratic National Committee headquarters in DC today, most left without saying much. Despite some calls for Biden to step aside, there has not been a groundswell of opposition – Biden got some key support from the Congressional Black Caucus and progressive “Squad” representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
But there doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm for Biden right now, either, and little unity in the party behind him. Not only is the party not on the same page about Biden, but they are “not even in the same book”, the representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee told reporters after the morning meeting.
Dems exiting their meeting on Biden saying not only are they not on the same page, ‘we are not even in the same book’ pic.twitter.com/n2QEeJinzE
— Jon Michael Raasch (@JMRaasch) July 9, 2024
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Jim Inhofe, climate-denying conservative former senator, dies aged 89
From the Associated Press:
Former Sen. Jim Inhofe, a conservative firebrand known for his strong support of defense spending and his denial that human activity is responsible for the bulk of climate change, has died. He was 89.
Inhofe, a powerful fixture in Oklahoma politics for over six decades, died Tuesday morning after he had a stroke over the July Fourth holiday, his family said in a statement.
Inhofe, who was elected to a fifth Senate term in 2020, stepped down in early 2023.
Inhofe frequently criticized the mainstream science that human activity contributed to changes in the Earth’s climate, once calling it “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”
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Today so far
Democrats in the House of Representatives were tight-lipped as they left their caucus-wide meeting at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in DC this morning. Those who spoke to the press expressed support for the president. Others noted that Democrats present at the meeting had aired a range of views on whether or not Joe Biden should continue on as the Democratic party’s presidential nominee.
Representative Jim Clyburn told reporters after leaving that he is still “riding with Biden”.
Progressive squad member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez indicated she had spoken in Biden’s support during the meeting.
Dems exiting their meeting on Biden saying not only are they not on the same page, ‘we are not even in the same book’ pic.twitter.com/n2QEeJinzE
— Jon Michael Raasch (@JMRaasch) July 9, 2024
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At the National Conservatism Conference in Washington, Senator Josh Hawley endorsed the idea of Christian nationalism.
“Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian nation – so I am,” said Hawley during remarks at the conference on Monday. “And some will say that I am advocating Christian nationalism – so I do.”
Sen. Josh @HawleyMO: "Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian Nation. So I am. And some will say that I am advocating Christian Nationalism. And so I do." pic.twitter.com/dt13DgkM7w
— Phil Williams (@NC5PhilWilliams) July 9, 2024
Protesters planning to march on the Republican national convention were delivered a blow when a federal judge on Monday ruled that the group could not march through the designated security zone established for the event. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had previously argued in a lawsuit on behalf of the Coalition to March on the RNC that the group should be allowed to rally within sight and sound of the Fiserv Forum, where the event will be held.
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The New York Times editorial board has issued a second call for Joe Biden to end his re-election bid – this one directed at Democratic party leaders, who the board urged to listen to the “voters who have been telling every pollster in America their concerns for a long time” regarding Biden’s age and prospects in a rematch against Donald Trump.
The piece, which decries Biden’s post-debate efforts to assuage voters’ fears about his fitness as insufficient, calls on Democrats from “the grass roots to the highest levels of the party” to “speak plainly to Mr. Biden” and encourage him to drop out.
Since the 27 June debate, Biden and his allies have denounced the push to end his campaign as an effort cooked up by pundits and party elites.
In the piece, the editorial board rebuffed that notion and urged Democrats to “demonstrate that the party is no longer following him”.
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Gretchen Whitmer, a rising star in the Democratic party and widely believed to be planning a 2028 presidential run, has repeatedly quashed rumors that she could run in Joe Biden’s place this year. This morning, she reaffirmed her support for Biden and chided Democrats for “clutching your pearls” in response to the president’s dip in the polls in some swing states.
“He has my full support,” Whitmer said of President Joe Biden. https://t.co/NxwAsxOVfA
— Craig Mauger (@CraigDMauger) July 9, 2024
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House Democrats keep quiet after caucus-wide meeting on Biden
House Democrats are trickling out of the Democratic National Committee headquarters where they have been meeting to discuss Biden’s campaign.
Most members have refused to speak beyond voicing support for the president and his campaign. The representative Maxine Waters told a group of sweaty reporters – it’s so hot – that she was behind Biden. But most are stoic or on their phones to avoid being pelted with questions. A group of progressives just left, saying they would not share any details and ignored questions about whether the party was united.
Leaving the meeting, Rep. Maxine Waters says: “I’m supporting Biden.”
