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Wow. Wow…. Wow. That U.S. presidential debate was…well… I’m still searching for the right words. I’m a former Washington correspondent for The Canadian Press and covered politics in Canada, but in all my years I’ve never seen a politician implode like Joe Biden did on Thursday night.
The aftermath has been even worse of the U.S. president. Members of his own Democratic party have been calling for him to withdraw his candidacy. Could that even happen now? And if so, how could a new leader be picked given the primaries have come and gone. Who could replace him as the Democratic candidate? Well, for your long weekend reading, we’ve got answers to those questions.
It was also a tough week for another progressive leader. Justin Trudeau’s leadership has also come into question after his Liberals lost one of its safest seats in a Toronto byelection. Trudeau was once the darling of young voters, but that too has changed.
Long weekends are a good time to escape from politics. But before heating up the BBQ or heading to the lake, have a quick read of the smart political analyses on Biden’s and Trudeau’s troubles that I’ve assembled from across The Conversation network.
Happy Canada Day and given the long weekend, we won’t be back in your Inbox until Tuesday.
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Biden and Trudeau: Will they stay or will they go?
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Mary Kate Cary, University of Virginia; Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University
Scholars of communication and politics assess a presidential debate with a clear loser, but no clear winner.
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Caroline Leicht, University of Southampton
Joe Biden’s poor debate performance has prompted widespread speculation that the Democrats will seek another nominee for November’s eleciton.
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Dafydd Townley, University of Portsmouth
US academic Dafyyd Townley watched the debate and gives his rundown of key moments.
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Thomas Gift, UCL
If Biden decided not to stand again, another Democratic candidate could still be selected until the party’s convention.
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Sam Routley, Western University
The stunning byelection loss in a reliably Liberal Toronto riding doesn’t bode well for the political future of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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Stewart Prest, University of British Columbia
In democracies around the world, voters aged 18-34 are abandoning the incumbent in favour of opposition parties, often choosing populist-style politicians. Why? Blame the broken social contract.
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Gemma Ware, The Conversation
Rajan Basra explains the backstory to the FGC-9, the world’s most popular 3D printed gun - and his search for its anonymous creator. Listen on The Conversation Weekly podcast.
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