Why journalists think it matters: Because journalists (and other professional left-wing activists) are the target audience for this speech. Because they know in their hearts that Biden is a successful president, even if most Americans disagree. Because they believe American voters will be more inclined to support Democratic policies after hearing a lengthy explanation and contextualization of those policies. (There is no evidence for this belief.)
What to expect: According to the official White House talking points, obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, the president will "outline the historic progress we have made over the past two years" and urge Democrats to "finish the job" by raising taxes and spending money "in a fiscally responsible way that reduces the deficit."
The talking points do not mention the immigration crisis that has exploded on Biden's watch. They do not mention growing public concern about crime, although they do highlight the administration's efforts to "keep communities safe" through strict gun-control measures and controversial "police reform."
Physical/cognitive challenges: Most 80-year-olds will have been asleep for several hours by the time Biden starts speaking on Tuesday. Like most 80-year-olds, Biden often struggles to form coherent sentences and has trouble reading from a teleprompter, and may require a military-grade narcotics cocktail to remain lucid and alert during the speech.
Political challenges: See above. Reports indicate Biden plans to run for reelection. Polls indicate most Americans, including most Democrats, wish he would just retire. Unfortunately for Democrats, they don't really have a viable alternative. Kamala Harris? Pete Buttigieg? Not gonna happen.
What they're saying: "I, honestly, think that [Biden] would be too old," said Sarah Overman, a 37-year-old Democrat from North Carolina, in an interview with the Associated Press. "We could use someone younger in the office."
Fun fact: Biden is the first octogenarian president in U.S. history.
By the numbers:
• 41 percent of Americans approve of Biden's job performance as president.
• The average life expectancy for American men is 75.1 years.
• If reelected, Biden would be 86.2 years old by the end of his second term.
• 703,227 innocent Americans have died from COVID-19 on Biden's watch.
Key questions:
• Why did Biden let a Chinese spy balloon traverse the continental United States before shooting it down?
• Will Biden finally acknowledge that the most popular app in America (TikTok) is Chinese spyware?
• Why hasn't Hunter Biden been indicted yet?
