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GM's Shocking Controversial Move, Joe Biden Video Reignites Debate | 6/22/26 FIRST LOOK
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Hey everybody, I'm Dave Rubin and this is First Look. It's Monday, June 22, 2026. We've got a packed show for you today. A startling moment at Barack Obama's presidential library opening reignites questions about Joe Biden's decline and the media's years long effort to dismiss concerns about his condition. General Motors replaces more than 1,000 workers with just 50 robots and at its flagship Detroit plant, sparking outrage from labor unions and raising new questions about the future of American manufacturing jobs. Let's dive in. We start in Chicago, where a remarkable moment at the grand opening of Barack Obama's presidential library is once again raising uncomfortable questions that much of the political establishment spent years trying to avoid. Former President Joe Biden appeared alongside Barack Obama and former first lady Jill Biden at Thursday's ceremony. The event was intended to celebrate Obama's legacy. Instead, a brief, unscripted moment involving Biden quickly became the focus of attention. As the event wrapped up, Obama and Jill Biden began walking offstage. Obama was seen playfully pretending to play air guitar as he exited, but Joe Biden didn't follow. Instead, he remained standing alone in the middle of the stage. Video from the event shows Biden looking around, seemingly unsure of where to go. Still wearing his trademark aviator sunglasses, he appeared confused as the audience watched. At one point, he removed the glasses and looked out toward the crowd. The cameraman, seemingly unsure what to do, briefly moved away from Biden and pointed the camera toward a large screen displaying the words thank you. When the camera returned, Biden could be heard asking, where's my granddaughter? He then began wandering across the stage before eventually moving out of frame. Now, by itself, one awkward moment wouldn't normally be major news. The reason this clip has generated so much attention is because it fits into a much larger pattern. For years, millions of Americans watched videos of Biden appearing disoriented by freezing during public appearances, losing his train of thought, wandering away from groups and requiring guidance from aides. Yet every time concerns were raised, much of the media dismissed them. Americans were repeatedly told Biden was sharp as attack. Questions about his condition were often labeled conspiracy theories. Videos showing concerning moments were routinely dismissed as cheap fakes. But then came June of 2024, the debate against Donald Trump. The moment many Americans felt could no longer be explained away. Biden's performance was so poor that even many Democrats privately admitted the situation had become untenable. Just weeks later, he withdrew from the race. Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee without a competitive primary, and the narrative surrounding Biden's condition changed almost overnight. Since then, even members of Biden's own family have begun acknowledging concerns that were once treated as taboo. Recently, Jill Biden revealed that during the disastrous debate, she actually worried her husband might have been suffering a medical emergency. She said she thought at one point he may have been having a stroke. Not long afterward, Americans learned that Biden had been diagnosed with prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones. The former president continues receiving treatment. Now many observers are asking a different why is Biden still being placed in situations like this? Social media was flooded with reactions after Thursday's event. Many people expressed sympathy for the former president. Others question why family members and advisers continue bringing him to large public appearances given the concerns surrounding his health. Whatever your politics, it's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the contrast between what Americans were told just two years ago and what they're seeing today. And that's why moments like this continue resonating, not simply because of Joe Biden, but because they remind many Americans how aggressively the truth was denied when it was politically inconvenient. Now to Detroit, where General Motors is facing fierce backlash after replacing more than 1,000 workers at one of its flagship plants with just 50 robots. The move is becoming one of the most dramatic examples yet of how automation is reshaping the American workforce. The changes are taking place at GM's Factory Zero facility, the company's high profile electric vehicle manufacturing plant located in Detroit Hamtramck. According to reports, GM has installed approximately 50 collaborative robots, known as cobots, throughout the facility. The robots now work alongside human employees performing assembly line tasks, particularly attaching body panels to vehicles. GM insists the changes are necessary. Company spokesman Kevin Kelly said the robots help improve safety, improve ergonomics, increase efficiency, keep the company competitive. Kelly described the rollout as part of a broader effort to bring advanced technology into manufacturing operations. But union leaders aren't buying that explanation. United auto Workers Local 22 President James Cotton was blunt. He said, our manpower is being taken away from us, then added from top to bottom, we're disgusted that they have cobots in our plants. The union argues the real motivation isn't safety. It's cutting labor costs. And it's difficult to ignore the timing. The move comes as GM struggles with slowing electric vehicle demand. Despite years of government subsidies, mandates and political pressure pushing EV adoption, consumers have been less enthusiastic than many corporate executives and policymakers expected. Factory Zero has reportedly paused production multiple times over the past year as EV sales softened. At the same time, GM remains highly profitable in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the company reported $4.25 billion in profits. That's a 22% increase compared to the same period last year. Naturally, many workers are asking a simple if profits are rising, why are jobs disappearing? UAW President Shawn Fain used the controversy to launch a broader attack on automation and and artificial intelligence. He said workers are currently in a fight for humanity. Fain argued that technological gains should benefit workers rather than simply increasing profits for corporations. He warned, the fruits of our labor have multiplied like never before. But workers aren't reaping the harvest now. This story highlights a difficult Automation isn't coming. It's already here. For decades, technology has steadily reduced the number of labor hours required to manufacture a vehicle. According to industry reports, labor requirements have fallen between 50% and 70% since the 1980s. And advances in robotics are only accelerating that trend. The bigger question is whether American workers will benefit from those productivity gains or whether corporations will simply use it. And that's your first look this Monday. Quick recap A concerning moment involving Joe Biden at Barack Obama's presidential library opening has reignited questions about his health and the media's handling of concerns surrounding his decline. And General Motors is facing backlash after replacing more than 1,000 workers with 50 robots at its flagship Detroit Electric vehicle plant. We'll keep following all of it. I Dave Rubin, thanks for starting your day with first look. See you tomorrow.