Biden’s Debate Performance Was Objectively Terrible—and Trump Is Still Trump

Debate Disaster • Pod Save Perspective • Al Michaels Embraces AI [View in your browser]( | [Update your preferences](newsletter=vf) [Vanity Fair Hive logo image]( Biden’s Debate Performance Was Objectively Terrible—and Trump Is Still Trump Welcome to the weekend! Democrats are panicking. Liberal pundits are sounding off. But whether the party changes course after Joe Biden’s [disastrous debate performance]( remains to be seen. Biden, halting and hoarse, couldn’t effectively tout his administration’s achievements, articulate his policy vision, or rebut Donald Trump’s steady [stream of falsehoods](. It was a failure of communication. Eric Lutz [pointed out]( that “many Democrats would’ve made mincemeat of Trump,” and indeed, one can only imagine if, say, Gretchen Whitmer or Wes Moore or Andy Beshear or Gavin Newsom, had been on stage instead. Or Kamala Harris, who made a more [compelling]( [case]( for reelection after the debate. Nevertheless, Bess Levin [reminded us]( that Trump is still Trump. Elsewhere, Tom Kludt [spoke]( to legendary sportscaster Al Michaels about allowing NBC’s Peacock to clone his voice for Olympics recaps; Brian Stelter [spoke]( with Pod Save America’s Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor about threats to democracy; and Jon Allsop [provided]( a dispatch from London on “the moral panic around the ‘British invasion’ of US newsrooms.” Thanks for reading and we’ll see you Monday. —Michael Calderone, editor [Image may contain: Crowd, Person, Audience, Adult, Accessories, Formal Wear, Tie, Speech, and Debate]( [Biden’s Debate Performance Was Objectively Terrible—and Trump Is Still Trump]( By [Bess Levin]( [Where does that leave us?]( [Read more button](   [Joe Biden Set All the Rules in the Debate—and Still Got Trounced By Donald Trump]( By [Eric Lutz]( [The 81-year-old president stumbled, froze up, and fell for foolish back-and-forths, delivering a dismal showing that’s caused some Democrats to reconsider his candidacy altogether.]( [Read more button](   [“It Was Astonishing”: How NBC Convinced Al Michaels to Embrace His AI Voice for Olympics Coverage]( By [Tom Kludt]( [The network will use an artificial clone of the legendary broadcaster’s voice to narrate its daily recaps of the summer event. “It was not only close,” he says of the technology, “it was almost 2% off perfect.”]( [Read more button](   [Pod Save America’s Hosts Are Staying Positive About 2024. That Doesn’t Mean They Don’t Fear the Worst]( By [Brian Stelter]( [Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor discuss the importance of civil engagement in a time of mass cynicism, and explain how Americans can keep finding the comedy in the country’s post-Trump tragedy.]( [Read more button](   [Image may contain: Tie, Accessories, Accessory, Electrical Device, Microphone, Human, Person, Suit, Coat, and Clothing]( [The Moral Panic Around the “British Invasion” of US Newsrooms]( By [Jon Allsop]( [Will Lewis’s ethical imbroglio has led to caricatures of British editors. But the Washington Post publisher should be held accountable as a powerful news executive—not a national stereotype.]( [Read more button](   Get on the list Subscribe to our Hollywood newsletter for your essential industry and awards-season news, every day. [Sign Up Now](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [LinkedIn](   This e-mail was sent to you by The Hive. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( Sent from Condé Nast, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007 Copyright © 2024 Condé Nast