There’s no point in underestimating Biden’s challenges

The mean tweets are now low-impact press releases. The random firings are over. The reality TV-style presidency is slowly fading from memory.

But things aren’t all rosy in America. Biden, a fairly unremarkable politician who flamed out twice before in his quest to become president, was resurrected politically thanks to a national moment seemingly made for him; after four years of tumult, coarseness, norm-breaking and wild twists, a grandfatherly commander-in-chief with a knack for human connection seemed just what the doctor ordered.

And, while he’s mostly stuck to the script – no 2am Twitter rants, limited media engagement, and deftly passing one of this three planned spending bills — there are some narrative-threatening problems emerging for the 46th president.

On Wednesday, it was announced that inflation accelerated at its fastest pace for more than 12 years in April – and is up 4.2 percent from a year ago, overshooting more conservative predictions. The jobs report released last week was a total, shocking bust. Economists expected about a million new jobs to have been added across America in April. The real figure was a quarter of that, despite some companies becoming so desperate for workers that they’ll pay you just to come in for an interview.

Meanwhile, people are fighting at gas stations and hoarding fuel after the Colonial Pipeline was shut down by a ransomware attack.

The one thing Biden was roundly praised for – the vaccine rollout – has also faltered in recent weeks due to a lack of demand. Some have speculated that the ultra-cautious messaging from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – which for a while was basically “very little changes post-vax” – may have played a part. Even in heavily Democrat New York City, they’re now offering them up to tourists in Times Square, and giving out free tickets to baseball games to people who get shots outside one of the city’s two stadiums.

It’s easy, and tempting, to overlook some of the flashing warning lights right now because Biden provides such a contrast to his predecessor. But it’s a temptation the media must constantly attempt to correct for. Boring tweets are not a panacea. All three of the stories above were widely covered, of course, but then – at least in many mainstream US publications – quickly dropped down the news agenda before they could harden as a narrative.

Sure, Fox News is overplaying the issues – calling the president “Battered Biden” – but it’s important that sensible outlets don’t underplay the challenges he faces.

Yours,

Dave Maclean

Indy100 editor (US)