Biden, Cognitive Decline, and the End of American Empire

Plus: The editors reflect on the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

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Biden, Cognitive Decline, and the End of American Empire

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In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman stare ever deeper into the abyss while recapping the hapless display at last week's first presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

01:50—Reactions to the Biden vs. Trump debate

21:43—Were any concrete policies discussed during the debate?

33:46—Weekly Listener Question

41:02—Supreme Court rules on Chevron deference

48:39—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Sad Thoughts About American Politics," by Eugene Volokh

"Joe Biden, Hot Mess," by Liz Wolfe

"Joe Biden: The Latest Elderly Politician Who Refuses To Retire," by Joe Lancaster

"Kamala Harris Was the Real Winner of Last Night's Debate," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"Why a Disastrous Biden-Trump Debate Could Be the Best Outcome for America," by Eric Boehm

"Joe Biden Should Drop Out," by Nate Silver

"The State of Our Biden Is Historically Frail," by Matt Welch

"Presidential Debate Debacle Was a Great Argument for Smaller Government," by J.D. Tuccille

"Liberals in Biden Panic Mode Should Learn To Love Limits on Executive Power," by Christian Britschgi

"Trump Is More Like Recent Presidents Than Anyone Wants To Admit," by Nick Gillespie

"Biden Fumbled the Ball on Abortion," by Emma Camp

"Why Can't Americans Have an Honest Foreign Policy Discussion?" by Matthew Petti

"Trump Blames Biden for Never Removing the Tariffs Trump Imposed," by Eric Boehm

"At the Presidential Debate, Biden Says He 'Beat Medicare,'" by Christian Britschgi

"No One Defended Immigration at the First Presidential Debate," by Fiona Harrigan

"If Trump Is Going To Start Deporting Immigrants Who Broke the Law, Will He Start with Melania?" by Nick Gillespie

"Trump's Mass Deportation Plan Is Anti-American," by Fiona Harrigan

"Julian Assange's Freedom Came at a Steep Price," by Zach Weissmueller

"Julian Assange and WikiLeaks Deserve Our Thanks for Making Governments More Transparent," by Nick Gillespie

"The Legacy of Assange's Prosecution," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"Julian Assange, a Free Man," by Liz Wolfe

"Review: Documenting Julian Assange's Legal Battles," by Brian Doherty

"SCOTUS Repudiates Doctrine That Gave Agencies a License To Invent Their Own Authority," by Jacob Sullum

"Understanding Chevron's Death," by Will Baude

"'Administrative State Is THE Leading Threat to Civil Liberties of Our Era.'" by Nick Gillespie, Ian Keyser, and Todd Krainin

"The Stare Decisis Analyses in Dobbs and Loper Bright," by Josh Blackman

Send your questions to [e-mail]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Upcoming events:

• Tuesday, July 23: New York City premiere of Reason's Backpage documentary and panel discussion. Was the federal prosecution of online classified ad site Backpage.com a win for opponents of sex trafficking or a loss for First Amendment rights? View a new documentary by Elizabeth Nolan Brown and Paul Detrick and participate in a panel with Brown and Old Pro's Kaytlin Bailey about the case moderated by Nick Gillespie. Tickets are $10 and include beer, wine, soft drinks, and a light buffet. Seats are limited. Details here.

Today's sponsor:

• Students for Liberty
• ZBiotics. ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by Ph.D. scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Make ZBiotics your first drink of the night, drink responsibly, and you'll feel your best tomorrow. Go to zbiotics.com/ROUNDTABLE to get 15 percent off your first order when you use ROUNDTABLE at checkout.

Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty.

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

What are we consuming this week?

Katherine Mangu-Ward

• Star Trek: Picard

Nick Gillespie

• Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

Peter Suderman

• Dark Matter

Matt Welch

• Wilderstein Historic Site

---

Comments

[A Thinking Mind]

Hey, be fair, Biden’s brain works absolutely fine between the hours of 10 and 4.

[Don't look at me!]

It’s because the lighting is better.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Better still with incandescents. Those newfangled bulbs make Trump look orange.

[Mother's Lament (June is Banana Republic Month, celebrate responsibly)]

♪ Sundown, you'd better take care
If you see Joe Biden try to tackle the stairs ♫♪♪

[Kungpowderfinger]

🎶I can see her lookin’ fast in her faded jeans
She’s a dog faced pony soldier arglebargleblahblah…🎶

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

Sundown, you'd better take care
If you see Joe behind you sniffin' your hair

[H. Farnham]

10 pm to 4 am... just a coincidence that it happens to be while he's asleep and unresponsive.

[Nardz]

https://x.com/AlexsandrKislov/status/1807891434789351699?t=8_R_Ig3AtiBjIWQfhKBkFQ&s=19

The fact that Hitler (and never Stalin) and Fascism (and never Communism) are always cited (even by conservatives) as evil and totalitarianism incarnate is a mark of how thoroughly the left has indoctrinated nearly everyone in our society.

Nazism as anything other than cosplay has not existed since 1945. Being a "nazi" is a one-way trip to being unpersoned.

Meanwhile, actual communists hold prestigious jobs, communism is still a governing force in a few nations, and gay race communism is the ethos of our regime.

[Wizzle Bizzle]

Actually, communists hold office in most of your deep blue cities under the self-selected "Communist" label. Check the city council of Denver, Seattle, Portland, etc. Odd they they are elected by and govern with the Democrats. Almost like the line between the two isn't a line at all.

[JohnZ]

The butchery committed by communists is 100 times that of the so called nazis.
Between Lenin and Stalin approximately 50-60 million Russians as well as Ukrainians were starved, executed , sent to their deaths in the gulags or simply disappeared. Mao equaled that with the Cultural revolution and Pol Pott murdered off nearly 2 million in Cambodia. who knows how many Castro and his flunkies eliminated in the name of Communism.
The evils of communism are constantly glossed over by the pencil necked media hacks.

[ravenshrike]

Which is why his post 4pm appearance today had him reading off 'end of quote' from the teleprompter.

[Don't look at me!]

With an orange spray tan. Can’t make this stuff up.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

I just had a thought. Has Joe Biden been playing a long game, or at least intermediate game? Has he felt the walls closing in(!) and saw the implications for prosecution and condemnation? Was the Robert Hur interview a trial effort? And when he learned that looking senile could avoid legal consequences, did he ramp up a magnificent effort, over months and across the globe, to convince the world he is too far gone for criminal liability?

If so, my hat is off to Joe. But then I do hope he gets caught on a hot mic sounding like a Rhodes scholar telling Jill how the master plan is working.

[Don't look at me!]

Joe is and has never been anywhere close to being a smart person.

[Ersatz]

do you mean his spirit animal is this guy?

[Rick James]

"Why a Disastrous Biden-Trump Debate Could Be the Best Outcome for America," by Eric Boehm

Serious question, what are our post-debate thoughts on this?

[mad.casual]

Zen Master: We'll see.

[JFree]

I don't see any discussion of the circumstances under which the candidates themselves acknowledge a 25th amendment situation.

That should clearly be an election agenda item given the 160 years headstart on dementia the current two have. Trust us. You don't need to worry your pretty little head about this. Doesn't seem like the beginning of any good outcome

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

You.
Are.
Full.
Of.
Shit.

[Social Justice is neither]

Boehm is an idiot. Same as all his other articles, so nothing new.

[Commenter_XY]

The country has entered a much more dangerous time, with nuke armed adversaries aware that our CINC is a cognitive mess.

As I write, it is 440am. If missiles were shot right now at CONUS, could Drooler Joe be awakened, and formulate a response in less than 5 minutes?

Watch the Philippines.

[JohnZ]

One thought is to reject the gas lighting being inflicted upon the American people by the leftist MSM and know that what we all witnessed is true and factual, that Biden is truly, hopelessly senile and needs to be removed.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

The DNC have been systematically trying to hide Biden's condition because they know it will negatively affect the outcome of the election.

This is one of the underlying crimes in Trump case. Hiding something to prevent negative outcome with regards to an election.

I imagine the DNC would claim it's not actually against the law to do. Which I would agree. Bragg's Trump case was bullshit.

[Rick James]

"'Administrative State Is THE Leading Threat to Civil Liberties of Our Era.'" by Nick Gillespie, Ian Keyser, and Todd Krainin

Hey, they're just asking... no coercion involved.

[Mother's Lament (June is Banana Republic Month, celebrate responsibly)]

"It's the alphabet agencies free speech" - Sqrlsy

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Can you provide a bright, clear, objective, dividing line between the free speech of an agency’s personnel, and impermissible ‘jawbowning’ by an agency?

Here is a hypothetical situation to consider.

Suppose the FCC Commissioner organizes a conference in which he invites all of the major media organizations, including social media, to participate. The conference is about “Stopping Disinformation for the Election”. The commissioner makes several statements during the conference. Which, if any, are permissible exercises of free speech, and which, if any, are impermissible attempts at ‘jawboning’?

A. “We need to do more to stop disinformation in the media”
B. “Because there is so much disinformation out there, I am putting together a task force to study a new rule aimed at stopping disinformation”
C. “If you don’t do more to stop disinformation, American democracy is in peril”
D. “If you don’t do more to stop disinformation, I will have to consider new agency rules to stop it”
E. “If you don’t do more to stop disinformation, I will revoke your broadcast licenses and/or push to revoke Section 230 exemptions for social media"

[chemjeff radical individualist]

My answer is: A, B, C are fine, D is borderline, E crosses the line.
But to hear some of you talk, all of those examples are impermissible.

[Don't look at me!]

The fcc has no right to tell me what I can say or read. Disband the entire organization.

[JohnZ]

Right on.

[Commenter_XY]

Unrelated question, chemjeff. It is clear there were many people actively involved in deliberately hiding the degree of Drooler Joe's cognitive decline.

Were they wrong to do so?
What sanction is acceptable to hold them to account for their actions?

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

It's not a Big Lie that dwarfs the other guy's Big Lie since Biden's crew had to lie to save (D)emocracy!

[JFree]

The only example that is impermissible would be something like:

I don't like disinformation. You all do disinformation. You wanna play games? Ok. Say hello to my little friend.

[CE]

Step E is an implied threat the minute the FCC Chairman calls the conference.

[A Thinking Mind]

Suppose the FCC Commissioner organizes a conference in which he invites all of the major media organizations, including social media, to participate. The conference is about “Stopping Disinformation for the Election”

Why should the FCC be having this conference in the first place? Who makes them the arbiters of disinformation?

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

It is funny to me that when backed into a corner jeff pretends he is against spending... yet here we have him advocating for the federal government to spend money tracking what people are saying and telling people how to report it.

Jeff is a marxist fascist.

[CE]

F. Appointing an actual Disinformation Czar, one notorious for being partisan and ignoring facts. Oh wait, they already tried that.

G. Appointing an actual Soviet Communist as Comptroller of the currency. Nope, they already tried that too.

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Perhaps a more fitting example:

Trump gets re-elected in 2024. “Woke Acme” company makes a twitter post critical of Trump. Trump then goes on Twitter/X/whatever to say (of course in ALL CAPS): “THOSE PEOPLE AT WOKE ACME ARE HORRIBLE PEOPLE WHO HATE AMERICA, NOBODY SHOULD BUY THEIR CRAP!” And as a result, Woke Acme loses lots of customers and goes out of business.

Did Trump violate the 1A here? Did he “jawbone” this company to bankruptcy?

What if Trump had said, "IF THOSE PEOPLE AT WOKE ACME DON'T CHANGE THEIR LEADERSHIP I'M GONNA SLAP A BUNCH OF TARIFFS ON THEIR SUPPLIERS". Is that impermissible?

[Don't look at me!]

You are so bad at this. This could be your new “bears in trunks” moment.

[TJJ2000]

What if Biden had said, “IF THOSE PEOPLE AT 'RICH' ACME DON’T CHANGE THEIR LEADERSHIP (and fail) I’M GONNA SLAP A BUNCH OF TAXES ON THEM”.

Oh yeah; That's exactly what Biden did/does and continues to do.

[JeremyR]

How is that different than woke companies not carrying stuff made by people who praise Trump.

The My Pillow guy. He might be a nut, but does he need to have his products not carried by companies just because he's a Trumpkin?

[JohnZ]

It means I can refuse to purchase any product made by leftist companies such a Ben and Jerry's or companies that hire only migrants. I can refuse to purchase products offered up by companies I loath and despise.

[Commenter_XY]

chemjeff, you need to come to grips with the reality that Drooler Joe lost the election last Thursday night. New polling suggests 70%+ of country knows that Drooler Joe is a cognitive mess, and will not vote for him.

Selfishly, I'd say keep him at the top of the ticket, but that would hurt our country. As a citizen, he needs to resign immediately (and pardon Hunter if that is what it takes).

If Drooler Joe stays on the ticket, you'll have POTUS Trump sworn in next January. And potentially a Team R Congress.

Gruesome Newsome is next.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

“”Hey, they’re just asking…””

They might be asking twice. Again, after they mention how nice your life is and give you an option to keep it.

[TJJ2000]

The end of the American Empire happened when the definition of the American Empire as a *Constitutional* Republic was dismissed for a 'Democratic' [Na]tional So[zi]alist Empire.

Socialism failed the USA in under 100-years.
Some people never F'En LEARN.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

I've noticed that they never publish the weekly listener question anymore. I can only conclude that their only listener has finally succumbed to the Covid. RIP weekly listener.

[Wizzle Bizzle]

He succumbed "with" Covid.

[Earth-based Human Skeptic]

'Biden, Cognitive Decline, and the End of American Empire'

Or at least the end of (D)emocracy. You know, the comprehensive vision and plan being imposed by the liberal political-media-academia-entertainment-industrial complex and WEF franchise.

[Rick James]

Was listening to Megyn Kelly's show today and she had Charlie Kirk on. I'm not super-familiar with Kirk, although I generally know who he is. He dropped an absolute h-bomb on her show.

They were discussing all the panic in the media while they work out who can replace Biden: Articles about Michele Obama etc., and he said the obvious choice was Jill Biden. It makes perfect sense. She's wildly popular with the base, she's already been running the country, the Democrats get their 'first woman president box ticked... and they don't have to change any names on the ballot.

