NYT columnist urges Biden not to fight an 'old battle' after media tour

Fox News - May 11th, 2025

Former President Joe Biden attributed Kamala Harris' loss in the 2024 election to effective racist and sexist attacks against her, during his recent media engagements with BBC and 'The View'. He expressed confidence that he could have beaten Trump, despite criticisms of his own presidency's unpopularity and his age. PBS NewsHour featured New York Times columnist David Brooks, who advised Biden to avoid engaging in 'old battles' and to rise above partisan politics. Brooks suggested that the former president should focus on a post-political role, similar to the paths taken by Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush.

The discussion also touched on allegations of Biden's cognitive decline, with both Joe and Jill Biden refuting such claims by emphasizing his dedication and hard work during his presidency. The story highlights the broader political landscape and challenges faced by Democratic figures, as well as the ongoing debate over age and capability in political leadership. The implications of these narratives point towards an evolving political strategy for the Democratic Party and the personal legacies of its key players.

Kamala Harris Democratic Party Joe Biden 2024 Election Racism Sexism David Brooks Cognitive Decline

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The news story provides a timely and engaging narrative about Joe Biden's post-presidency actions and Kamala Harris' campaign challenges. It draws on credible sources like David Brooks and references Biden's recent media appearances, enhancing its relevance and credibility. However, the article's accuracy and balance could be improved by incorporating more direct quotes, diverse perspectives, and detailed explanations of key claims.

While the article effectively captures public interest by addressing significant political issues, its potential impact is limited by the lack of in-depth analysis and broader exploration of the election's implications. The clarity and readability are generally strong, but smoother transitions between topics and more transparent sourcing would enhance comprehension.

Overall, the story provides a solid foundation for understanding the current political landscape, but it would benefit from a more balanced and comprehensive approach to fully realize its potential influence and engagement with the audience.

Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims that require verification, such as the duration of Kamala Harris' campaign and the effectiveness of racist and sexist attacks against her. The claim that Joe Biden attributed Harris' loss to these factors is consistent with the article's narrative, but it lacks direct quotes from Biden to substantiate this assertion. Additionally, the story mentions Biden's media appearances and his defense against allegations of cognitive decline, which are verifiable through external sources. However, the story could benefit from more precise details or direct quotes to enhance factual accuracy.

Balance

The story primarily focuses on David Brooks' perspective and Joe Biden's responses, which may create an imbalance by not including counterarguments or perspectives from other political analysts or members of Biden's team. The lack of representation of Kamala Harris' viewpoint or that of her campaign staff further skews the narrative. Although the article does touch on different aspects of Biden's post-presidency challenges, it leans towards Brooks' advice without exploring alternative viewpoints in depth.

Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, presenting the narrative in a logical sequence. However, it occasionally lacks clarity in distinguishing between direct quotes and paraphrased content, which could lead to confusion. The tone remains neutral, but the transitions between different topics, such as Biden's media appearances and his defense against cognitive decline allegations, could be smoother to improve overall comprehension.

Source quality

The article cites credible sources such as David Brooks, a well-known columnist, and references Biden's appearances on reputable platforms like BBC and PBS NewsHour. However, the story could improve by providing direct quotes or more detailed accounts from these sources to strengthen its credibility. The reliance on Brooks' opinion without additional expert analysis or data may limit the depth of the reporting.

Transparency

The story lacks transparency in terms of providing clear sources for some of its claims, particularly those related to Biden's statements on Harris' campaign and the effectiveness of racist and sexist attacks. While it mentions Brooks' advice and Biden's media appearances, it doesn't offer a thorough explanation of the context or methodology behind these assertions. Greater transparency about the sources and context of these claims would enhance the article's credibility.