Welcome to DailyMail.com’s live blog where President Joe Biden is scrambling to save his 2024 reelection campaign after his disastrous debate last week as top donors are weighing whether to pull out.
A new poll revealed that Donald Trump is up over Biden in a critical state to winning in November, that the GOP hasn’t captured since 2000.
Trump celebrated his ‘big win’ at the Supreme Court after justices determined he has immunity from federal prosecution for actions taken while in office – while Democrats, including AOC, melted down.
And Trump ally Steve Bannon reported to prison today to begin serving a four-month sentence – with support from Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Follow along for live coverage from DailyMail.com’s political team:
New post-debate poll shows Donald Trump beating Biden by two points in New Hampshire
A new post-debate poll released Monday from St. Anselm College found that former President Donald Trump is beating Joe Biden by two points in New Hampshire.
The poll is shocking considering Biden beat Trump in the state by more than seven points in 2020.
The survey found Trump leads 44 percent to Biden’s 42 percent while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 4 percent of the vote.
The last time a Republican presidential candidate won the state was George W. Bush in 2000.
Here's what the 'next generation' Democrats being floated to replace Biden on the presidential ticket are saying
Amid fallout over President Biden’s disastrous presidential debate performance on Thursday, some Democrats are calling for the president to be replaced at the top of the ticket come November.
Multiple party members have reiterated to DailyMail.com that the decision to step aside rests solely with the president, and Democrats cannot push him out.
More than a handful of Democratic officials are being floated as potential replacements should the 81-year-old Commander-in-Chief announce he won’t seek reelection after all.
But at this point, all of the names being suggested as a potential replacements as Democratic presidential nominee are pushing back and closing ranks around the president.
Here’s what they have to say about the prospect of Biden being replaced:
Tucker Carlson is pushing that Obama wants Biden to bow out, Democrats to hold an open convention
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is pushing that there’s daylight between former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden in the aftermath of Biden’s car crash of a debate performance.
In an X post overnight Monday, Carlson said he had a ‘unusually good source’ who said that Obama’s public support of Biden is ‘disingenuous’ and in reality the ex-president wants his party to bring in new blood.
‘In private, Obama is telling people Biden can’t win, and he is therefore in favor of an open convention,’ Carlson said.
The Democrats have been in disarray since Biden’s underwhelming performance in Atlanta Thursday alongside former President Donald Trump.
Political ad spending expected to hit record-breaking $10.7 billion for 2024 cycle
Political ad spending is expected to hit a record-breaking $10.7 billion this election cycle.
The spending for 2023-2024 includes an increase in broadcast, cable and CTV ads, according to the new report by Ad Impact.
The projection is a 19 percent increase over ad spending in the 2020 election.
Biden is monitoring Hurricane Beryl
The President and his team are closely monitoring Hurricane Beryl, and are in touch with territory and local officials.
USAID and FEMA have resources and supplies pre-staged in the region, with staff and partners ready to assist.
The President stands ready to support the people of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the region as needed, and will work to ensure the safety of all U.S. citizens in the region.
The President urges residents to heed the warnings of local officials.
Biden's approval moved UP in June monthly tracking poll
President Biden finished June with a disastrous debate performance – buit managed to see his monthly approval tick up in the Rasmussen Reports tracking poll.
Rasmussen is a poll that rival Donald Trump praised just days ago. It shows Biden’s approval tick up to 44 percent, from 42 percent in May.
He is still deep underwater, with 55 percent disapproval.
Jen Psaki says Biden aides who prepped him for debate shouldn't be blamed for him being 'bad'
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that President Joe Biden’s aides tasked with debate prep shouldn’t take the fall for his disastrous performance on Thursday.
Psaki defended former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and Biden adviser Anita Dunn and noted that ‘prep does not always determine the outcome.’
‘Biden was bad,’ Psaki posted to X. ‘Important convos about what happens next. But if you are directing your ire at “prep” you are not talking about the right things.’
Trump claims the Supreme Court 'dismantled' most charges against him and Biden should 'call off his dogs'
Donald Trump continues to celebrate the Supreme Court decision on immunity, claiming the court ‘dismantled most charges’ against him.
The ex-president took to Truth Social Monday afternoon with a post.
‘The Supreme Court totally dismantled most of the charges against me. Joe Biden should now call off his “dogs.” Our Country should now be focused on GREATNESS again!’ he wrote.
It’s the latest in a series of posts after the court ruled presidents have immunity for official acts but not unofficial acts while serving as president.
VP Harris says she is 'out here in these streets' in cringe BET Awards video
Vice President Kamala Harris appeared in a video for the BET Awards with actress Taraji Henson where the pair discuss what is at stake in the upcoming election.
‘I’m worried about the election,’ Henson says. ‘Women’s reproductive rights are on the line, our Supreme Court is on the line. Our basic freedoms are being tested.’
‘I know you’ve been traveling across the country, what are you hearing?’ she continues.
The video cuts to Harris sitting in an office.
‘Yeah girl, I’m out here in these streets,’ Harris says. ‘And let me tell you, you’re right Taraji. There’s so much at stake in this moment.’
‘The majority of us believe in freedom and equality,’ Harris says. ‘But these extremists as they say, they’re not like us.’
Former Jill Biden aide says campaign is 'gaslighting' Americans by saying data shows race is unchanged after car crash debate
First lady Jill Biden’s former press secretary Michael LaRosa expressed on X and then on Fox & Friends frustrations with the spin coming out of Bidenworld after the president’s car crash debate last week.
LaRosa demanded to see the ‘DATA’ after former White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said Sunday that numbers showed ‘the race has not fundamentally changed’ post-debate.
‘The data!? If there is data that counters the impact of what we all saw then WHERE THE HELL IS IT???’ LaRosa begged in a post on X Sunday. ‘WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?? SHOW US!’
On Fox & Friends it was hard for the Democrat to counter co-host Steve Doocy’s take – that Biden’s performance was ‘terrible.’
‘Yeah, that’s ultimately going to be the problem. Look, we live in a visual world. It’s hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube,’ LaRosa acknowledged.
AOC threatens to IMPEACH all six conservative Supreme Court Justices after Trump immunity ruling
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Monday she will be filing articles of impeachment against the conservative justices after they ruled on Donald Trump’s immunity case.
Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life unless they choose to step down or are impeached – and the last and only time a justice was impeached was in 1805.
‘The Supreme Court has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control,’ AOC posted on X. ‘Today’s ruling represents an assault on American democracy.’
‘It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture,’ she continued. ‘I intend on filing articles of impeachment upon our return.’
Speaker Johnson calls SCOTUS decision a 'victory for future presidents' – Pelosi deems it 'dangerous'
‘Today’s ruling by the Court is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for President Biden’s weaponized Department of Justice and Jack Smith. The Court clearly stated that presidents are entitled to immunity for their official acts. This decision is based on the obviously unique power and position of the presidency, and comports with the Constitution and common sense,’ Speaker Mike Johnson said of the new SCOTUS ruling.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi had a different take: ‘The former president’s claim of total presidential immunity is an insult to the vision of our founders, who declared independence from a King. A seriously dangerous aspect of the ruling is its holding that official acts are inadmissible in trials for unofficial acts.’
Steve Bannon says he's 'proud' to 'fight tyranny' by serving four-month prison sentence
Steve Bannon said he is ‘proud to go to prison’ outside the Connecticut low security federal prison where he will be held for his four month sentence.
The former Trump adviser said to supporters:
I am proud to go to prison – if this is what it takes to stand up to tyranny.
If this is what it takes to stand up to the Garland corrupt, criminal DOJ. If this is what it takes to stand up to Nancy Pelosi. If this is what it takes to stand up to Joe Biden, I’m proud to do it.
Bannon will serve a short sentence after a tough fight to avoid prison for defying a congressional subpoena to appear for the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vows 'aggressive' action after SCOTUS immunity decision
‘House Democrats will engage in aggressive oversight and legislative activity with respect to the Supreme Court to ensure that the extreme, far-right justices in the majority are brought into compliance with the Constitution,’ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in reaction to the decision.
House Democrats have little legislative or oversight power in the minority, but have an opportunity to pick up seats in November.
Top lawmakers react to SCOTUS immunity decision
The Senate’s Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday was a ‘sad day for America’ after the Supreme Court gave Donald Trump partial immunity.
He was the first top Democrat to react to the decision.
Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, praised the decision.
‘Hyper-partisan prosecutors like Jack Smith cannot weaponize the rule of law to go after the Administration’s chief political rival, and we hope that the Left will stop its attacks on President Trump and uphold democratic norms. The Judiciary Committee will continue to oversee dangerous lawfare tactics in our judicial system.’
