It’s Wednesday. The temp in Washington, D.C., is a little alarming. Capital Weather Gang noted that the heat index hit around 110 degrees yesterday, “higher than just about anywhere in the United States” — and reaching “the second-hottest start to a summer on record.” Ooof, stay inside and hydrated if you can. Speaking of the D.C. heat…:
President Biden had a couple good days to start the week, with a number of Democrats coalescing around him even as some seem uncomfortable with it.
Actor George Clooney, a high-profile Biden supporter who recently co-hosted a massive fundraiser for his reelection campaign, just published a powerful op-ed calling on Biden to step aside(!)
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urged Biden to make a decision on the race, even though Biden has said he already has. TMZ obtained footage of ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos commenting on Biden’s health after spending some time with him.
The Associated Press has a great story today about how the U.S. men’s basketball team really wants to see Simone Biles compete at the Olympics.
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-stage.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.
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George Clooney just poured gasoline on the fire:
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Actor George Clooney, who has been a high-profile, vocal supporter of President Biden, just published an op-ed in The New York Times, calling for the president to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.
This is quite the excerpt: “We are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won’t win the House, and we’re going to lose the Senate. This isn’t only my opinion; this is the opinion of every senator and congress member and governor that I’ve spoken with in private. Every single one, irrespective of what he or she is saying publicly.” This may be true: “Would it be messy? Yes. Democracy is messy,” Clooney wrote. “But would it enliven our party and wake up voters who, long before the June debate, had already checked out? It sure would.”
He ended with: “Joe Biden is a hero; he saved democracy in 2020. We need him to do it again in 2024.” 📰 Read Clooney’s NYT op-ed
Keep in mind: He has tangled a bit with the White House over Gaza and the International Criminal Court, but he’s a Biden supporter. In June, Clooney co-hosted a massive, $28 million fundraiser for the incumbent’s reelection campaign.
Most haven’t gone as far as Clooney, but there’s clearly some unease: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said this morning that he is “deeply concerned” about Biden. Plus, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said today that “time is running short” for Biden to make up his mind. Keep reading for more from Pelosi.
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➤ REACTIONS HAVE STARTED ROLLING IN:
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From actor, filmmaker and Democratic donor Rob Reiner: “My friend George Clooney has clearly expressed what many of us have been saying. We love and respect Joe Biden. We acknowledge all he has done for our country. But Democracy is facing an existential threat. We need someone younger to fight back. Joe Biden must step aside.”
From The Hill’s Jesse Byrnes: “Hard to overstate the critical moment in which this Clooney piece lands. Punctures a couple good days for Biden in which the bleeding had seemingly stopped.”
From writer Ben Jacobs: “It’s easy to be snarky about George Clooney (trust me, I know) but if, you remove the biographical information, it’s still noteworthy simply that a major Dem donor who recently spent time with Biden is going on the record about the president.”
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🗳️ Talk of the Political World |
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Ready or not, here Biden probably comes:
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The tide may be turning in a positive way for Biden, at least for now. After a day of private meetings among congressional Democrats, the party appears to be coalescing around the president, even though many seem uncomfortable by his debate performance and health.
Though, an eighth House Democrat has called for Biden to step aside: Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), a vulnerable Democrat running for reelection, told The New York Times Wednesday that he “really hope[s], with all my heart, that he will listen.” How the House Dem meeting went: Most lawmakers voiced their support for Biden, many of whom acknowledge the reality that replacing him could spell trouble in November. “We’re ridin’ with Biden,” Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said after the meeting.
How the Senate Dem meeting went: Senate Democrats have concerns about Biden’s health, but none went as far as calling on him to drop out.
Here’s the full story on Tuesday’s private meetings from The Hill’s Mike Lillis, Mychael Schnell and Amie Parnes. |
➤ THIS MORNING — MAMA NANCE WEIGHS IN: |
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to discuss the Democratic ticket.
How Pelosi responded when asked if Biden has her support to be the nominee: “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision. Because time is running short. … But he’s beloved, he is respected, and people want him to make that decision, not me.” ^ Why that’s an interesting response: Biden has been adamant that he’s staying in the race, not that he’s still making a decision. 🤔
💻 Watch the clip |
➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM CAPITOL HILL: |
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Who are the loudest of them all?:
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Ex-aides to former President Obama have been among the loudest critics of Biden following his disastrous debate performance, reports The Hill’s Amie Parnes.
Some examples: -
Obama’s 2008 campaign manager David Plouffe described the debate aftermath as a “DEFCON 1 moment.”
