Episode description

“An elderly man with a poor memory”. That is how a special counsel report described Joe Biden, president of the United States. Public appearances of the President looking confused and forgetting important dates and names seem to support this finding. Some Democrats believe Biden’s cognitive decline is a major liability that can no longer be ignored. With so much at stake in the 2024 election, and polls that are favouring Trump to win, it’s time for Biden to step aside for a candidate that can take on Trump with the energy and mental vigour such a contest requires. Biden’s supporters argue that his record as one of America’s most effective presidents renders his age irrelevant. Unlike previous candidates, Biden has proven that he can form a winning coalition. The risk of replacing him this close to the election would all but guarantee his defeat and the ruin of American democracy at the hands of a President Trump.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Jeff Weaver. He was a senior advisor on Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign and he is currently serving as an advisor to Representative Dean Phillip’s campaign to be the Democratic nominee.

Arguing against the resolution is Jim Kessler. He’s the Executive Vice President of Policy at Third Way, a Washington DC Democratic think tank.

SOURCES: 

MSNBC, NBC News

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch