President Joe Biden hosted a small group of scholars and historians for lunch on Wednesday as he gears up for a speech framing the upcoming election as a battle for the nation’s democracy.

The discussion revolved around “ongoing threats to democracy and democratic institutions both here in America and around the world, as well as the opportunities we face as a nation,” the White House said in a statement.

Princeton’s Eddie Glaude Jr. and Sean Wilentz, Harvard’s Annette Gordon-Reed, Yale’s Beverly Gage and Boston College’s Heather Cox Richardson were among the attendees, as well as presidential biographer — and occasional Biden speech writer — Jon Meacham.

Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”

Another person in the room, who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting, said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe.

  • @[email protected]
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    49 months ago

    You’re kind of helping his argument, no? His choice is support genocide of his LGBT+ neighbors or Palestinians? Neither option presented sounds worthy of a vote.

    • @Mikelius
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      29 months ago

      It’s not an “or” question, it’s an“and”.

    • @Feathercrown
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      29 months ago

      And republicans are going to end the Israel-Palestine conflict? I don’t think so

      • @[email protected]
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        29 months ago

        You’re so hell bent on making it a Republican vs Democrat thing. We should be primarying Biden out. They’re both too old and need to go the fuck on.

        • @Feathercrown
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          19 months ago

          Whether you like it or not, until we get RCV, approval voting, STAR, or some other method better than first-past-the-post (we don’t even have majority!), it is a Democrat vs. Republican thing. Which I should mention, is also how YOU framed it in your post. The only thing I’m pointing out is that if you choose the option that’s bad for LGBTQ+, it’s also just as bad for Palestinians as the other option is.

          • @[email protected]
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            29 months ago

            This skios the part where the Dems act like Biden is the only candidate that can beat Trump. He may beat him, he also may beat him to his grave. He’s too old and should be primaried out.

            • @Feathercrown
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              19 months ago

              Who would run instead? Harris? I haven’t seen a single article about her. Bernie? The DNC would never do that. Biden is the incumbent, and what other good options are there?

    • HubertManne
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      19 months ago

      not really since the palestines situation will be the same or worse under turmp. so its a choice of some or more of.