Transcript
The Inside Story: Biden Ends Reelection Bid
Episode 154 – July 25, 2024
Show Open:
This week on The Inside Story…
U.S. President Joe Biden calls it quits, as he announces he will no longer seek a second term in the White House.
The head of the Secret Service resigns one day after a bipartisan beating in congress over the failed assassination attempt on Former President Trump.
Plus, a global computer outage and Russia jails two American journalists in a trial widely viewed as a sham.
NOW, ON The Inside Story… Biden Ends His Reelection Bid.
The Inside Story:
ANITA POWELL, VOA White House Correspondent:
Hi, I’m VOA Correspondent Anita Powell.
It is difficult to overstate the political importance of the last two weeks in American politics.
Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on Saturday July 13th.
Less than ten days later, President Joe Biden announced he would not run for re-election. Biden instead endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s candidate to face Donald Trump in November.
President Biden discussed his decision and his hopes for the future of the party and the country in an address to the nation on Wednesday.
U.S President Joe Biden made the stunning decision to exit the presidential race from behind a screen, choosing to drop the news online.
Three days later, in an Oval Office speech that was at times hopeful, at times determined and at times wistful, he explained why. Biden spoke of his five decades in public office, touted his presidential record of domestic and political achievements, but then called for energetic new leadership to face tomorrow’s challenges.
President Joe Biden:
Nothing – nothing – can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition. So I decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. It’s the best way to unite our nation. You know, there is a time and a place for long years of experience in public life. There’s also a time and a place for new voices. Fresh voices. Yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.
ANITA POWELL:
Biden also thanked Vice President Kamala Harris, who has taken to the campaign trail with his endorsement and enough delegate pledges to net the nomination. He described her as “experienced,” “tough” and “capable” but added, “the choice is up to you.”
He did not name-check the Republican in the race. But analysts say Biden’s stark warnings all point to one man.
Jennifer Mercieca, Texas A&M University:
He talked about polarization. He talked about violence and political violence. Those are all things that harken back to [former President] Donald Trump and his presidency. He talked about the threats facing the nation when he first took office, in January 2021. And so that was certainly about Donald Trump. But yeah, this wasn’t a place for him to talk about Donald Trump. It wasn’t a place for him to give a campaign speech.
ANITA POWELL:
The president said his job now will focus on domestic challenges like civil rights and voter freedom, gun safety reforms, the quest to end cancer and Supreme Court reform.
He also cited myriad challenges the U.S. faces abroad, with wars raging in Gaza and Ukraine, and China becoming more emboldened in the Indo-Pacific.
Those foreign fires, analysts say, are likely to burn in the minds of concerned voters.
Thomas Schwartz, Vanderbilt University:
That’s really the concern I think people will have, which is: how does a lame-duck president deal with foreign policy crises?”
ANITA POWELL:
We’ll find out Thursday, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House. The Israeli leader is also holding two other meetings while in the U.S., with Harris and Trump.
But for the final act of this presidency, Biden remains the protagonist on America’s biggest stage.
Jim Kessler, Third Way:
He’s like an athlete that is going to make the Hall of Fame and is retiring and, you know, gets the cheers from the crowds, finally, for a long, 50-year tremendous career.
ANITA POWELL:
Biden clearly understood that this address would be a dramatic peak. So, he used his final words to break the fourth wall, with a message as old as America:
President Joe Biden:
The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule, the people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands.
After Biden’s announcement on Sunday, there were some initial discussions among pundits and democratic leaders about who would replace him.
But President Biden quickly endorsed his Vice-President Kamala Harris as his pick. And many heavy hitters in the Democratic party fell in line and endorsed Harris.
VOA’s Carolyn Presutti has more about Kamala Harris, who has already made history as the first Black Vice President – as well as the first woman to hold the office – who could now become America’s first female President.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI, VOA Correspondent:
A history-making moment in the United States in 2021 …
Kamala Harris, US Vice President:
So help me god.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI:
….as former Senator Kamala Harris became the nation’s first female vice president.
Kamala Harris, US Vice President:
It is my honor to be here, to stand on the shoulders of those who came before.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI:
Harris is also the first Black American and Indian American to serve in the nation’s second-highest job.
Rep. Barbara Lee, Democrat:
She’s broken so many glass ceilings for so many women.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI:
The daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, Harris was born in Oakland, California. A mural of her appears at the school she was bused to as a child … as part of racial integration efforts.
A graduate of Howard University, Harris became the first female district attorney in San Francisco in 2004 and then, in 2011, the first Black woman to serve as California’s attorney general.
