Biden's stumbles overshadow Trump's lies

Plus, VP Harris shares debate first impressions SPECIAL EDITION Friday, Jun. 28, 2024 This is a special edition of the MSNBC Daily newsletter. To receive more election news, [click here]( to subscribe to How to Win, a weekly newsletter focused on race updates and expert analysis. [Donald Trump may not have 'won' the presidential debate. But Biden lost.]( [By]( Brendan Buck If a [debate cannot be won but only lost](, Donald Trump may not have won on Thursday — but [President Joe Biden certainly lost, and]( in spectacular fashion. The [president gave one of the worst debate performances]( in recent memory. Biden was on defense for most of the night. His three-, five-, or 10-point answers failed to land, if he was able to complete them at all. He didn’t connect with his trademark empathy. He couldn’t land a meaningful blow on Trump, despite multiple opportunities to do so. Ultimately, this debate will long be remembered for how old and frail Biden appeared. The beginning of the debate — the most important part — was actually painful to watch. And it didn’t get much better. He failed to complete thoughts, made awkward and confusing statements, and looked lost when not talking. It was clear almost immediately that Biden simply was not capable of a strong debate performance. At least not on Thursday night. This is a preview of Brendan Buck's latest article. [Read the full column here.]( TOP DEBATE STORIES [Alternate text] [A photo of Biden and Trump debating]( [MSNBC Live Blog]( [Highlights: Biden and Trump face off in heated first presidential debate of 2024]( [A photo of Kamala Harris]( [Video Analysis]( [VP Kamala Harris: Donald Trump is attempting to create 'fear based on fiction']( [A photo of Biden]( [Symone Sanders-Townsend]( [I advised Biden before the 2020 debates. This was not his best effort.]( [A photo of Gavin Newsom]( [Video Analysis]( ['You don't turn your back!': Gov. Gavin Newsom defiantly pushes back on calls for Biden to step down]( [A photo of Biden and Trump]( [Michael A. Cohen]( [Biden bombed during the debate. That doesn't mean he's dropping out.]( [A photo of Joy Reid]( [Video Analysis]( ['Approaching panic': Joy Reid reports on Democratic response to Biden debate performance](   This is a special edition of the MSNBC Daily newsletter. To receive more election news, [click here]( to subscribe to How to Win, a weekly newsletter focused on race updates and expert analysis. MORE ON MSNBC [Alternate text] Subscribe to [MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts]( for ad-free listening and early access to the second season of Rachel Maddow’s hit original podcast, “Ultra.” A bonus episode featuring Rachel's conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner on the rise of fascism is available Monday for free, but you can get it early and ad-free today on MSNBC Premium. Plus, get all of Rachel Maddow’s chart-topping original podcasts, including “Bag Man,” “Déjà News” and season one of “Ultra,” ad-free when you subscribe.   Sunday, MSNBC Films presents “Admissions Granted.” The feature documentary carefully retraces the legal debate over affirmative action, culminating in landmark Supreme Court decisions that divided communities and transformed college admissions. Watch “Admissions Granted” Sunday at 9pm Eastern on MSNBC. [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_midterms) | [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT]( | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_maddow) | [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT]( | [VIEW IN BROWSER](