Over the past couple of weeks since the debate, Biden’s performance has been under intense scrutiny. Some observers have noted a decline in his presentation, sparking questions about what went wrong during his debate prep.
For those who've been following closely, it seems like the floodgates have opened, and stories about Biden are dropping left and right. Notably, George Clooney’s op-ed and reports suggesting that former President Barack Obama knew more than he let on have added fuel to the fire. The lack of denial from Obama’s camp has left many speculating that any protection for Biden might be waning.
One of the big stories is how tightly scripted Biden’s appearances seem to be. We've learned that even radio interviews are prepped in advance, with interviewers given the questions to ask beforehand. After these interviews, there have been requests to edit out any parts where Biden might have misspoken, making everything seem meticulously planned.
Talk about a "cheap fake"—it seems like a lot about Biden's public image is heavily managed.
Matt Vespa over at Townhall has uncovered even more startling details. It turns out that even Cabinet meetings, where you’d expect free and open discussions, are scripted. In Washington, it's become clear that Biden is increasingly stage-managed. He’s given lists of talking points, names of people to call on, and even diagrams showing where he should walk, all presented by his aides.
CNN: Cabinet officials are expected to "submit their questions and talking points" in advance of meeting with Biden.
"The entire display is kind of an act." pic.twitter.com/xeImKnAhYp
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 11, 2024
Before these closed-door Cabinet meetings, officials have to submit their questions and key points ahead of time. This way, everything Biden is asked has already been vetted and prepped. One source described the whole setup as an act, saying, “They would come and say, ‘Hey, the president is going to call on you about 25 minutes in, and ask this question. What are the bullet points you’ll respond with?’”
Another source echoed this sentiment, adding that these meetings are not free-wheeling at all. In fact, they’re so scripted and infrequent that one Cabinet secretary mentioned rarely seeing Biden, leaving them unsure about his condition.
The last full Cabinet meeting was held on October 2, 2023, which is quite a gap. This infrequency suggests Biden might be struggling to handle the demands of these sessions. It raises a big question: how can he effectively do his job if he needs everything so carefully choreographed?
MSNBC’s Chuck Todd brought this to light earlier, mentioning that he was told by a Cabinet secretary (whose name he didn't disclose) that Biden wouldn’t be able to run again—information shared two years ago. So, while this might seem like breaking news, it’s been known for a while.