“Trying to steal history.”

January 9, 2024

On Monday, President Biden delivered a stirring and spirited speech at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. In June 2015, members of the congregation at the church invited a stranger to join them for services. The stranger killed nine members of the church in the worst church-related shooting (to that point)—a mass killing that was racially motivated. President Obama delivered a eulogy for Pastor Clementa Pinckney of Mother Emmanuel AME Church that included his rendition of Amazing Grace a cappella.

[The video is here, Joe Biden speaks at Charleston church (start at the 26:00 minute mark), and the full text of the speech is here: Remarks by President Biden at a Political Event | Charleston, SC.]

Against the backdrop of the 2015 racially motivated mass shooting, President Biden addressed Trump's use of the “lost cause” of white supremacy to bolster his hate-fueled campaign. Biden said, in part,

On June 17th, 2015, the [nine] beautiful souls and five survivors invited a stranger into this church to pray with them. The word of God was pierced by bullets in hate and rage, propelled by not just gunpowder but by a poison — a poison that’s for too long haunted this nation.

What is that poison? White supremacy. Oh, it is; it’s a poison. Throughout our history, it’s ripped this nation apart. This has no place in America. Not today, tomorrow, or ever.

Now — now we’re living in an era of a second lost cause. Once again, there are some in this country trying — trying to turn a loss into a lie — a lie, which if allowed to live, will once again bring terrible damage to this country. This time, the lie is about the 2020 election, the election which you made your voices heard and your power known.

Biden tied the lost cause of white supremacy to Trump's 2020 loss, identifying both of as existential threats to the nation. He then pivoted to Trump's insurrection on January 6 and Trump's threat to continue that assault on democracy if he is elected to a second term in 2024.

Biden said,

Just two days ago, we marked the third anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history: January the 6th. The day in which insurrectionists stormed the United States Capitol, trying for the first time in American history to stop the peaceful transfer of power in the country.

We all saw with our own eyes the truth of what happened. That violent mob was whipped up by lies from a defeated former President . . . .

We saw something on January 6th we’d never seen before, even during the Civil War. Insurrectionists waving Confederate flags inside the halls of Congress built by enslaved Americans. A mob attacked and called Black officers, Black veterans defending the nation those vile of racist names.

And yet, an extreme movement of America, the MAGA Republicans, led by a defeated President, is trying to steal history now. They tried to steal an election. Now they’re trying to steal history, telling us that violent mob was, and I quote, “a peaceful protest.”

The lies that led to January 6th are part of a broader attack on the truth America today that we all have seen before. The same movement that, throughout the mob at the United States Capitol, isn’t just trying to rewrite history of January 6th, they’re trying to determine to erase history and your future: banning books; denying your right to vote and have it counted; destroying diversity, equality, inclusion all across America; harboring hate and replacing hope with anger and resentment and a dangerous view of America.

Powerful words delivered with passion and dignity befitting the hallowed ground and the proximity to January 6. As Trump's speeches are becoming more unhinged and hateful, Biden’s are becoming more forceful and direct in challenging Trump. If you can spare twenty minutes, watch the video linked above, beginning at the 26:00-minute mark. Your confidence will be renewed.

But I can’t leave this story without commenting on the media coverage. Biden delivered a truly inspirational and important speech on race and democracy. For sixty seconds during Biden’s speech, a protestor stood up and demanded that Biden call for a cease-fire in Israel. Biden handled the protestor with skill and grace. As the protestor was escorted from the church, Biden said,

It's alright. I understand their passion. I’ve been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza.

That sixty-second incident of an otherwise historic speech dominated virtually every headline describing the speech. See, e.g., NYTimes, Protesters Calling for Gaza Cease-Fire Interrupt Biden Speech; The Hill, Biden address in Charleston church interrupted by protesters; and NPR, Protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza interrupted Biden's campaign speech.

The bias against Biden is just unbelievable. I wonder if the headline writers or journalists who wrote the articles even bothered to read or listen to the substance of Biden’s speech. I doubt it. Shame on them!

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Meanwhile, Trump hopes the economy crashes before he is re-elected.

As Biden continued to call for the preservation of democracy and mourned the tragedies of January 6 and the AME shootings, Trump was telling an interviewer he hoped the economy would crash during Biden’s remaining time in office. See The Hill, Trump says he hopes economy crashes in next 12 months: ‘I don’t want to be Herbert Hoover’.

Trump said,

We have an economy that’s so fragile, and the only reason it’s running now is it’s running off the fumes of what we did. It’s just running off the fumes.

And when there’s a crash — I hope it’s going to be during this next 12 months because I don’t want to be Herbert Hoover. The one president I just don’t want to be, Herbert Hoover.

Ha! Trump remembered as Herbert Hoover? He should be so lucky! He will be remembered as Benedict Arnold, Aaron Burr, Jefferson Davis, and Aldrich Ames—combined!

And, in case you think I am resorting to hyperbole, Trump refused to sign a traditional pledge in Illinois in which presidential candidates pledge not to overthrow the US government. See The Guardian, Donald Trump did not sign Illinois pledge not to overthrow government. Trump signed the pledge in 2016 and 2020, but not in 2024. Hmm . . . it’s almost like he’s planning ahead to overthrow the US government!

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Progress (?) on avoiding a government shutdown?

The budget talks in Congress are complicated and tenuous—with a looming deadline in nine days (for the end of the first continuing resolution). The 60,000-foot explanation is this:

Congressional leaders agreed to a “top line” spending deal—the same one that Biden and McCarthy agreed to last June. In a normal world, the next step would be to split the total funding amount between eleven bills. However, the Freedom Caucus members feel betrayed by Speaker Mike Johnson and are unwilling to go along with the overall deal. See NYTimes, Far Right Balks as Congress Begins Push to Enact Spending Deal. (Accessible to all.)

Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed her ire on social media—”I am a NO to the Johnson-Schumer budget deal. This $1.6 Trillion dollar budget agreement does nothing to secure the border, stop the invasion, or stop the weaponized government targeting Biden’s political enemies and innocent Americans.”

So, Mike Johnson is in the same position he has always been in—he will need majority Democratic support to pass the bills. Unlike Trump, who hopes his opponents will fail when it serves his personal interest, Democrats will help Mike Johnson out of this jam because it is in the best interests of the American people.

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Oral argument in D.C. Circuit on Tuesday morning.

The oral argument on Trump's appeal of his presidential immunity defense will be heard on Tuesday morning at 9:30 AM Eastern. MSNBC will stream the audio of the oral arguments live.

More on this story tomorrow!

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Today’s Edition Road Trip and Reader Meetings!

Over the last several years, my wife and I have made a practice of meeting with readers when we travel in the US. We have enjoyed meeting readers across the nation and always feel blessed by making new friends who are committed to defending democracy.

We wanted to create a trip in 2024 that took us to red states where readers are holding the fort at the national level as they flip seats at the local level. So, my wife came up with the brilliant idea of driving down the Mississippi and stopping in cities along the way. We are calling it the “Today’s Edition Road Trip!”

The itinerary and schedule of reader meetings are below. The specific time of day and locations of the meetings are to be determined.

The meetings are free, and there will be no fundraising or “asks” for money.

If you live in (or near) one of the cities below, sign up here to attend: Click here to RSVP to reader meeting. If you can host a meeting in your home, please let us know by making that selection on the form.

1.    Mon 2/19 - Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

2.    Thu 2/22 - Dubuque, IA

3.    Friday 2/23 - Davenport, IA

4.    Sunday 2/25 - St. Louis, MO

5.    Wednesday 2/28 - Memphis, TN

6.    Friday 3/1 - Jackson, MS

7.    Sunday 3/3 - New Orleans, LA

We are looking forward to meeting as many readers as possible!

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Help a write-in campaign for Joe Biden in New Hampshire.

As you may recall, the DNC switched the order of the Democratic state primaries, but the state of New Hampshire refused to give up its “first in the nation” primary slot. Joe Biden is not on the primary ballot in New Hampshire. So, reader Mary W. is asking for help in a “write-in” campaign for Joe Biden on the New Hampshire ballot. Here is her note:

Please consider phone banking with NH activists to help our Write-in Biden campaign.  Biden isn't on our ballot this year, because NH refused to give up its first-in-the-nation primary status, against the wishes of the DNC. But we want him to come out of our early (Jan. 23) primary with wind at his back, so we're calling Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents to encourage them to vote by writing in Biden's name.

Please join our phone bank by signing up here for any of the following time slots:  Sunday Jan. 14, 3-5 PM (EST); Wednesday Jan. 17, 5-7 PM (EST); and/or Saturday Jan. 20, 3-5 PM (EST). 

And if you live in or near the Granite State, we'd love to have you hold a "Write-in Biden" sign at a polling station on 1/23.  For more info on this option, sign up here to join us virtually on Jan. 11 from 7-8 PM (EST); Jan. 16 from 7-8 PM (EST), or Jan. 21 from 6-7 PM (EST).  Thanks!!

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Concluding Thoughts.

We are one week into Joe Biden’s launch of his 2024 campaign, and we have plenty to celebrate. Biden has stepped up his engagement, delivery, and attitude. He is speaking about urgent and existential issues. Those who doubted Biden’s fitness for the campaign really owe it to themselves to watch today’s speech.

Moreover, Biden is not holding back. He is going after Trump's biggest area of insecurity and vulnerability—being labeled as a “loser.” Biden has repeated the charge several times over the last seventy-two hours.

Why does that matter? Because Trump cannot maintain emotional control under the best of circumstances. As Biden brands Trump as “a loser,” Trump will lash out with increasingly irrational and incomprehensible statements. The script will flip. It’s only a matter of time.

As always, we have every reason to be hopeful, but no reason to be complacent!

Talk to you tomorrow!