In a recent episode of the Pod Save America podcast, the hosts didn’t hold back in their criticism of President Biden’s Washington Post op-ed about January 6. The team, including former Obama speechwriters Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, slammed Biden’s message as “feckless,” calling out the Democrats for “performing virtue” without offering any real solutions.
Jon Favreau, clearly frustrated, shared his thoughts: “There’s a whole language Democrats need to toss out, like ‘institutions,’ ‘democracy,’ and ‘sacred this.’” They felt Biden’s warning about America repeating the January 6 Capitol riot if the country forgets its past didn’t hit the mark.
Biden’s op-ed, published on January 6, urged Americans to “commit to remembering” the events of the Capitol attack, stressing that any nation that forgets its history is “doomed to repeat it.” But the podcast hosts were not buying it. Jon Lovett quickly turned the quote on its head, pointing out that philosopher George Santayana’s warning about repeating history actually implies that clinging to the past makes you “stubborn like an old man,” suggesting Biden might be doing just that.
“It’s spot on,” added Tommy Vietor, another former Obama spokesperson.
The hosts took aim at Biden’s failure to offer concrete steps on how to tackle what they saw as an ongoing “coup attempt” by former President Donald Trump. “Biden’s op-ed didn’t say anything,” Favreau said bluntly. “It’s the perfect example of how everything feels hopeless right now.”
In fact, the hosts were skeptical that most Americans really cared about January 6 anymore. “The majority of voters just don’t care,” said Favreau, reflecting a growing concern among Democrats that their messaging isn’t connecting with the public.
James Carville, a veteran Democratic strategist, also voiced his frustration with the party’s tone, calling on them to ditch what he called “idiotic NPR jargon” and just “be authentic” when speaking to voters.
This isn’t the first time Biden has faced criticism for his lack of action. The hosts argued that while Democrats continue to “perform virtue,” talking repeatedly about the January 6 insurrection without offering solutions, it just isn’t working. “This style of politics isn’t going to cut it anymore,” Lovett said.
Vietor was even more blunt: “I’m frustrated with Joe Biden for running for re-election.” His frustration seemed to echo a sentiment shared by many Democrats, especially after Biden’s less-than-impressive debate performance against Trump earlier this year.
And while there’s been talk about Biden’s mental state throughout his presidency, the hosts were quick to call out the “delusional” spin from Biden’s team, especially after reports that they believed he would’ve won the election had he stayed in the race.
The critiques don’t stop at Biden. Harris, too, has faced accusations of being out of touch. After her campaign appeared on Pod Save America, listeners accused her team of dodging accountability for her 2020 campaign loss.
As the 2024 election heats up, it’s clear that Democrats are grappling with how to communicate effectively with voters, and some are wondering whether Biden’s approach is just too out of sync with the times.