- Obama’s former senior adviser David Axelrod has been very vocal, including saying that Biden “really needs to consider what the right thing to do here is.”
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Obama’s former speechwriter Jon Favreau posted a snarky critique of Biden on Monday.
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Obama’s first White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on her MSNBC show: “I worked for him. I respect him and I care about him deeply. But if I sat here every night and told you that every question being asked out there is unfair, I wouldn’t be respecting you.”
Read more: ‘Ex-Obama aides are among Biden’s loudest post-debate Democratic critics’ | TMZ obtained footage of ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos telling a passerby on a New York City sidewalk that he doesn’t think Biden can serve four more years. 📹 Watch the TMZ clip of Stephanopoulos
He apologized for making the comment: His spokesperson told The Hill that Stephanopoulos admits that he “shouldn’t have” said that. ABC also said, “George expressed his own point of view and not the position of ABC News.”
💻 Watch media journalist Brian Stelter react to Stephanopoulos’s remarks 💡 Why this matters: Stephanopoulos is one of the few outsiders to spend a lot of time with Biden recently. |
➤ HOW ARE CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS FEELING?:
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They’re just glad it’s not their party’s fight, reports The Hill’s Emily Brooks. Specifically: “GOP lawmakers say they’re not watching the fighting with any glee, but they are glad the media frenzy surrounds their political opponents. And they clearly think the infighting has a chance to help them.” Read more: ‘Republicans happily watch Democratic turmoil over Biden’ |
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DC is feeling more worldly this week: |
The Washington Post’s Michael Birnbaum, Emily Rauhala, Missy Ryan and John Hudson report that NATO allies worry that former President Trump could be back in the White House, so they are trying to “Trump-proof” the alliance during this summit.
How so?: “Alliance policymakers have moved control of major elements of military aid to Ukraine away from U.S. command to the NATO umbrella. They appointed a new NATO secretary general who has a reputation as being especially agile with Trump’s unpredictable impulses toward the alliance. They are signing decade-long defense pledges with Ukraine to try to buffer military aid to Kyiv from the ups and downs of politics. And they are pushing up their defense spending, Trump’s single biggest anger point when it comes to NATO.”
Are they openly talking about Trump?: Not really. “Inside Washington’s convention center, where the summit is being held, Trump isn’t often being raised explicitly, but he is casting a dark shadow.” Read more: ‘NATO leaders move to ‘Trump-proof’ the alliance in Washington’
@MKuefner posted a video: “NATO Summit in DC also means Canadian PM Justin Trudeau hops out of a car right in front of as you walk to your first live.” 📹 Watch the clip of Trudeau appearing to go for a jog |
➤ LOOMING OVER THE SUMMIT: |
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🍹 Celebrate: Today is National Piña Colada Day!
🥇 My favorite headline of the day: The Associated Press’s Tim Reynolds writes, “The U.S. men’s basketball team has two goals for Paris: win gold and see Simone Biles.”
Excerpt: “‘I heard it’s really expensive to get in,’ said U.S. guard Tyrese Haliburton, whose five-year, $245 million contract with the Indiana Pacers begins at the start of the next NBA season. ‘But I think I can make that work.’”
Another excerpt that made me laugh: “At 4-foot-8, she could probably dunk a basketball if she thought about it and came up with some super-creative way to make it happen. At last month’s U.S. Olympic trials in Minneapolis, Biles reached a height of 12 feet — according to NBC — during the first tumbling pass of her floor routine. A basketball rim is 10 feet off the ground.” (AP)
🤸♀️ Eeek, speaking of gymnastics: The Washington Post has a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the U.S. gymnasts’ leotards. They cost roughly $3,000 each with all of the crystals(!)
🤝 Omg, please do this for the plot: Trump’s ex-wife Marla Maples says she’s “open” to being his vice presidential pick. She’s Tiffany Trump’s mom. |
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The House and Senate are out. President Biden is in Washington, and Vice President Harris is in Dallas. (all times Eastern) |
Noon: Harris is delivering a keynote speech during Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.’s 71st Boulé in Dallas. 💻 Livestream
1 p.m.: Biden participates in a working session of the NATO summit. 2:15 p.m.: A Senate confirmation vote. There will also be a cloture vote at 4:15 p.m. 📆 Today’s agenda 4:45 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆 Today’s agenda
5:30 p.m.: Biden hosts a bilateral meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 8 p.m.: Biden and first lady Jill Biden host a dinner with NATO allies and partners.
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