On Wednesday evening at 7PM ET, President Joe Biden is set to deliver a speech on the continuing threat to American democracy. Excerpts from the speech have already been released, showing that Biden will warn against candidates for office who have already committed to thwarting the outcomes of democratic elections. Biden will reportedly make the speech from the DNC, not the White House.
“This is also the first national election since the events of January 6, when an armed, angry mob stormed the US Capitol. I wish I could say the assault on our democracy ended that day. But I cannot. As I stand here today, there are candidates running for every level of office in America: for governor, for Congress, for attorney general, for secretary of state who won’t commit to accepting the results of the elections they’re in.
That is the path to chaos in America. It’s unprecedented. It’s unlawful. And, it is un-American. As I’ve said before, you can’t love your country only when you win.”
Join us for live coverage of the speech as the president speaks.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022 · 11:14:57 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Biden’s speech is a powerful lesson in the difference between democracy and autocracy. It should be heard. It’s not clear that those who most need to be reached can be reached. “Disunion, and chaos, are not inevitable. There’s been anger before in America. There’s been division before in America. But we have never given up on the American experiment.”
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022 · 11:12:14 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Biden hammers home how the 2020 election is the most reviewed, most examined, and most certain election in history. But Trump is still leveraging the big lie and the GOP is working in advance to damage the 2022 election before votes are even cast. “This is not about me. It’s about all of us. It’s about what makes America, America.”
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022 · 11:08:06 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Biden makes it clear that other issues, from abortion to Social Security, are important, and that the parties have their differences, But the threat to democracy is not like other issues. “Today, I appeal to all Americans, regardless of party, to meet this moment of national importance.”
The 2022 midterms are just around the corner, and you sent us a ton of fantastic questions for this week’s episode of The Downballot. Among the many topics we cover: which states are likely to report results slowly—and how will those results change over time; the House districts that look like key bellwethers for how the night might go, and which might offer surprises; why and how Democrats make the hard decisions on which races to triage; the top legislative chambers to keep an eye on; and plenty more!