During her years as vice president, Harris has been vocal about the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that had made abortion legal nationwide. During his term, former President Donald Trump appointed three conservative justices to the high court.
Kamala Harris, US Vice President:
He proudly takes credit for overturning Roe, so make no mistake — if Trump gets a chance, he will sign a national abortion ban to outlaw abortion in every single state.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI:
The vice president also applauds the continuation of the Affordable Care Act and the reduced price of insulin achieved by the Biden administration.
Kamala Harris, US Vice President:
Raise your hand if you have a family member with diabetes.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI:
Early on, she was tapped to lead the administration’s efforts at the border. But the Biden campaign ended up on defense, with immigration a key issue in the 2024 election.
Kamala Harris, US Vice President:
Now, undocumented spouses of American citizens who have been in the country for ten or more years can stay in the country while they apply for a green card.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI:
Speaking to pro-immigrant groups like the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, she quickly turns the focus to Donald Trump’s words.
Kamala Harris, US Vice President:
That someone who vilifies immigrants, who promotes xenophobia, someone who stokes hate should never again have the chance to stand behind a microphone and the seal of the president of the United States.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI:
Harris has become more present at rallies like these on the campaign trail, after President Joe Biden’s stumbling performance in the June debate with former President Donald Trump.
Kamala Harris, US Vice President:
We beat Trump once and we are going to beat him again. Period.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI:
With President Biden’s withdrawal from the race on Sunday, if Harris is nominated, she would again make history as the first Black and Indian American woman to run for the nation’s highest office.
Kamala Harris, US Vice President:
God Bless you and God Bless the United States of America.
CAROLYN PRESUTTI:
Carolyn Presutti, VOA News.
ANITA POWELL:
Political pundits for weeks predicted Biden’s historic withdrawal from the race. But beyond TV’s selection of partisan talking heads, what do the voters think?
VOA Correspondent Scott Stearns reports on reactions to the shifting political landscape.
SCOTT STEARNS, VOA Correspondent:
President Joe Biden ending his run for reelection shocked Georgia voter Jon Diggs.
Jon Diggs, Georgia Voter:
I think a lot of people like me in the United States who are particularly maybe in the middle, undecided or even leaning Democrat, we’re still in shock and we don’t really know what that means for us.
SCOTT STEARNS:
Biden should have quit sooner, says Georgia voter Johnny Bester.
Johnny Bester, Georgia Voter:
I was a little nervous about the direction of our country because of Biden being in office for such a long period of time, and I didn’t want to see that again, to be honest. But then we think about his candidacy, and we look at Trump and then who else do we have?
SCOTT STEARNS:
In the Midwest state of Ohio, Democratic voter Richard Freeman says Biden would have lost to Donald Trump.
Richard Freeman, Ohio Voter:
Well, I think it’s a good decision. I think he [Biden] didn’t have a chance against Trump. Too many people were concerned about his age, which I was, too.
SCOTT STEARNS:
In Nebraska, voter Cathy Lindmier says Biden has lost some mental sharpness since he was elected.
Cathy Lindmier, Nebraska Voter:
I’m sad because I do feel that Biden did a good job, and he really came into this wanting to unify the country. That didn’t happen.
SCOTT STEARNS:
In South Carolina, voter Mariana Hall says Biden’s decision does nothing to change her support for Trump.
Mariana Hall, South Carolina Voter:
I think it’s going to be really interesting to watch the Democratic Party kind of scramble to determine who they’re going to put in his place. I was seeing there were some things that they weren’t really comfortable putting Kamala Harris in there because of all the negatives against the current administration.
SCOTT STEARNS:
Vice President Harris is the first choice for Washington state voter Jill Homme.
Jill Homme, Washington Voter:
I’m rooting for Kamala. Love to see a female up there, you know? And, and I think Kamala’s incredibly sharp. Speaks well. I think that she’s ready. She has some really solid experience behind her.
SCOTT STEARNS:
In the Pacific Northwest state of Oregon, voter David Strong is ready to back Harris.
David Strong, Oregon Voter:
You know, it’s not a given that Kamala Harris is going to be the nominee. If she’s not, then I think there’s going to be more bad blood within the Democratic Party.
SCOTT STEARNS:
In New York, voter Staci Pritt says it will be hard for any Democrat to beat Trump.
Staci Pritt, New York Voter:
We need somebody who is younger and who will seem more competent at least. Whether or not whomever it is can beat Trump, don’t know. It’s better, though. I feel like we have a chance.
