What to make of Joe Biden’s plans for a second term
His domestic agenda is underwhelming, unrealistic and better than the alternative

Some politicians are shy about revealing their ideas before elections for fear of alarming the voters. Others simply do not have very much to say. Which type is Joe Biden, as he pitches for a second presidential term? His domestic-policy plans have received much less scrutiny than Donald Trump’s. Our briefing this week is a first attempt to make up for that. The most positive thing to say about this president’s platform is that the alternative is a lot worse.
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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Joe Biden’s missing agenda”
Leaders June 29th 2024
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