Evan Davis

And Trump, of course, is back.

And Trump, of course, is back.

The economy is very strong right now and part of the political puzzle for him that he was never able to solve was that there is a general sense of sourness, not just the fact that prices are higher, but that people just feel as they do in other countries these days, pretty unsatisfied with incumbents, with the present disposition of power. And so he found himself unable to persuade people.

The economy is very strong right now and part of the political puzzle for him that he was never able to solve was that there is a general sense of sourness, not just the fact that prices are higher, but that people just feel as they do in other countries these days, pretty unsatisfied with incumbents, with the present disposition of power. And so he found himself unable to persuade people.

And I think a big piece of that was because they looked at him and they said he doesn't have the youth and the vigor that would allow him to prevail in a moment when it is demanding as it is.

And I think a big piece of that was because they looked at him and they said he doesn't have the youth and the vigor that would allow him to prevail in a moment when it is demanding as it is.

I think in his inner circle, they really are not at peace, actually, with him dropping out. He said in recent interviews that he believes he could have prevailed over Trump. And actually, that is not supported by any of the polls that we see. I interviewed Biden back in January of last year, and I asked him at one point, was there ever a moment when you

I think in his inner circle, they really are not at peace, actually, with him dropping out. He said in recent interviews that he believes he could have prevailed over Trump. And actually, that is not supported by any of the polls that we see. I interviewed Biden back in January of last year, and I asked him at one point, was there ever a moment when you

considered dropping out and not running for a second term. And he said immediately, no, I never thought about it. He was determined to run, even though there were these indications that people didn't want it.

considered dropping out and not running for a second term. And he said immediately, no, I never thought about it. He was determined to run, even though there were these indications that people didn't want it.

Yeah, I think what's clear is that there are days when he seems fine. And then now we have come to see that there are clearly days. When he is slower, older, not able to take a full slate of meetings. But the person that was on that stage on that fateful night, June 27th of last year, in the debate with Donald Trump, it became, in a sense, inescapable news.

Yeah, I think what's clear is that there are days when he seems fine. And then now we have come to see that there are clearly days. When he is slower, older, not able to take a full slate of meetings. But the person that was on that stage on that fateful night, June 27th of last year, in the debate with Donald Trump, it became, in a sense, inescapable news.

to his political team that there was no way they were going to rebuild his reputation. But that performance was a shock because it was not anything that people around him were accustomed to seeing. I think the way these declines are not linear, but when they happen, they can be quite shocking.

to his political team that there was no way they were going to rebuild his reputation. But that performance was a shock because it was not anything that people around him were accustomed to seeing. I think the way these declines are not linear, but when they happen, they can be quite shocking.

I think that over time, presidents in the American tradition tend to improve in public memory. People like George W. Bush, who left with a lower approval rating, in fact, than Joe Biden is leaving with, have tended to get a little better in memory.

I think that over time, presidents in the American tradition tend to improve in public memory. People like George W. Bush, who left with a lower approval rating, in fact, than Joe Biden is leaving with, have tended to get a little better in memory.

The challenge for Biden, however, is that he doesn't leave office in his 50s or his 60s the way some of his predecessors did, which left them decades behind. to improve their reputation through humanitarian work or diplomatic expeditions. He will have to be judged ultimately.

The challenge for Biden, however, is that he doesn't leave office in his 50s or his 60s the way some of his predecessors did, which left them decades behind. to improve their reputation through humanitarian work or diplomatic expeditions. He will have to be judged ultimately.

And one of the things he said in his farewell speech was that the seeds have been planted, meaning things like infrastructure investments or advanced manufacturing. And over time, people may come to reward his reputation for that, but it'll take a long time.

And one of the things he said in his farewell speech was that the seeds have been planted, meaning things like infrastructure investments or advanced manufacturing. And over time, people may come to reward his reputation for that, but it'll take a long time.