Biden holding press conference to restore faith in 2024 run amid calls to drop out

Wednesday evening, Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade asked the presumptive Republican nominee if North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum’s decision to pass a strict abortion ban in his state posed an issue for him.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that Joe Biden is not senile as he jumped to the defense of the beleaguered US president amid growing calls for him to step aside as the Democrats’ candidate in November.

The new British prime minister had his first bilateral with the president in the White House on Wednesday in what proved to be a friendly meeting of political allies which both sides hope will mend the damage done to the special relationship by Brexit.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC:

A small group of President Joe Biden’s closest aides and confidantes have begun to huddle for closely-held discussions on how best to convince him to be the first American president to stand down from seeking a second term since Lyndon Johnson bowed out of the 1968 presidential race amid the tumult of the Vietnam War.

The select cadre of Biden advisers — some from the president’s campaign and some from within his White House staff — have been brainstorming what the strongest possible arguments and pitches would be for the purpose of selling the famously-stubborn 81-year-old chief executive on passing the torch to another candidate who would take up the Democratic Party’s fight against Donald Trump in the November general election.

But instead, the former president is back on the campaign trail, after his attorneys convinced the judge presiding over the case to delay his sentencing…

Alex Woodward explains how that happened and when it will now take place.

When is the news conference?

Preisdent Joe Biden is scheduled to take questions from the White House press corps at 6.30pm ET. It had initially been slated for 5.30pm, but the White House moved the time to an hour later.

Biden will be speaking from the Walter E Washington Convention Center, a short distance from the White House, where many events of the ongoing NATO summit are being held.

What channel is carrying it?

The White House streams much of its live content. Given the attention on this event, television networks could also break away from programming to carry Biden’s remarks live once he starts speaking.

Probably a lot of people.

CNN reported that 51 million people watched the Atlanta debate, which was in primetime, while more than 8 million people tuned in to watch Biden’s ABC interview live. If networks break into their daily coverage or cable channels carry it live, that will guarantee a significant number of eyes on Biden.

Will Biden know the questions ahead of time?

Aside from some apparent exceptions — like incidents in which two Black radio hosts said Biden’s campaign sent them planned questions ahead of time — it’s not standard practice for the president to know precisely what will come up during interviews or news conferences.

His aides prepare him for a host of possibilities based off the headlines of the day, so they’re prepping him for the likelihood that journalists will want to ask about his fitness for office, the NATO summit or other topics.

How many questions will he take?

That’s not set in stone, and there’s not a ton of precedent.

Biden hasn’t held very many news conferences that aren’t tied to a foreign leader’s visit or trips abroad. Typically, those are what’s known in the business as a “2+2,” meaning two reporters from the U.S. and two foreign reporters ask questions.

Biden returns to the campaign trail with a trip to Michigan Friday. He will also do an interview with NBC on Monday.

The Independent will live-stream the press conference this evening on this blog and our YouTube channel.

Stay tuned for the latest updates.

Firebrand Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert Lauren Boebert was laughed at by the head of the EPA during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday after seemingly misunderstanding a recent Supreme Court’s decision that aims to limit federal agencies’ authority.

“Do you understand the ruling?” Regan asked the Colorado rep, calling her question “ill-formed.”

Ariana Baio reports on the embarrassing moment.

…and he “didn’t object to it”. 😬

Gustaf Kilander has the details.

Back in May, 68 per cent felt that way about Biden, 81, and that has risen steadily since to 85 per cent today.

For Trump, Americans seem to be catching on to the fact that he is only three years younger than the president at 78.

In May, fewer than half (44 per cent) thought Trump was too old, and that has now risen to 60 per cent.

The same poll showed two-thirds of Americans believe Biden should step aside as his party’s presumptive nominee, but in a match-up against Trump the two candidates are still neck-and-neck at 46-47 in favor of Trump but well within the margin of error.