SCOTT STEARNS:
New Yorker Madeline Mills says Biden’s decision may have come too late.
Madeline Mills, New York Voter:
I wish that the Democratic Party had figured that out earlier, so that it doesn’t feel that rushed and chaotic at the moment. But I think if Biden had stayed as a candidate, he would have lost to Trump anyways.
SCOTT STEARNS:
While Biden is backing Harris to replace him as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee that is a decision for delegates to the party’s convention next month in Chicago.
Scott Stearns, VOA News.
ANITA POWEL:
Wednesday in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting at the United States Congress. Presiding over the visit was Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Senator Ben Cardin from Maryland, stepping in for Vice President Harris as she worked the campaign trail.
Cardin, an Orthodox Jew, has long been a staunch Congressional ally of Israel. But his party’s base seems to be shifting away from blind support considering Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestinian territories. And some lawmakers even skipped the event.
KATHERINE GYPSON, VOA Congressional Correspondent:
For the first time since the October 7th Hamas attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead and some 240 hostages captured, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed U.S. lawmakers in person Wednesday.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:
“This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization.
It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life. For the forces of civilization to triumph, America and Israel must stand together.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Calling antisemitism the world’s oldest hatred, Netanyahu spoke directly to protesters.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:
When the tyrants of Tehran who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair are praising, promoting and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish civilians from combatants, says more than 39,000 Palestinians have died since the beginning of hostilities. Netanyahu addressed the International Criminal Court’s allegations of Israeli war crimes.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:
The IDF has dropped millions of flyers, sent millions of text messages, made hundreds of thousands of phone calls to get Palestinian civilians out of harm’s way. But at the same time, Hamas does everything in its power to put Palestinian civilians in harm’s way.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Several high-profile Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, did not attend the speech. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, explained his reasons for boycotting on Tuesday.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat:
Netanyahu has made common cause with far-right extremists who pursue their own agendas at the expense of Israel’s security. These extremists have been elevated to some of the highest Cabinet positions in the government and have encouraged Netanyahu’s most misguided policies.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Netanyahu was welcomed by congressional Democratic and Republican leadership Wednesday.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House:
This is a very important time. Our bipartisan congressional leadership recognized it as such and invited him here because our dear ally, Israel, is in an existential fight for its very existence, and that fight extends to every one of its borders.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Some families of Israeli hostages protested the speech, calling on Netanyahu to agree to a U.S.-proposed cease-fire. He outlined his own vision for a post-war Middle East.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:
The day after we defeat Hamas, a new Gaza could emerge. My vision for that day is of a demilitarized and deradicalized Gaza. Israel does not seek to resettle Gaza, but for the foreseeable future, we must retain overriding security control there.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Netanyahu’s address is key to maintaining U.S. support for Israel but comes at a time when domestic American politics is taking center stage.
Jon Alterman, Center for Strategic and International Studies:
He is going to be trying to, at least, halt an erosion of support among Democrats and try to build credit with Republicans, who he assesses are much more likely to be in power after November elections.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Netanyahu is set to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as former President Donald Trump, later this week.
Katherine Gypson, VOA News.
ANITA POWELL:
U.S. Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle has announced her decision to step down following this month’s failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Before her decision she went in front of the Senate and faced a day of withering criticism. We go back to VOA’s congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson who has more on security concerns during the upcoming election season.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Nine days after the assassination attempt that shook the nation….
…there are few answers on how the shooter got so close to Trump.
The head of the United States Secret Service Kimberly Cheatle — answering lawmakers’ questions about the shooting for the first time — was blunt.
Kimberly Cheatle, US Secret Service Director:
We failed.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Cheatle said a full report on the agency’s failure to protect the former president would be released within 90 days. Lawmakers said that was unacceptable during an election season that has already proved to be contentious. Some called on her to resign.
Rep. James Comer, Republican:
The Secret Service has a zero-fail mission, but it failed on July 13, and in the days leading up to the rally. The Secret Service has thousands of employees and a significant budget, but it has now become the face of incompetence.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Cheatle told lawmakers Trump’s Secret Service detail was aware of a suspicious person before the former president spoke at the rally.
Kimberly Cheatle, US Secret Service Director:
If the detail had been passed information that there was a threat, the detail would never have brought the former president out onto stage.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
Congressional Democrats called for changes to gun laws in the United States, saying it was unfortunate that former President Trump is now one of many victims of gun violence.
Rep. Gerry Connolly, Democrat:
We almost lost a presidential candidate the other day. A 20-year-old had access to his father’s AR-15 and got on top of a roof 100 yards or feet from the podium. And I’m asking you, did the availability of that AR-15, which is replicated all across America, make your job harder or easier, and you’re not willing to answer that question.
