Axios

Senate Democrats won't meet Monday to discuss their support for President Biden continuing his re-election bid, despite an effort by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) to organize such a meeting, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Warner's meeting had been seen as a potential watershed moment for Senate Democrats, who have remained largely silent on Biden's future amid calls for him to step aside.

For his events, President Biden's staffers prepare a short document with large print and photos that include his precise path to a podium, according to an event template the White House sends to staffers.

• Since the June 27 debate, some Democrats who've attended and helped set up Biden events have wondered whether his team's focus on minute details were to obscure the 81-year-old president's limitations — rather than just a reflection of a meticulous staff.
• 💰 "I staffed a simple fundraiser at a private residence, but they treated it like it was a NATO summit with his movements," according to a person who staffed a Biden event in the past 18 months.

🛫 Biden hasn't flown across the country as much as the last two presidents who used the trappings of the office — including Air Force One — to motivate supporters in battleground states and win re-election, according to a review by Axios.

• Biden is facing escalating questions from fellow Democrats on whether he has the stamina and acuity to continue in office, after a debate performance that focused attention on the limitations of the nation's oldest-ever president.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) says this week is "critical" for Biden to allay voters' concerns about whether he can beat Donald Trump, adding that the "clock is ticking" for Biden to decide whether to stay in the presidential race.

• Murphy's comments on CNN's "State of the Union," along with similar comments today from Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who's running for Senate, follow a week in which Senate Democrats have been noticeably silent about whether Biden should abandon his re-election bid.
• 🎤 Biden's interview with ABC on Friday didn't allay voters' concerns about the viability of Biden's candidacy, Murphy said.

President Biden hasn't flown across the country as much as the last two presidents who used the trappings of the office — including Air Force One — to win re-election, according to a review by Axios.

Why it matters: Biden, 81, is facing escalating questions from fellow Democrats on whether he has the stamina and acuity to continue in office, after a debate performance that focused attention on the limitations of the nation's oldest-ever president.

France's left-wing coalition claimed victory in the country's elections after exit polls indicated a hung parliament with the New Popular Front winning the most legislative seats, but no majority.

Why it matters: The result would see Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party plummet from first place in the first round of the elections last week to third and President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance switch from third to second, behind the left-wing bloc.

For his events, President Biden's staffers prepare a short document with large print and photos that include his precise path to a podium, according to an event template the White House sends to staffers.

Why it matters: Since the June 27 debate, some Democrats who've attended and helped set up Biden events have wondered whether his team's focus on minute details were to obscure the 81-year-old president's limitations — rather than just a reflection of a meticulous staff.

President Biden is fighting off blows from within his party. Some fear the Supreme Court's immunity ruling may embolden former President Trump. Sen. Marco Rubio may need a real estate agent.

Here's what you may have missed when newsmakers hit the airwaves this Sunday, July 7.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett is establishing herself as a new intellectual center of gravity on the Supreme Court.

The big picture: This is what Barrett's biggest fans predicted when she was first nominated — that she would not only be a solid right-leaning vote, but an influential justice with the potential to shape the broader contours conservative legal doctrine.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday he believes President Biden "most likely will be replaced" as the Democratic nominee.

Why it matters: Following a disappointing debate appearance and an underwhelming sit-down interview, pressure on Biden to step aside as the party's nominee has deepened despite his attempts to soothe nerves about his age and repeated pledges to stay in the race unless "the Almighty" intervenes.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) downplayed concerns about Project 2025 influencing a potential second Trump term Sunday, dismissing the plan as "the work of a think tank."

Why it matters: Rubio, one of the top contenders to be former President Trump's running mate, echoed the presumptive GOP nominee, who slammed the Heritage Foundation's blueprint as "ridiculous and abysmal" on Friday, despite several former officials from Trump's administration working on the plan.

We're now in uncharted, historic waters: President Biden — backed by first lady Jill Biden and his convicted son, Hunter, who's serving as de facto gatekeeper for longtime friends — says that nothing, besides an act of God, will persuade him to quit his re-election campaign, Mike and Jim write in a Behind the Curtain column.

• But outside Biden's protective bubble, a fast-growing number of Democrats are praying for —and plotting — a more earthly intervention. They want everyone from the Obamas to congressional leaders to beg Biden to drop out by this Friday.

Don't be fooled by the small number of House Democrats who have publicly called for Biden to quit the race. Five out of 213 is minuscule. It's complicated politics to say your sitting president needs to go: If he stays, Biden and voters would never forget, Mike and Jim write.

• But based on Axios reporters' conversations with dozens of House members and senators, it's clear that scores are close to speaking out or signing letters telling Biden it should be over. These conversations will intensify this week.

NEW ORLEANS — Vice President Harris focused on rousing voters, mentioning President Biden only once, during a half-hour Q&A at the 30th Essence Festival of Culture, Axios New Orleans' Chelsea Brasted reports.

• Why it matters: Essence Fest is an enormous cultural crossroads for Black women, and Harris has been a regular visitor for years. This time, the spotlight was brighter, since President Biden's debate performance raised her as the top alternative for the Democratic nomination.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett is establishing herself as a new intellectual center of gravity on the Supreme Court, Axios court-watcher Sam Baker writes.

• Why it matters: This is what Barrett's biggest fans predicted when she was first nominated — that she would not only be a solid right-leaning vote, but an influential justice with the potential to shape the broader contours of conservative legal doctrine.

Barrett is just as conservative as everyone knew she would be. She joined the court's rulings overturning Roe v. Wade, expanding gun rights and curtailing the powers of the federal government.

• But she's beginning to separate herself from the pack in important ways:

The two-day, 2.2-mile NASCAR Chicago Street Race is roaring through Grant Park this weekend.

• Why it matters: The Chicago race, now in its second year, is the first NASCAR Cup Series street race in the stock-car giant's 77-year history.

We're now in uncharted, historic waters: President Biden — backed by first lady Jill Biden and his convicted son, Hunter, who's serving as de facto gatekeeper for longtime friends — says that nothing, besides an act of God, will persuade him to quit his re-election campaign.

• But outside Biden's protective bubble, a fast-growing number of Democrats are praying for —and plotting — a more earthly intervention. They want everyone from the Obamas to congressional leaders to beg Biden to drop out by this Friday.

President Biden's future might be on nearly every American voter's mind, but he was practically a nonentity in Vice President Kamala Harris' Essence Fest appearance in New Orleans on Saturday.

Why it matters: Less than 24 hours after Biden's underwhelming ABC interview only ramped up calls for him to step aside, Harris mentioned her boss only once during a half-hour Q&A with Essence Ventures CEO Caroline Wanga — and Wanga wasn't asking about him, either.