— Lauren Gambino (@laurenegambino) July 9, 2024
But nothing else, like most House Democrats leaving. pic.twitter.com/iUbTvg4fOc
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With less than a week to go before the Republican national convention, Donald Trump is poised to pick a running mate. Among the figures who have emerged as likely contenders is Senator JD Vance, the Trump critic-turned Maga Republican whose 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, launched him into the political spotlight. In a Guardian column today, Jan-Werner Müller argues that if picked, Vance would pose an “authoritarian danger”:
Vance has perfected what, on the right, tends to substitute for policy ideas these days: trolling the liberals. Mobilizing voters is less about programs, let alone a real legislative record (Vance has none; his initiatives like making English the official language of the US are just virtue signaling for conservative culture warriors). Rather, it’s to generate political energy by deepening people’s sense of shared victimhood.
The point for the rightist trolls is not that Democrats have all the wrong goals, but that they are hypocrites who say one thing and do another. Vance faults Trump’s opponents for pontificating about the rule of law, but in practice only caring about power – an update of the “limousine liberal” slogan for an age of rightwing autocracy.
Few others would try to impress readers of the New York Times with an invocation of the Nazi legal theorist Carl Schmitt, who, in the 1930s, claimed that liberals were either weaklings or prone to betray their own ideals. Schmitt is an obscure reference to most outside the hallowed halls of Yale Law School, but a signal to cognoscenti that Vance is all in on antiliberalism.
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House Democrats have wrapped their caucus-wide meeting – one that almost certainly featured questions about Joe Biden’s future as a candidate.
Democrats starting to file out of their meeting after around 45 minutes. Many staying perfectly silent in response to questions, some look rather shell shocked.
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) July 9, 2024
Donald Trump is seeking to distance himself from the rightwing Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a lengthy document the group has created as a playbook for the next Republican presidential administration. But Trump’s ties to Project 2025 run deep, and the playbook largely matches his agenda, Rachel Leingang reports:
Donald Trump’s attempt to distance himself from Project 2025 after extreme comments from one of its leaders falls flat given the extensive Trump ties and similarities between the project’s policy ideas and the former president’s platform.
On Truth Social last week, Trump claimed to “know nothing about Project 2025” and have “no idea who is behind it”. The disavowal from Trump came after Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, said: “We are in the process of the second American revolution, which will remain bloodless, if the left allows it to be.”
Project 2025 is a Heritage Foundation effort to align the conservative movement behind policies that an incoming rightwing president should undertake. The far-reaching plan, which would upend the way the federal government operates, includes a lengthy manifesto and recruitment of potential staffers for a second Trump administration.
Trump’s comments show that an alignment with the project could hurt him with key voters and that he doesn’t appreciate being seen as someone who could be controlled by an outside group.
But, in reality, Trump and Project 2025 share the same vision for where the US should go in a conservative presidency. His platform, dubbed Agenda 47, overlaps with Project 2025 on most major policy issues. Project 2025 often includes more details on how some key conservative goals could be carried out, offering the meat for Trumpian policy ideas often delivered as soundbites.
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White House explains neurologist's visits
In a letter to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Joe Biden’s doctor Kevin O’Connor explained why – as the New York Times reported yesterday – a neurologist who specializes in Parkinson’s disease has regularly visited the White House in the last eight months. According to the letter, the neurologist, Kevin Cannard, regularly holds neurology clinics for active-duty service members at the White House Medical Unit.
“Seeing patients at the White House is something Dr Cannard has been doing for a dozen years. Dr Cannard was chosen for this responsibility not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained neurologist here at Walter Reed,” wrote O’Connor.
In the letter, O’Connor wrote that Biden had not exhibited any signs of a neurological condition such as Parkinson’s during his last annual physical.
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AOC among congressional Democrats appearing to rally around Biden
Good morning, US politics blog readers. Today we’ll be continuing to keep an eye on Congress, where lawmakers are mulling how – or if – to deal with the question of whether to call on Joe Biden to halt his re-election campaign after a devastating debate performance that raised questions about his age and ability to win in November. Biden has scored the surprising and weighty endorsement of the progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), who has in the past clashed with Biden over policy. Biden’s meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus also went well for the president, with members of the caucus reportedly presenting unified support for Biden. That kind of institutional support on the Hill will help Biden, but it hasn’t quelled anxieties about his re-election bid – and more members of Congress could rally around his ouster still.
Here’s what else we’re following today:
House Democrats are scheduled hold a 9am all-member meeting at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC.
Donald Trump will hold a rally in Florida this evening. With less than a week to go before the Republican National Convention, Trump is expected to name a running mate any day now.
Kamala Harris will speak in Nevada on Tuesday to shore up support for the Biden-Harris ticket in the battleground state.
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