KATHERINE GYPSON:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has still not determined a motive for the actions of Thomas Matthews Crooks, the suspected shooter.
Katherine Gypson, VOA News.
ANITA POWELL:
Experts say last week’s global disruption of computer operating systems highlights the vulnerability of a digital world dependent on just a few providers for key computing services.
At the center is cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, a computer services firm that provides security to nearly 25 percent of the world’s companies. A single glitchy line of code crashed any Windows-based machine that downloaded the update.
The company caught the problem, and issued a fix, but not before the bad code had affected millions of windows users. A “significant number” of the millions of computers that crashed on Friday are back in operation but not all of them. From hospitals to airports, banks, businesses, and even news outlets… some have yet to fully recover from the outage.
To understand what happened we spoke to computer expert Vahid Behzhadan, an assistant professor of computer science at the University of New Haven.
Vahid Behzadan, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, University
Of Connecticut:
It appears that many of the organizations that were affected did not have the means or the strategy to test out the update as it was being rolled out.
Uh, typically, when a new software patch or the software update comes in, at least in critical infrastructure, it’s the policy of the IT uh department or the IT staff to 1st test out the update on an isolated machine.
If everything goes according to the plan, they roll it out to other machines.
If not, they contain the update to that one machine and wait for further updates or instructions from the vendor.
That doesn’t seem to be what’s happened in many of the organizations that were affected by this faulty update.
ANITA POWELL:
In separate hearings Friday, July 19th, Russia convicted two American journalists in cases widely viewed as sham trials. Here’s VOA Press Freedom Editor Jessica Jerreat, who’s been closely monitoring events.
JESSICA JERREAT, VOA Press Freedom Editor:
Thanks Anita.
Two closed door trials hundreds of kilometers apart. One outcome. Russia on Friday convicted the American journalists Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal, and Alsu Kurmasheva of VOA sister network Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. Gershkovich is the first American journalist Russia convicted of espionage since the Cold War. The U.S. and media advocates condemn the trials as politically motivated and without merit. Here’s the latest reaction:
In a closed-door trial Friday, Alsu Kurmasheva received a six-and-a-half year sentence for spreading false information about the Russian army.
The journalist for VOA sister network Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty had edited a book about Russians opposed to the war in Ukraine.
RFE/RL President Stephen Capus called the trial a quote, “mockery of justice.” Media groups are condemning Russia’s actions.
Karol Luczka, International Press Institute:
This just shows again how these trials against these two American journalists, this one, a Russian American journalist, in Russia are obviously completely manipulated by Russian authorities.
JESSICA JERREAT:
Kurmasheva’s verdict came the same day Russia convicted Evan Gershkovich. The Wall Street Journal reporter was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges that he denies.
Vedant Patel, US State Department:
This whole legal process is a sham for Evan. He’s been wrongfully detained, did nothing wrong. We have been clear about that from the onset.
JESSICA JERREAT:
The convictions mark a rapid decline in media freedoms in Russia. The country ranks near the bottom of the World Press Freedom Index. And Moscow is detaining at least 22 journalists, more than half of whom are foreign nationals, says the Committee to Protect Journalists.
RFE/RL external affairs chief Diane Zeleny says Kurmasheva’s unjust detention and the risks for its journalists are a daily concern.
Diane Zeleny, RFE/RL:
It is the new normal. It’s sad to say this is sort of the state of the world right now. Journalists are not safe anymore in many places. And the ways to help them are minimal, actually … and they are being targeted by authoritarian governments.
JESSICA JERREAT:
Kurmasheva’s family in Prague says her detention hits at a personal level.
Bibi Butorin, Kurmasheva’s Eldest Daughter:
It would be one thing if she was only away from me for so long, but to know that she’s in an unsafe place and that she is in danger and she’s not comfortable, that’s something that really makes me sad.
JESSICA JERREAT:
The Russian Embassy did not respond to VOA’s requests for comment. But in the case of Gershkovich, the Kremlin has indicated it would be open to a prisoner swap.
With Liam Scott in Prague and Cristina Caicedo Smit in Washington, Jessica Jerreat, VOA News.
ANITA POWELL:
That’s all for now. Thanks for watching.
For the latest news you can log on to VOA news dot com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at VOA News.
For the latest news follow me on 6armspowell on x.
Also, Catch up on past episodes at our free streaming service, VOA Plus.
I’m Anita Powell. We will see you next week, for The Inside Story.
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