Good morning, it’s Tuesday, July 2.
Until last week, the state of the 2024 presidential election seemed defined mostly by stasis. Primary season was uneventful, the polls between the two presumptive nominees were barely moving, and neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump was saying anything much on the campaign trail that was new or different – or even very interesting.
Suddenly, however, stasis no longer feels like the right word. Events have picked up steam. Last week CNN hosted a debate between Biden and Trump (Bobby Kennedy Jr. was excluded) that showed the incumbent president to such bad advantage that Democrats are going to the mattresses.
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered something of a bombshell in the ongoing criminal litigation pursued by the Justice Department against the former president. Next week, Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in a New York state court. The Republican Party convention in Milwaukee starts the week after that; presumably Trump will reveal the name of his running mate between now and then.
Amidst hand-wringing about whether they have the strongest possible ticket, the Democrats meet in Chicago in August. September is when a second Biden-Trump debate is scheduled, which is also when early voting begins in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania. This campaign may have been slow to develop, but it is finally happening, people.
Carl Cannon
Biden Warns SCOTUS Ruling Will “Embolden” Trump. Phil Wegmann reports on the president’s last-minute address expressing concern about the high court’s decision on presidential privileges.
Biden’s Performance Is a Wakeup Call. Greg Orman sounds the alarm for supporters of both candidates as he pronounces the two-party system a failure.
The Real Crisis in Our Democracy. Ryan Clancy observes the country’s discomfort with our current choices for president and offers ideas for moving toward better solutions.
How “The Debate” Turned Reality on Its Head. Frank Miele focuses on the aspects of the Atlanta matchup that were, to him, unexpected.
Balancing Act of Immigration. Addie Von Drehle explores an issue that stands front and center in this year’s presidential election.
Israel’s Interest in Planning for “The Day After.” Peter Berkowitz examines internal unrest over the lack of a post-war vision for Gaza once goals for eradicating Hamas are realized.
Meeting Ben Franklin’s Challenge the Only Way Possible. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, Murray Bessette and David Rose recall the founder’s famous response, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
Trump Sentencing Will Put Jude Merchan in Crosshairs. Kenin Spivak shines a light on the abuse of power intended to keep the former president at a disadvantage in the upcoming election.
No Remedy for Censorship: The Perils of Murthy. Philip Hamburger mourns what he considers the Supreme Court’s worst speech decision in history.
Dissent’s Fear-Mongering in Trump Case Is Unreasoned and Unhelpful. May Mailman warns that the high court’s discord on the former president’s immunity case works to undermine a peaceful republic.
How the Government Loses More Money Than Its Bean-Counters Can Count. In RealClearInvestigations, financial writer Bob Ivry ventures into the fuzzy math of federal spending and explains why even its auditors can’t calculate the waste.
America 101: Why the Electoral College? At RealClearHistory, Addie Von Drehle gives a primer on the nation’s presidential election process, and how it came about.
Why Palestinians Are Not Welcomed by Their Neighbors. At RealClearPolicy, Tom Copeland writes that Jordan and Egypt have a complicated history with Gazan refugees and that good fences make good neighbors.
Saving Social Security and Creating a Universal Private Pension. At RealClearMarkets, G.A. Pakela spells out a comprehensive plan to bolster retiring Americans’ financial stability.
Alaska’s Strategic Importance to U.S. Security. At RealClearDefense, Seth Cropsey presents the urgent need for a major communications infrastructure project that will support American efforts versus Russia as well as in the Indo-Pacific region.
