Previewing the first debate

Plus: Decoding Trump -- and the latest polling shows a tie

View this email online June 22, 2024 This week, we looked ahead to Thursday's debate. Plus, the Supreme Court upholds a ban on guns for domestic abusers and the Equality PAC fundraises for more LGBTQ representation. The Big Picture: Needing Enhanced Performances Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images; Bill Pugliano/Getty Images The first presidential debate is coming up Thursday, and it’s going to be a major moment in the campaign. Voters have expressed dissatisfaction with their choices, but President Biden and former President Trump are, in fact, their major-party options. It goes without saying that the stakes are high for both men.  Biden is battling low approval ratings and sour views of the economy, as well as his age. He will face real questions about his handling of the presidency, the economy, immigration and more. He will have to demonstrate his fitness for office, which he has done in other scrutinized public events, like the State of the Union address.  Conservative media has played up narratives that Biden doesn’t know where he is. Trump’s campaign has shared out-of-context viral videos trying to frame Biden that way as well, while, at the same time, baselessly accusing him of conducting a Machiavellian-like scheme to collude with state and federal prosecutors to target Trump. That lowering of expectations puts Republicans in a pickle ahead of the debate. They risk allowing Biden to clear the bar by simply stepping over it. So Trump and his allies have resorted to an unfounded and low-brow accusation that Biden is using performance-enhancing drugs. Seriously. Beyond the superficial optics, there are problems in the country that people are looking for their candidates to address, and Trump will face major questions, too, especially about his personal conduct and his ability to lead the entire country.  He has spent the campaign battling legal problems and juicing his base. That’s helped with fundraising, as Trump’s money numbers have ballooned after his conviction. His team is making the gamble that getting more Republicans to turn out is his path to winning, not necessarily winning over the middle. But Trump’s felony conviction has also meant that Trump has slipped in the polls, even if he still has a narrow edge in several of the key swing states. Thursday will be the first major test of how each candidate can parry valid criticism about their weaknesses – and deliver a vision for the future. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR’s senior political editor/correspondent Newsletter continues after sponsor message ICYMI: Top Stories Jon Fleming Photography provided by Equality PAC SCOTUS upholds federal ban on guns for domestic abusers: In its first major gun ruling since 2022, the Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on gun possession for anyone covered by a domestic violence court order. In the court’s majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts reasoned that if an individual has been found to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another person, the Second Amendment allows that person to be temporarily disarmed, NPR’s Nina Totenberg writes. Equality PAC fundraises to encourage LGBTQ representation in Congress: Founded 10 years ago, the Equality PAC has advocated for LGBTQ representation and rights in legislation and in Congress. As NPR’s Barbara Sprunt reports, the group already raised $12 million in this year alone, and they’re looking to put not just more LGBTQ members in Congress, but support Democratic incumbents in battlegrounds for the party as Republicans are looking to unseat them this election cycle. Decoding Trump’s newest catchphrases: “Make America great again” is one of Trump’s most iconic catchphrases. But have you heard of “too big to rig” or “no tax on tips”? NPR’s Clayton Kincade unpacks six phrases that Trump has been using more often, and what they mean. The VP contest: With less than one month until the Republican National Convention, Trump has yet to announce who his running mate will be. Ever the showman, he’s generated headlines and controlled the narrative as he whittles down a list of more than a dozen candidates. NPR’s Ron Elving, Franco Ordoñez and yours truly talk about what goes into a VP pick and who Trump might select on NPR’s Consider This. A dead heat: The latest NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll found that Biden and Trump are tied with 49% of support among registered voters across the country. As NPR’s Ashley Lopez reports, younger voters are less likely to say they are voting in November, and inflation is top of mind for voters of all ages when it comes to deciding how to vote. -- Jeongyoon Han, NPR Politics editorial assistant   Support your local station with NPR+ NPR+ is a great new way to support mission-driven journalism while getting something great in return (aside from that warm fuzzy feeling of making a difference). Enjoy Sponsor-free listening from your favorite NPR podcasts, and even get fun bonus episodes from select shows like Fresh Air, Planet Money, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! And more. All in return for a simple recurring donation to your local station. Get NPR+ Going Deeper: The Covenant Moms Joshua Lott/The Washington Post In the wake of a mass shooter attack on The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, Tenn., in 2023, three mothers took action. They focused on trying to pass some kind of gun control in a state where Republicans hold a supermajority in the legislature. The mothers were hopeful. As lifelong conservatives, they thought they could speak to their own party about concerns they have over gun safety. The newest season of NPR’s Embedded, host Meribah Knight follows the political newcomers in their fight to regulate gun use. -- Jeongyoon Han, NPR Politics editorial assistant The Shot: Summer Reads Alicia Zheng/NPR Looking for a summer read? NPR staff has you covered with this list of handpicked recommendations. Selections include All Fours by Miranda July, How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang, James by Percival Everett, and The Women by Kristin Hannah. The full list is divided into realistic fiction, romance and relationships, historical fiction, mysteries and thrillers, and science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction and horror. And there is also a section for nonfiction, too. -- Clayton Kincade, NPR Politics intern Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from Central Florida Public Media (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprpolitics@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Politics emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy