Is it the beginning of the end for Biden?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 12 July 2024
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The president’s press conference on Thursday was hailed as one of the most important in his political life - make or break for his chances of re-election. After a disastrous debate performance two weeks ago, Democrats have been voicing concerns about Biden’s ability to win against Donald Trump in November. We’ll find out if he managed to hold off the rebels trying to oust him from the White House.
Justin and Sarah also spoke to a friend of the President, Steve Israel, former congressman and former chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He explains why Jill Biden has such a big influence on her husband, and gives us his intel from inside the party. Does he think the President can still win?
HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Marianna Spring, Disinformation & Social Media Correspondent • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
GUEST: Steve Israel, former Democrat congressman and former chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast
US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s new BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155
This episode was made by Purvee Pattni and George Dabby with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts. |
| 0:05.0 | We're just getting to the end of a week that has probably been the most critical in |
| 0:08.8 | Joe Biden's very lengthy political career, a week in which it has been literally hanging in the balance whether or not he can |
| 0:15.0 | carry on as the Democratic candidate and it has been a nail-bitter from hour to hour. |
| 0:21.0 | I have been changing my mind about whether or not he is likely to be able to survive this crisis as different people make statements coming out asking him to step aside or coming out in support of him. |
| 0:32.0 | And there was a make or break moment at the end of that NATO summit |
| 0:35.8 | he was giving a full press conference. This was his chance to show that he can |
| 0:40.5 | think on his feet, speak without an autocue, and prove his critics wrong. |
| 0:46.6 | So how did he do? |
| 0:47.6 | Have a listen. |
| 0:48.6 | Look, I wouldn't have picked Vice President Trump to be Vice President, |
| 0:52.0 | to be Vice President, |
| 0:53.6 | but I think she was not qualified to be President. |
| 0:56.2 | So let's start there. |
| 0:57.2 | Now I want to hand it over to the President of Ukraine |
| 1:00.3 | who has as much courage as he has determination. |
| 1:04.0 | Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin. |
| 1:06.0 | President Putin, |
| 1:08.0 | he's gonna beat President Putin, |
| 1:10.0 | President Lewinsky. |
| 1:12.0 | I'm so focused on beating Putin we got to worry about it. Anyway. |
| 1:15.8 | Ouch is all you can say to that and there was an audible gasp at the event when he introduced President Zelensky as Putin. |
... |
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