Top House Democrats say Biden should drop out in call with Jeffries

• "People are upset and think he's got to step down," said one senior Democratic lawmaker, who, like others, spoke to Axios on the condition of anonymity to describe a private session.

What we're hearing: Multiple Democrats who lead House committees said on the 2 p.m. call, led by Jeffries, that Biden should drop out, one senior House Democrat told Axios.

• Those Democrats: Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.), the ranking members of the Judiciary, House Administration, Armed Services and Veterans Affairs panels, respectively, the lawmaker said.
• One of the lawmakers who described the call to Axios said those four were "among many others" who raised concerns about Biden, estimating that "at least half" voiced apprehensions.
• Punchbowl News was first to report the details of the call.

Zoom in: One of the lawmakers on the call told Axios that "most of the concern addressed colleagues in swing districts and more vulnerable seats."

• "It was about how to win the presidency and the Senate and the House ... there was a lot of concern [that] if we continue in this direction, we could have problems regaining a majority," they added.
• One of those vulnerable lawmakers, Ethics Committee ranking member Susan Wild (D-Pa.), said in a statement that, on the call, she "expressed the same concerns that Americans across the country are grappling with, about President Biden's electability at the top of the ticket."
• Several swing-district House Democrats told Axios in the immediate aftermath of Biden's disastrous June 27 debate performance that they were worried about the president's impact further down the ballot.

The other side: Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), who was not on the call, released a statement shortly after it ended saying "any 'leader' calling for President Biden to drop out needs to get their priorities straight and stop undermining this incredible actual leader."

• "What Democrats need to be doing is stop listening to these political pundits and focus on what's at stake this election: our democracy ... I stand with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris," said Wilson.

The intrigue: Some ranking members publicly pushed back on reports that they spoke against Biden's candidacy on the call.

• Joint Economic Committee Ranking Member Don Beyer (D-Va.) said in a statement: "I support President Biden. I support the Biden-Harris ticket, and look forward to helping defeat Donald Trump in November."
• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) told Axios he is not a "'Dump Biden' person" and that he shared with the call a "very informal survey of my committee members members who have views all over the map on what Biden should do."

Between the lines: A House Democratic leadership source described the call as a "listening session" for Jeffries.

• "We have been holding these sessions for the past week. Nothing about the respective meetings are newsworthy," the source added.
• Jeffries remained largely quiet on the call beyond administering it, according to one participant.

More from Axios:

• Behind the Curtain: Biden's credibility crisis
• Scoop: Dem senators' Biden huddle called off
• Biden's travel schedule lighter than other presidents who won re-election

Axios' Juliegrace Brufke contributed to this report.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting, including comment from Reps. Susan Wild and Rick Larsen.