Good Morning! Hope you had a good weekend! Lots of politics this weekend, starting with a recap of the first presidential debate in the USA and the fallout it caused.

The headlines of today:

• Joe Biden crushed in first debate 🇺🇸 

• Potential replacements within the Democratic party 🔄 

• France first round election results 🇫🇷 

Have a good week!

Nils

US
The first debate in the US was a big disaster for Joe Biden

What Happened 
President Biden's performance in Thursday night's presidential debate against former President Donald Trump was widely criticised by Democrats, with many expressing shock and concern over his slow, rough, and unready manner. From the start of the debate, Biden struggled to counter Trump's falsehoods and misrepresentations, leading to a sense of panic within the Democratic Party.

Why It Matters

• Biden's poor performance has reignited concerns about his age and fitness for office, which have been a consistent worry for voters and a target of Republican attacks.

• The debate was Biden's idea, and his team set the ground rules, making the outcome a significant blow to his campaign and raising questions about his inner circle's debate prep strategy.

• If Biden were to leave the race, the process to pick a replacement would be messy and divisive, potentially exposing rifts within the Democratic Party and complicating Vice President Kamala Harris's role.

• The debate has also raised fears among Congressional Democrats that Biden's continued presence on the ticket could cost them seats in November.

What's Next
In the coming days, the key question will be whether the deep concerns about Biden's candidacy enter his inner circle and lead to any significant changes in strategy or personnel. While there's no sign that Biden is considering ending his campaign, the pressure may mount if more Democrats go public with their concerns. If Biden were to leave the race, several ambitious Democrats would likely vie to become the party's nominee, but the compressed timeline and potential divisions could create a chaotic process. Meanwhile, Trump and his surrogates are likely to continue gloating over Biden's performance and using it to paint him as unfit for office. The fallout from this debate could have significant implications for the remainder of the 2024 presidential campaign.