Today's News: New Book Reveals Allegations of Biden’s Decline
Drawing on extensive interviews, the book alleges that Biden’s closest aides concealed his cognitive decline and deliberately limited access to him.
Photo: Andrew Harnik
Overview
Date: May 13–14, 2025
Topic: Fallout from New Book Revealing Allegations of Biden’s Decline and 2024 Election Mismanagement
Summary: The release of excerpts from Original Sin, a forthcoming book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, has reignited scrutiny within the Democratic Party regarding former President Joe Biden's mental acuity and the internal handling of his 2024 reelection campaign. Drawing on extensive interviews, the book alleges that Biden’s closest aides concealed his cognitive decline and deliberately limited access to him. The revelations have triggered backlash, defensive denials, and strategic deflections among Democratic officials. The controversy underscores broader tensions in the party over accountability for the 2024 loss to Donald Trump and has intensified intra-party debate over leadership transparency, generational transition, and electoral strategy.
Sources
The New York Times: Book Review: ‘Original Sin,’ by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
CNN: First on CNN: New book reveals how Biden’s inner circle kept Cabinet from him in final two years of presidency
Fox News: Schumer, Democrats dodge questions about brutal Biden revelations with 'looking forward' talking point
The Washington Post: Democrats rattled again by fresh claims that Biden aides hid his frailty
The Wall Street Journal did not have any reporting on this story.
Key Points
Original Sin alleges that Biden’s inner circle deliberately concealed his cognitive and physical decline, reducing his public exposure and limiting internal access.
Democratic leaders and aides rationalized Biden’s continued candidacy as necessary to prevent a Trump presidency, despite visible signs of deterioration.
The book’s release has led to internal Democratic discord, with some officials calling for accountability and others insisting the focus remain on future elections.
High-profile Democrats acknowledge the decision to delay Biden’s withdrawal hurt the party’s chances and left Harris with limited time to campaign.
A pattern of tightly managed appearances, limited meeting times, and selective information flow was reportedly designed to accommodate Biden’s limitations.
Unique Highlights
The New York Times emphasized Biden’s internal mythology of resilience and the culture of denial among aides and family, portraying his decline as both concealed and rationalized.
CNN revealed Cabinet-level isolation and specific behavioral lapses, such as Biden not recognizing George Clooney and aides considering a wheelchair for a second term.
NBC News included sharp intra-party criticisms from David Plouffe and Chris Korge, as well as strategic regrets about not holding a real primary or preparing Harris earlier.
Fox News focused on the public deflection strategy of top Democrats, especially Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, who repeatedly refused to address allegations directly.
The Washington Post included comments from Ro Khanna and Pete Buttigieg expressing retrospective doubts and emphasized how Biden’s post-presidency media presence complicates party messaging.
Contrasting Details
While The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post present Biden’s decline as factual and documented, Fox News frames the Democratic response as evasive and politically self-serving.
NBC News and Fox News contrast sharply on the tone: NBC News emphasizes intra-party complexity and shared responsibility, while Fox News paints the party’s leadership as dismissive and disingenuous.
The Washington Post reports some Democrats defending Biden’s legacy and intentions, while CNN and The New York Times highlight aides’ complicity and filtered decision-making.
Biden aides consistently reject the allegations in statements quoted by CNN, Fox News, and The Washington Post, but the responses differ—some focus on lack of proof, others on Biden's record of effectiveness.
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