politicnewsbusterinsiderpostreview: Biden Kept His Promise: Normalcy

Thursday, 1 June 2023

Biden Kept His Promise: Normalcy

THE WASHINGTON MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

BIDEN KEPT HIS PROMISE: NORMALCY

Back in 2020, the knock on Joe Biden from the left was that he's doddering old fool who naively believes bipartisanship is still a thing.

Today, the knock on Joe Biden from the right is that he's a doddering old fool who gets pushed around by the left.

The reality? Joe Biden is an experienced negotiator who tunes out the noise and keeps posting bipartisan Ws.

Click here for my budget deal analysis at the Washington Monthly: "The Debt-Ceiling Deal Shows Joe Biden is a Normal President Just Like He Promised."

For a less optimistic view, read former Monthly contributor Luke Goldstein, over at The American Prospect, who is concerned about the work requirement compromise: "The three groups that would receive exemptions from work requirements [homeless individuals, veterans, and young people recently out of foster care] are seen by the advocacy community as the most difficult to identify at the population level and get assistance from outreach services."

DESANTIS: VOTER SUPPRESSION FOR THEE, NOT FOR ME

Also at the Monthly, University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law professor Joshua Douglas closely examined Florida's new election law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis just before he launched his presidential campaign.

The law severely restricts the ability of community organizations to conduct voter registration drives with onerous requirements and the risk of crippling fines. Douglas argues the law is so strict it runs afoul of a recent Supreme Court opinion authored by one of its most conservative members: Samuel Alito.

However, DeSantis apparently doesn't believe his own campaign should be similarly constrained. Just this week, a Washington Post reporter captured on video DeSantis telling an Iowa voter: "We're going to do ballot harvesting. I'm doing it, yes. I'm not going to fight with one hand tied behind my back."

Click here to read Joshua Douglas's "Florida’s New Law Takes Aim at Voter Registration."

In fairness to DeSantis, he's going to need all the help he can get. Two GOP primary polls, taken after his hugely covered entry into the race, show no significant narrowing of Trump's lead over DeSantis. YouGov finds DeSantis trailing by 25 points. In Morning Consult, the gap is 34 points.

ANNOUNCING THE KUKULA AWARD FINALISTS

Today the Monthly announced the finalists for the 2023 Kukula Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Book Reviewing—the only journalism prize dedicated to highlighting exemplary reviews of serious, public affairs-focused books.

The award honors the memory of Kukula Kapoor Glastris, the magazine’s longtime and beloved books editor. The winners will be announced on June 7.

Click here for the list of Kukula Award finalists

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