Biden's blundering debate causes Republicans to SUE for audio tapes of Special Counsel Rob Hur's interview during which he appeared 'old and elderly'
Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance has prompted Republicans to sue the Department of Justice to release the tapes of his special counsel interview that called the president an ‘elderly’ man with a ‘poor memory.’
Tapes of the interview have been requested by GOP lawmakers who are probing the commander-in-chief’s competence.
Instead of giving the audio tapes to lawmakers, the DOJ provided a transcript of the interview, prompting the GOP’s vote to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress last month for ‘concealing’ the requested materials.
Republicans say only the tapes will provide more damning evidence of the president’s diminished cognitive ability, which is now firmly in the spotlight following the first presidential debate.
On Monday the House Judiciary Committee announced it is suing Garland to get ahold of the audio tapes, significantly escalating their feud with the DOJ.
Trump calls ruling a 'big win'
Donald Trump called the Supreme Court decision a ‘big win.’
‘BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!,’ he wrote on his Truth Social account.
Pressure on Pence before electoral count also deemed 'official' act
The Court also takes on part of Smith’s indictment that Trump sought to pressure former Vice President Mike Pence to use his ‘ceremonial role’ to ‘fraudulently alter the election results’ when Congress met to count the electoral votes.
Since Trump’s conversations with his VP are deemed ‘official,’ they, too, would be immune.
‘Whenever the President and Vice President discuss their official responsibilities, they engage in official conduct. Presiding over the January 6 certification proceeding at which Members of Congress count the electoral votes is a constitutional and statutory duty of the Vice President. … The indictment’s allegations that Trump attempted to pressure the Vice President to take particular acts in connection with his role at the certification proceeding thus involve official conduct, and Trump is at least presumptively immune from prosecution for such conduct.’
Under the ruling, a lower court must decide whether a prosecution would intrude on the president’s executive authority – and the burden will be on the government to rebut a ‘presumption of immunity.’
Sen. Bob Menendez arrives to court in New York as his attorneys prepare to argue his defense
New Jersey Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez arrived at a New York federal court Monday morning as his bribery trial continues.
Over the past seven weeks, federal prosecutors have laid out their corruption case against the embattled Democrat who was indicted on bribery charges alongside his wife Nadine Menendez and three US businessmen.
A June 2022 FBI raid of Menendez’s home uncovered at least 13 gold bars, nearly half a million dollars in cash and a luxury convertible that are all alleged payments to the Democrat for favors.
The Menendezes and two of the businessmen have pleaded not guilty. One has pleaded guilty and is working with federal prosecutors.
Menendez’s defense is expected to argue that his family’s Cuban heritage and specifically his father’s gambling habit prompted the senator to develop a habit of storing cash out of a fear of scarcity.
Trump ‘absolutely immune’ from charges over allegedly seeking ‘sham’ DOJ investigations
The high court’s majority opinion rules Trump is ‘absolutely immune’ from prosecution for his alleged meetings with top Justice Department officials in the last weeks of his presidency.
Jack Smith’s indictment says Trump and alleged co-conspirators ‘attempted to use the power and authority of the Justice Department to conduct sham election crime investigations’ and to send a letter saying they found significant concerns that might have impacted the outcome.
But the Court ruled the alleged conduct falls within Trump’s officials acts that are protected.
‘The indictment’s allegations that the requested investigations were shams or proposed for an improper purpose do not divest the President of exclusive authority over the investigative and prosecutorial functions of the Justice Department and its officials,’ the majority held.
‘Because the President cannot be prosecuted for conduct within his exclusive constitutional authority, Trump is absolutely immune from prosecution for the alleged conduct involving his discussions with Justice Department officials.’
Biden campaign reacts to Supreme Court immunity decision
The Biden campaign reacted to the Supreme Court decision on immunity with a statement from a senior campaign adviser:
Today’s ruling doesn’t change the facts, so let’s be very clear about what happened on January 6: Donald Trump snapped after he lost the 2020 election and encouraged a mob to overthrow the results of a free and fair election.
Trump is already running for president as a convicted felon for the very same reason he sat idly by while the mob violently attacked the Capitol: he thinks he’s above the law and is willing to do anything to gain and hold onto power for himself.
Since January 6, Trump has only grown more unhinged. He’s promising to be a dictator ‘on day one,’ calling for our Constitution to be ‘terminated’ so he can regain power, and promising a “bloodbath” if he loses.
The American people already rejected Donald Trump’s self-obsessed quest for power once – Joe Biden will make sure they reject it for good in November.”
