Today, Explained: Episode Summary – "The Good, the Bad, and the Biden"

Release Date: January 13, 2025 | Hosts: Sean Rameswaram & Dylan Matthews | Produced by Vox

Introduction

In the episode titled "The Good, the Bad, and the Biden," hosts Sean Rameswaram and Dylan Matthews delve into a comprehensive assessment of President Joe Biden's administration. As the United States approaches a significant transition of power, the discussion navigates through Biden's policy accomplishments, shortcomings, and his overall effectiveness as a leader.

Assessing Biden's Presidency

Dylan Matthews offers a critical perspective on Biden’s leadership, characterizing his presidency as "mid-tier" and "mediocre." He asserts that Biden's age and perceived indecisiveness have undermined his effectiveness:

Dylan Matthews [00:17]: "I think Biden is a pretty mid-tier mediocre president. ... he is an unusually weak president ... made him less effective than he could have been in the moment."

Matthews highlights that Biden often deferred critical decisions to his advisors, leading to inconsistent leadership:

Dylan Matthews [03:03]: "Over who Biden spoke with and what they said to him ... make you sort of weaker and less effective."

Domestic Policies and Economic Measures

American Rescue Plan

The discussion begins with the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion stimulus package aimed at mitigating the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Matthews acknowledges its immediate impact on unemployment and poverty reduction but criticizes its long-term economic consequences:

Dylan Matthews [04:33]: "The American rescue plan ... it's a megalopolis of bills."

While the plan successfully reduced unemployment to sub-4% and cut child poverty by half, Matthews later revises his stance on its role in inflation:

Dylan Matthews [06:24]: "I no longer think [warnings about inflation] was ridiculous."

Build Back Better and the Inflation Reduction Act

Biden's flagship initiative, initially known as Build Back Better and later rebranded as the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed to address infrastructure and environmental concerns. Matthews critiques the act for being more of a "marketing exercise" without effectively tackling inflation:

Dylan Matthews [06:54]: "I can't name a single one of them who thinks it reduced inflation."

He commends certain aspects, such as the commitment to chip manufacturing, which seeks to reduce dependency on foreign producers:

Dylan Matthews [17:37]: "Making sure that the world has a process to build these things ... seems good."

However, Matthews points out the Act's reliance on incentives rather than punitive measures, limiting its effectiveness:

Dylan Matthews [18:50]: "The Inflation Reduction act was all carrots and no sticks."

International Policy and Leadership

Afghanistan Withdrawal

Matthews provides a nuanced view of Biden's handling of the Afghanistan evacuation, acknowledging it as bungled but also recognizing the decisiveness in ending a two-decade-long involvement:

Dylan Matthews [10:37]: "Choosing to go through with withdrawing showed more decisiveness than most American presidents."

Relations with Israel and Ukraine

Biden's diplomatic approach towards Israel and Ukraine is described as "relentlessly sucking up to Netanyahu" while being indecisive in supporting Ukraine with necessary weaponry:

Dylan Matthews [10:56]: "Biden embarked on a strategy of sucking up pretty relentlessly to Netanyahu ... weirdly coy about releasing certain weapons that the Ukrainians need."

This perceived lack of clear stance is seen as indicative of his broader indecisiveness on the international stage.

Economic Impact and Legacy

Despite criticisms, Matthews acknowledges positive outcomes from Biden's policies:

• Employment and Wages: Rapid reduction in unemployment and wage growth, particularly at the lower economic tiers.
• Chip Manufacturing: Initiatives to revive domestic chip production, reducing reliance on foreign entities like TSMC in Taiwan.

Dylan Matthews [16:44]: "We didn't do that in the 2010s. I think that's one part that I think will endure."

However, the episode underscores the mixed legacy, highlighting that while some measures were beneficial, others, like the Inflation Reduction Act's approach to climate initiatives, fell short of comprehensive impact.

Criticisms and Shortcomings

The episode delves into several areas where Biden's administration faltered:

• Student Loan Debacle: The administration's attempt to cancel student debt was met with Supreme Court opposition and led to significant delays in financial aid processing, demonstrating ineffective use of executive power:

  Dylan Matthews [21:14]: "... they spent all their time on it and they weren't doing the normal functioning of the department."

• Executive Orders and Reversibility: Matthews expresses skepticism about the lasting impact of Biden’s executive orders, suggesting they are easily reversible and lack substantial influence:

  Dylan Matthews [20:19]: "There's no magic wand."

• Alignment with Party Over Personal Leadership: Biden is critiqued for being a "safe state Democrat" who aligns with party directions rather than exhibiting strong, independent leadership, making decisive actions difficult:

  Dylan Matthews [22:34]: "He goes where the party's going ... it's really bad. In an executive, you need someone who has opinions."

Biden's Legacy: The Good Amidst the Bad

Despite the various criticisms, Matthews identifies certain accomplishments that may stand the test of time:

• Economic Recovery: Rapid unemployment reduction and wage growth.
• Reducing Inequality: Significant decrease in economic inequality from 2021 to 2024.
• Domestic Manufacturing: Successful efforts to rebalance chip manufacturing within the United States.

Dylan Matthews [16:42]: "It did, I think, increase inflation in a way that proved very politically unpopular. It also ended what recession existed ... reduction in inequality ... making sure that the world has a process to build these things ... seems good."

Conclusion

Sean Rameswaram and Dylan Matthews conclude the episode with a reflection on Biden's complex legacy. While acknowledging certain policy successes, the overarching narrative portrays Biden as a president hampered by age, indecision, and an inability to exercise strong leadership. Matthews expresses a sentiment of disillusionment, feeling misled about Biden's capabilities and intentions:

Dylan Matthews [25:34]: "I was lied to about what you were going to do ... this is how it feels to be lied to."

The episode underscores the nuanced and multifaceted nature of Biden's presidency, recognizing both its achievements and its shortcomings.

Notable Quotes:

• Sean Rameswaram [00:01]: "All signs seem to indicate that one week from today the United States will break from recent tradition and have a peaceful transition of power."

• Dylan Matthews [02:23]: "Joe Biden was ultimately a weak president."

• Dylan Matthews [09:49]: "This is how it feels to be lied to. This is how it feels to be cheated."

• Dylan Matthews [16:41]: "I think the commitment to bringing chip manufacturing specifically back to the US seems ... good."

• Dylan Matthews [22:34]: "He goes where the party's going ... In an executive, you need someone who has opinions."

Production Credits:

Produced by Peter Balinon Rosen, edited by Matthew Collette and Miranda Kennedy, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, and mixed by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Christensdotter.

Upcoming Episodes:

The hosts tease an upcoming episode on the politics of fire and solicit listener stories about gentle parenting and generational differences in child-rearing practices.

This comprehensive analysis provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of the main themes and discussions from the podcast episode, offering insights into President Biden's administration's complexities and its impact on both domestic and international spheres.