I was all like, "boom!".

[TrickyVic (old school)]

For Jill to undercut Harris would be a big slap in the face to the bipoc crowd. Harris being the VP has at least some historically basis for claiming it's her turn. Nepotism by the white elite to undercut a person of color in this case would be disastrous for the dems.

I don't think either of those beat Trump.
They will double down on getting Trump in jail is the key to win in November.

[It's only a paper moon, Nominalists]

No claim at all that it is her turn. Do you not know that in her own state when running for President she never got higher then 3rd !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Makes Dukakis look like Washington.

[JohnZ]

The decline of Joe Biden and yet to remain in Office is a reflection of the decline of America.
The decline of the dollar as reserve currency. The decline of its ability to hold onto its empire as country after country forces U.S troops to leave and abandon bases. This is of course a blessing for not only those people but for the American people as the money spent on those useless foreign adventures which all too often result in one policy disaster after another will soon come to an end.
The decline of the purchasing power of Americans who are being forced to curtail even basic necessities as food prices, rents and out of control housing prices are forcing people into the streets.
And worst of all the open borders that have allowed millions of illegal aliens into the country of whom we know nothing about, who by now, we know are capable of committing heinous crimes against young women just for the hell of it, are putting us all in danger.
The Constitution and Bill of Rights are being tossed aside in the name of politeness and preventing disinformation.
These are all the signs of a nation in rapid decline and very few seem to be aware.
The inevitable outcome of all this will be , of course, civil war and a complete breakdown of society in America.
Those who wrote of such things as fiction will see their works become reality.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

It is certainly not a given that America will survive.

I believe the foundation of much of this decline [as you thoroughly list above] is the assumption that it will last forever, no matter how much it is neglected, abused, and taken for granted.

Nothing last forever, as it is certainly the nature of all good things to come to an end. All the more so if you are trying to kill it on a daily basis.

[Not a Conservative but a Biden LOATHER]

But Tully gives the solution.

"And there will not be different laws at Rome and at Athens, or different laws now and in the future, but one eternal and unchangeable law will be valid for all nations and all times, and there will be one master and ruler, that is, God, over us all, for he is the author of this law, its promulgator, and its enforcing judge. Whoever is disobedient is fleeing from himself and denying his human nature, and by reason of this very fact he will suffer the worst penalties, even if he escapes what is commonly considered punishment. . . ."

[TrickyVic (old school)]

What if I told you the decline is needed to birth a new world where all man is slave to the machine.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

That is quite a vision [and I am not saying it isn't true...]; meanwhile the national conflict over increasingly infinitesimal things prevents the formation of any coherent conception of what we want to be [other than I win/ you lose].

Yeah, I suppose this is how civilizations come to ruin; they destroy themselves.

[TJJ2000]

“[other than I win/ you lose]” but a consequence of ‘democracy’. (i.e. [WE] mob RULES!).

The USA was never a ‘democracy’.
It’s always been a *Constitutional* Republic.

Democrats have conquered and consumed the USA by championing their ‘democracy’ in order to build their utopian [Na]tional So[zi]alist Empire in it’s place.

And they make no big secret of this plan at all; sadly they still win elections so apparently too many citizens hate the USA (Constitutional). A massive portion of that is immigration (70%+ voting Democrat) making up 50M of the 330M population.

Course they don't really hate the US Constitution; it just gets in the way of their selfish, self-entitled, free-loading Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie mentalities that destroyed that from which they came.

[Not a Conservative but a Biden LOATHER]

I would say you greatly overestemate the ability of the present-day graduate to cooperate even with a machine

Technological society leads to increasing numbers of people who cannot adapt to the inhuman rhythm of modern life with its emphasis on specialization. A class of people is growing up who are unexploitable because they are not worth employing even for the minimum wage. Technological progress makes whole categories of people useless without making it possible to support them with the wealth produced by the progress.

Jacques Ellul

[It's only a paper moon, Nominalists]

I have followed Biden for 40 years and he is a horrible politician.
But why would anyone watching him during the Clarence Thomas hearings not know this too ? That insane business about " I know and you [ Clarence Thomas ] know about Natural Law but these folks don't"
Clearly Biden knew nothing about Natural Law !!! Pure bullshit
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4999362/biden-thomas-natural-law
What a stupid pompous man this is, WHO DID NOT SEE THIS !!!!

[It's only a paper moon, Nominalists]

You do everythying but say that Biden is a lazy, incompetent fool.
He did in the debate roughly what he has done his whole sub-sub-par 50 years in DC: He said stupid shit and pretended to emotions he doesn't have. Like meeting Trump in the White House. All smiles while dealing with 'garbage". I know , you want to protect your job by feigning impartiality, but you do think Biden is a fool