Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House

“Biden’s slow gait, wan complexion, and hoarse whisper of a voice completed the portrait of lifelessness. For four years, since they ran against each other the first time, Trump had claimed that Biden was enfeebled both physically and mentally. Now Trump looked like the truth-teller—at least on that score.”

This quote showcases the profound shift in the political landscape that the 2024 debate caused. Biden’s undeniable signs of illness sent the Democrats into a frenzy of anxiety and behind-the-scenes negotiation, while Trump, perfectly satisfied with lying about Biden’s health, went into action to maximize the boon of retrospectively appearing to have told the truth.

“One Democratic House member, knowing his words would be repeated as he texted a reporter, likened the president to a punch-drunk boxer. His team should ‘throw in the towel’ on the election, the lawmaker wrote, just minutes after the debate’s conclusion. In the electronic warrens of congressional text chains, fear and anger exploded.”

This quote displays the interplay between political insiders and the press, who try to interpret their actions and even influence them. Some politicians utilize friendly journalists to disseminate their true opinions without damaging their alliances by speaking on the record. This type of game, however, leads to a decline in credibility with the wider voting public, who can’t trust that their politicians are telling them the truth.

“Longtime Democratic critics of Biden were piling on publicly and privately. Allies tripped over their feet as they attempted to retain their own credibility while looking for silver linings. Biden aides winced at the scraping sound of fellow Democrats sharpening their knives.”

This quote underlines the sensory imagery and metaphor that the authors use to ground readers in the often-esoteric world of politics. The verbs paint pictures that communicate universally understood symbols of (often violent) human interaction like piling on, tripping, and sharpening knives.