'It makes no sense!' Clash on CNN as panelists argue over Biden election mess
Things got heated on CNN's Inside Politics Wednesday over the question of who knew what and when about President Joe Biden's cognitive decline — and whether it would hurt Democrats in the 2028 presidential election.
Biden ultimately dropped out of the race, but critics said it was too late for then-Vice President Kamala Harris to get a real foothold against Donald Trump.
Axios's Hans Nichols said that things could get ugly if the core Biden advisers come out and "really turn on the president they served and say, 'As a matter of fact, it was clear to us at this certain time that he didn't have the cognitive ability.'"
"They haven't done that yet. So, to me, that's when the knives really come out" resulting in "a massive fight," Nichols said.
Nia Malika Henderson disagreed, saying, "Seems unlikely, but Okay."
Nichols erupted: "You don't think Pete Buttigieg will have to be called into account that he defended Biden?"
"I think they'll throw Biden under the bus and it'll be no problem," Henderson argued. "I mean, the thing about it is this idea that there was a cover up, Americans were pretty clear that they didn't want Joe Biden to be president."
"Here's my broader point — and I say this respectfully," Nichols said. "But 2028, Democrats are going to want someone who's a fighter, they're going to want someone who's competent, and they're going to want to have someone that's going to be able to go up against whoever the Republicans put forward, and be able to answer all these questions.
"And I just don't think there's going to be collective amnesia in the party over what happened in 2024. They're so burned — and you talk to them privately — they're so scarred by the Trump presidency, they're not going to want to make the same mistake, and they're going to kick the tires very closely."
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"I didn't suggest there's going to be collective amnesia —" Henderson began before Nichols interrupted.
"Well, you seem to say it just didn't matter."
"No, no, no. I'm saying to voters in 2028, you will not find a single voter who is going to decide who they're going to vote for in a primary based on what they did about Biden. It makes no sense!" Henderson exclaimed.
"I'll take your primary point, but if you've been to an Iowa caucus — have you talked to the level of intensity that Democratic voters are going to have?" Nichols asked. "They're very upset!"
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