Happy Friday! The Republican National Convention is happening in Milwaukee next week! I’ll on the ground bringing you behind-the-scenes tidbits. There is always such good color at conventions! In the meantime, here’s what’s happening today:
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-release.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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If I was having a presser to show I’m A-OK, I probably wouldn’t show up an hour late: |
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President Biden held a press conference at a critical moment last night, where he tried to stanch the bleeding among anxious Democrats.
The press conference was mostly a success — his only real gaffe was misnaming Vice President Harris as “Vice President Trump” — but it wasn’t enough to dispel the chatter about replacing him at the top of the ticket.
🚨 The House Democratic leader had a chat with Biden: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) met Thursday night with Biden to relay the concerns of congressional Democrats who are worried his health could affect their chances of keeping control of the House in November. (The Hill)
Four more Dems turned on him: Democratic Reps. Jim Himes (Conn.), Scott Peters (Calif.), Eric Sorensen (Ill.) and Brittany Pettersen (Colo.) called on Biden to step aside following his Q&A with reporters. That brings the total to 17 House Democrats who want Biden to step aside.
Biden’s best moments: Political scientist Ian Bremmer pointed out: “Biden knows foreign policy better than most topics and he’s not defensive answering those questions (as he is on his leadership). [C]ontent of those answers—NATO, Russia, China, Middle East—has been substantive and fine.”
The good news/bad news for Democrats: NBC News’s Alex Seitz-Wald argues that “a merely good performance may be worst case scenario for Dems. Drags this out. Reassures some, but not others, provides no clear path towards resolution. But buys Biden time.” Five takeaways from Biden’s pivotal press conference: -
“One gaffe could erase Biden’s stronger moments.”
- “Biden neither erased Democrats’ fears nor fell apart.”
- “The president praised his vice president.” Harris, not Trump 😉
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“Biden doesn’t sound like he is going anywhere.”
- “An unpleasant surprise shows Biden’s challenges remain.”
Explainer for each, via The Hill’s Niall Stanage |
Did you notice Biden pause at one point?: Well, The Hill’s Niall Stanage was in the room and explained that “If it isn’t obvious on tv, the reason Biden paused is because some kind of brief recorded excerpt played from elsewhere in the room.”
OK, this was a funny jab: “Where’s Trump been?” Biden rhetorically asked. “Riding a golf cart and filling out his scorecard before he hits the ball?” Biden vented about his schedule: “By the way, even with that, I love my staff. But they add things, they had things all the time,” Biden said. “I’m catching hell from my wife for that.”
A lighter side to the evening: While everyone waited for Biden to begin, Democratic strategist James Carville appeared on CNN “from the balcony of a cruise ship right now. You can see the ocean floating behind him,” The Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey posted. “Iconic.” 📸 Here’s a photo
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What’s happening behind the scenes?: |
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is actively working behind the scenes to put pressure on President Biden to step aside as the Democratic presidential nominee, report The Hill’s Mike Lillis and Mychael Schnell.
What is Pelosi specifically doing?: She’s been chatting with a number of House Democrats, including incumbents with tough reelection races and veterans with institutional clout.
But Pelosi hasn’t publicly called for Biden to bow out?: Precisely, which makes this reporting so newsy. On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” earlier this week, she emphasized that the decision is solely Biden’s to make. She also implied the decision is still up in the air, however, despite Biden’s repeated declarations that he is staying in the race.
Read Lillis and Schnell’s full reporting: ‘Pelosi moving behind the scenes to get Biden to reconsider presidential run’ |
➤ TIDBIT EARLIER THIS WEEK: |
“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert asked Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) about Biden.
Colbert: “What was your reaction [to the debate?] … Did [Biden] give you pause at all?” Whitmer: “I like your tie.” 👀 💻 Watch the full clip |
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OK, what’s the deal with Project 2025?:
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A group of conservatives wrote a 900-page plan, laying out policy priorities for a Republican administration if former President Trump wins in November.
Who’s behind it?: The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
But Trump is trying to keep his distance: Trump had tried to distance himself from this project. He maintains that he is not involved in this 900-page manifesto and knows nothing about the people behind it.
^ Yes, but: A CNN review of Project 2025 found that at least 140 people involved in the project worked for Trump. That includes six of his former Cabinet secretaries and close aides.
Some examples: “Dozens more who staffed Trump’s government hold positions with conservative groups advising Project 2025, including his former chief of staff Mark Meadows and longtime adviser Stephen Miller.” (CNN)
Why is Project 2025 controversial?: It lays out some controversial policy proposals, including “criminalizing pornography, disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, rejecting the idea of abortion as health care and shredding climate protections.” (The New York Times)
How does this plan differ from Trump’s positions?: “One is on abortion. Project 2025 takes an aggressive approach to curtailing abortion rights, stating that the federal Health and Human Services Department ‘should return to being known as the Department of Life’ (it was never known by that name)…” But there are also many similarities between this conservative manifesto and Trump’s positions: Like overhauling the Justice Department.
I suggest you read The New York Times’s explainer: ‘What Is Project 2025, and Why Is Trump Disavowing It?’ |
➤ THE DNC SEES A REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE: |
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) rolled out a media campaign to tie Trump to conservatives’ “Project 2025.”
An example of a DNC billboard: “Trump’s Plan to be a dictator day one: Project 2025. Google it,” one of the billboards reads.
Where the billboards will be launched: Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.; Philadelphia; Atlanta; Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids, Mich.; Green Bay, Wis.; Phoenix and Las Vegas |
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Welcome to the first edition of The Hill’s Politics quiz! Think you followed the political news closely this week? Let’s see about that. Each week we’ll bring you a new installment to test just how much you remember.
Let me know how you did! I’m especially curious how many of you know why Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) missed House votes this week. 😉
Like this quiz? Have a comment or a suggestion? You know I’m all ears. Shoot me an email to let me know what you think!
Ready. Set. Go!
Play here
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🍟 Celebrate: Today is National French Fry Day! USA Today has a list of where you can get free fries. 🦈 One more day of Shark Week!: It’s Shark Week on Discovery through Saturday night. 📺 Here’s the schedule |
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The House and Senate are out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
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1:05 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the National Governors Association summer meeting. 💻 Livestream
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1:55 p.m.: Biden leaves for Michigan.
- 6 p.: Biden participates in a campaign event in Detroit. 💻 Livestream
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8:45 p.m.: Biden arrives in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
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5 p. Saturday: Former President Trump campaigns in Butler, Pa. 💻 Livestream
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July 23: The Senate returns.
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