Alina Habba: I think this was a very good decision for us
Donald Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba reacted to the Supreme Court’s decision on immunity on Fox News.
She said she believes it is a ‘very good decision for us.’
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer warns Michigan isn't winnable for Biden after debate
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer doesn’t think Michigan is winnable for President Joe Biden.
In a call with Biden’s campaign chair Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, the Michigan Democrat said the highly important swing state may no longer be in play after the President’s disastrous debate performance.
Following a chaotic debate where Biden stumbled over his words, lost his train of thought and was oftentimes hard to understand, Democrats are scrambling and some are calling for him to drop out.
Whitmer’s name is being floated as a potential replacement on the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket, as well as California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
But Whitmer, according to Politico said on her call with Dillon that she didn’t like her name coming up as a fill-in should Biden be ousted from November’s ballot.
Breaking: Supreme Court releases decision on presidential immunity
The Supreme Court has issued its monumental decision on presidential immunity.
The decision will have massive implications for presidential powers and the cases against former President Donald Trump.
The six-three opinion was split between conservative and liberal justices.
Liberal justice Sotomayor joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson filed a dissent. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion:
Taking into account these competing considerations, the Court concludes that the separation of powers principles explicated in the Court’s precedent necessitate at least a presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for a President’s acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility.
Such an immunity is required to safeguard the independence and effective functioning of the Executive 4 TRUMP v. UNITED STATES Syllabus Branch, and to enable the President to carry out his constitutional duties without undue caution.
At a minimum, the President must be immune from prosecution for an official act unless the Government can show that applying a criminal prohibition to that act would pose no ‘dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch.’
Now the Chicago Tribune knifes Biden after backing president in 2020
The Chicago Tribune has joined the chorus of damning editorials that have slammed a second Biden term as the publication branded him a ‘man who gets flustered and struggled to keep track of complex facts’.
Following the president’s humiliating performance at Thursday night’s CNN debate against former US President Donald Trump, American media has rallied together in their growing calls for Joe Biden to step down.
The 81-year-old is set to discuss the future of his re-election campaign this weekend amid the fallout of the debate, but if the liberal media has finally caved on the president, his options may be limited.
Greene travels to Danbury prison to support Steve Bannon reporting for four month sentence
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is outside the Danbury federal prison where Steve Bannon is set to report for his four-month prison sentence this morning.
Bannon was sentenced in October 2022 after he was found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying a congressional subpoena.
‘This is a DISGRACE to our country, and an affront to the principles of justice it was founded upon,” Greene wrote on X about Bannon’s sentence. ‘Republican voters need to fight harder than ever: this election is not over.’
House Republicans have promised to file a legal brief to help Bannon avoid jail time.
Connecticut prison where Bannon reports today helped inspire for 'Orange is the New Black'
When former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon reports to prison on Monday after a legal battle, he will step inside a low security federal lockup with a satellite camp and a bakery.
Although Bannon fought mightily to stay out of prison – bringing an appeal to the Supreme Court – the facility where he will begin his four-month sentence is considered desirable for inmates facing federal lockup.
Ghislaine Maxwell tried to serve her 20-year sentence there when she was convicted of aiding Jeffrey Epstein in trafficking in underage girls.
Sometimes termed ‘Club Fed,’ the prison was partly the inspiration for the Litchfield Prison depicted in the Netflix series ‘Orange is the New Black.’
Independent voters would rather have convicted felon Donald Trump babysit their children than Joe Biden after disastrous debate performance
Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance has seen him switch positions with Donald Trump when it comes to basic questions of competence, according to an exclusive poll for DailyMail.com.
It found that more independent voters would prefer convicted felon Trump to babysit their children than the 81-year-old president, who cultivates an image of the twinkle-eyed grandfather.
Need to put up a shelf, plan a road trip or just hang out with someone?
The J.L. Partners poll of 805 independent voters who watched the debate found that Trump was the choice in each case.
It marks a stunning setback for Biden, whose aides hoped would be able to use the debate to remind viewers of the chaos and anxiety of Trump’s years in power.
Democratic donors raise concerns as they await polling after Biden's debate performance
Some Democratic donors are waiting for the post-debate polling before deciding whether to press for President Biden’s removal as the party nominee.
In private, donors were texting each other and calling each other frantically over Biden’s stumbling debate performance, according to Axios.
So far, they have not been publicly calling for Biden to step aside.
The Biden campaign revealed over the weekend it raised $33 million since Thursday’s debate including $26 million in grassroots donations.
Party leaders are publicly backing the president, but should he step aside multiple names have surfaced as possible replacements. They include:
- Vice President Kamala Harris
- California Governor Gavin Newsom
- Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
- Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock
- North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
Poll: Nearly three-quarters of voters don't think Biden has mental acuity to serve another term
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
More and more Americans are growing concerned that President Joe Biden no longer has the cognitive faculties to serve as president after his car crash performance against former President Donald Trump .
The number of registered voters who believe Biden, 81, isn’t fit for the title of commander-in-chief grew by seven percent from earlier this month.
Before the debate in a June 9 poll, 65 percent said Biden doesn’t have the mental fitness to serve another four years – but after the debate, that grew to 72 percent, according to the CBS News/YouGov survey .
And nearly half (46 percent) of Biden’s own party don’t think he should run for president in 2024.
Jill Biden graces cover of Vogue as she reveals husband is 'fighting' for reelection
Jill Biden graced the cover of Vogue as she’s accused of ‘elder abuse’ by allowing Joe to continue his 2024 reelection campaign despite his disastrous debate.
The first lady covers the August issue of the fashion magazine in a $7,000 outfit, including a white power suit. The photo portrays an image of authority at a time Democrats say she is the only one who can talk Joe Biden off the presidential ticket and reigniting charges from conservatives that the first lady is a real power in the White House.
The glowing piece – which includes a short interview with Biden – was done before the president’s disastrous June 27th debate performance. It focuses on her work as first lady – including her fight for women’s health – and notes her commitment to another term in the White House.
Vogue affixed an editors’ note atop the online story to acknowledge current events. It notes the first lady called in from Camp David over the weekend – where the Biden family was gathered – to double down on her support for the president, brushing off Joe Biden’s fumbles in Thursday night’s debate.
Supreme Court to rule on Trump's immunity case today
The Supreme Court’s biggest blockbuster decision is set to come down at 10 a.m. ET today.
It comes during the last day of the court’s session before the justices depart on summer recess.
The ex-president’s team argued that Trump, and any president, must have absolute immunity from prosecution over actions taken while in office or it could impair important decision-making.
The decision will impact whether Trump will go back to trial over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election before November.
Democrat mega-donors consider three courses of action after Biden's disastrous debate
There are three different routes Democrat mega-donors are considering for how they handle Joe Biden after his feeble debate performance in Georgia Thursday.
Focus much of this weekend post-debate has been on the Biden family, who gathered at Camp David to discuss their patriarch’s political future.
The family has offered its unequivocal support to the president and even wondered how they can get further involved, with troubled son Hunter insisting his father fight back into the race.
However, many have started to play the blame game, citing Biden’s advisors’ poor debate prep to face Donald Trump and time is of the essence as Democrats panic at his dive in the polls post-Atlanta.
Democratic Party held a frantic call after Biden's debate disaster
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
Democratic Party leaders desperately pleaded with rank and file committee members to not abandon President Joe Biden despite his train wreck debate performance.
During a secret call after the CNN debate in Atlanta on Thursday, DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison and Biden’s campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez tried to quell concerns over the President’s viability as their 2024 candidate.
But those on the call claim leaders are gaslighting them and asking them to ignore obvious signs of mental decline. They believe that Biden, 81, might not be the best one for the job anymore.
With just a month-and-a-half until the Democratic Convention, many Party members, strategists and donors are wondering if they should seek a replacement.
Joe Salazar, an elected DNC member from Colorado who was on the call, said:
I was hoping for more of a substantive conversation instead of, ‘Hey, let’s go out there and just be cheerleaders,’ without actually addressing a very serious issue that unfolded on American television for millions of people to see.
There were a number of things that could have been said in addressing the situation. But we didn’t get that. We were being gaslit.
Biden is 'humiliated, devoid of confidence and painfully aware of his frail image', insider claims after nightmare debate
Joe Biden is ‘humiliated’ and ‘painfully aware’ of his image following his calamitous debate performance, as he is set to discuss the future of his re-election campaign.
The president has retreated to Camp David with is wife, children and grandchildren to take a break from the campaign trial and weigh his options, NBC News first reported.
Insiders described Biden’s mood as ‘humiliated and devoid of confidence’ following his face off with Donald Trump that saw him stumbling over his words and losing his train of thought multiple times.