SUMMARY

On Sunday, July 21, 2024, President Biden announced he’s dropping out of the 2024 race and endorsing Vice President Harris to be his party’s nominee. The move follows weeks of declining polls and calls from Democratic officials for him to step aside.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Why did Biden decide not to pursue another term, according to his announcement?
2. Who did President Biden endorse for the Democratic nomination?
3. What were some of the reasons Democratic officials were pressuring President Biden to leave the presidential race?
4. When is the Democratic National Convention?
5. How might the Democratic party choose the next nominee, including vice presidential candidate?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

How do you think the Democratic party should choose the next Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidate now that the primary season has passed? (Note: Florida didn't hold a primary nor were any debates held.) Who do you think should decide, and how?

Media literacy: News media organizations have been criticized for not taking polls that showed Biden losing to Trump seriously nor listening to voters' concerns about Biden as a candidate.

• Do you think the media had a role in pushing Biden to stay in the race? Or do you think the media had a role in pushing Biden out of the presidential race? Explain.

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

FOR MORE

What students can do:

Explore the historic context of Biden's decision to end his campaign. Watch the following interview with former News Hour anchor Judy Woodruff and discuss the following questions:

• What are the closest historic examples to Biden's decision to drop out of the race?
• What is different about Biden stepping aside and those other historic examples?
• Based on historical context, what do you predict will be the impact on the race between Republican and Democratic candidates?

Diversify your news diet:

News organizations had different takes on Biden's decision to drop out of the race. Take a look at the following stories from a range of news organizations and research additional news outlets' coverage to see similarities in differences.

Associated Press: Here’s what could happen next as Biden drops out and endorses Harris in the 2024 race

Politico: Why Biden Dropped Out

MSNBC: Biden drops out of 2024 race after weeks of pressure, endorses Harris

Fox News: Biden ends bid for second term in White House as he drops out of his 2024 rematch with Trump

Al Jazeera: Biden endorses Kamala Harris as US presidential nominee. What happens next?

New York Times: Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race and Endorses Harris

Breaking Points: Revealed: How Pelosi, Obama Forced Biden Out or Biden Drops Out! Backs Kamala:

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