We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson on the ‘Original Sin’ Controversy

Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson on the ‘Original Sin’ Controversy

2025/6/2
logo of podcast KQED's Forum

KQED's Forum
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
A
Alex Thompson
一名长期跟踪报道美国总统竞选活动的资深新闻记者。
J
Jake Tapper
Topics
Jake Tapper: 我对拜登在辩论台上的表现感到震惊，因为他完全无法胜任总统的工作。我和Alex在选举结束后开始调查拜登在辩论前幕后有多少次表现失常，结果我们感到震惊。我认为特朗普当选总统的原因之一是拜登决定竞选连任，并且他的团队试图掩盖他的衰退。我认为他们没有考虑选举日之后的事情，他们只想击败特朗普。我们不是说拜登在政治上不适合当总统，而是说他身边的人说他有时无法履行职责。我们希望选民对所有总统的健康状况保持怀疑，并要求透明度。我承认，在拜登认知能力的问题上，我也有失职的地方。我认为他们没有考虑选举日之后的事情，他们只想击败特朗普。 Alex Thompson: 我一直在报道白宫如何适应拜登的局限性，包括他的精力和身体衰退。白宫明确地试图掩盖拜登在辩论台上的表现，这已经不是他第一次这样了，而且在辩论前八到九个月，他们越来越疯狂地试图保护他。拜登的家人和最亲近的幕僚控制着对他的访问和决策。白宫试图诋毁特别检察官罗伯特·赫尔的职业生涯，因为他将拜登描述为一位好意但记忆力差的老年人。长期追随拜登的人开始认为他总能东山再起，这种观点变成了一种神学，质疑是不允许的。民主党人没有认识到他们的候选人可能无法坚持到终点，这是特朗普当选总统的原因之一。现在的政党基础设施非常薄弱，并且屈服于政党领导人。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The authors recount several instances where President Biden's cognitive decline was evident, even before the first debate with Donald Trump. They highlight how the White House actively worked to conceal these instances from the public.
  • Biden's cognitive decline was noticeable before the debate.
  • The White House made concerted efforts to hide Biden's decline.
  • The decline affected Biden's ability to perform presidential duties.

Shownotes Transcript

Journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s new book, “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” has generated massive coverage – and pushback – since its release in May. Some Democrats say it’s not time to focus on the past, amid the turmoil of the current administration. But Tapper and Thompson say that, “journalism about Biden does not excuse or normalize any actions and statements by anyone else, including the forty-fifth and now forty-seventh president.” We’ll talk with the authors about the controversy, the alleged “cover-up” of Biden’s decline and why they say a reckoning is needed for the future of the Democratic party.

Guests:

**Jake Tapper, **anchor and chief Washington correspondent, CNN; co-author, "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again"

**Alex Thompson, **national political correspondent, Axios; co-author, "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices)