President Joe Biden hosted a small group of scholars and historians for lunch on Wednesday as he gears up for a speech framing the upcoming election as a battle for the nation’s democracy.

The discussion revolved around “ongoing threats to democracy and democratic institutions both here in America and around the world, as well as the opportunities we face as a nation,” the White House said in a statement.

Princeton’s Eddie Glaude Jr. and Sean Wilentz, Harvard’s Annette Gordon-Reed, Yale’s Beverly Gage and Boston College’s Heather Cox Richardson were among the attendees, as well as presidential biographer — and occasional Biden speech writer — Jon Meacham.

Attendees were tight-lipped about what was discussed at the gathering. One would only go so far as to say they “talked about American history and its bearing on the present — a lively exchange of ideas.”

Another person in the room, who like the others was not authorized to speak publicly about a private meeting, said the historians urged the president “to call out the moment for what it is.” In blunt terms, the academics discussed looming threats to the nation’s democracy and warned about the slow crawl of authoritarianism around the globe.

  • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Okay, enjoy the genocide of your lgbtq+ and immigrant neighbors. You won’t vote but the MAGA crowd will appear in full force.

    • transientDCer@lemdro.id
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      11 months ago

      You’re kind of helping his argument, no? His choice is support genocide of his LGBT+ neighbors or Palestinians? Neither option presented sounds worthy of a vote.

    • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Democrats already jumped at the chance to support one genocide. Why should anyone trust them to not do it again at their earliest convenience?

      • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Republicans also jumped at the chance to feed Ukraine to Russia. Whats your point? Feed Ukraine to Russia so that Trump will protect Palestine? The Republicans already cut so much of Ukraine’s funding that they are struggling. I really don’t see what this better alternative is. We can’t just say no. Too much of the country is okay with both parties.

        • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Whats your point?

          I made my point. You ignored it. You don’t get to act like Democrats will protect anyone from genocide while they’re actively supporting a genocide.

          They’re not being shielded; they’re just another entry on the “then they came for” list.

          • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            Realistically, in real life, your other option is Republicans. Thats how American politics works. Until we fundamentally change the way our voting system works. So I’m curious what your rationale is. What are you going to do? Allow a man who straight up claimed he be a dictator to take over in spite? What is the goal?

            • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              This is the third time you’ve ignored what I’ve said and accused me of saying something I haven’t.

              • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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                11 months ago

                You jumped in the chain literally about my reply to someone daying “have fun with genocidin biden”. Thats part of the context. The democrats only have one thing going and its their lead not being a fucking psycho. We don’t have time to implement ranked choice.voting across the country before this years elections. Thats all they have besides being centrist capitalists every else in the world, which is marginally better than raving theocrat. We need to change our system but we are forced to vote one more time first. Unless you have something better to propose.

                • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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                  11 months ago

                  I’m still not saying that anyone should vote for another party. I pointed out that Democrats cannot be trusted to prevent genocide, since they are currently enabling one.

                  Unless you have something better to propose.

                  I’ve answered this already. Democrats should stop supporting genocide.

          • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            And who will shield the needy and vulnerable? Who will come to their aide when the world simply stares? What is your alternative solution?

              • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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                11 months ago

                I don’t. I think we need to change how our voting system works. We don’t have time before the next election. Thats my rationale. You have to choose now, this year. Ranked choice is not being implemented. So, you’re getting Trump or Biden most likely. With this shitty voting system, anybody spitefully withholding votes is helping Republicans make a Theocracy.

            • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              And who will shield the needy and vulnerable?

              Who indeed? Democrats had some legitimacy when they claimed they would do that. Until recently.

              What is your alternative solution?

              I’d start with Democrats ceasing their support for genocide.

              • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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                11 months ago

                The older Democrats and generation in general hold fast to Israel. Its what they’re familiar with and have grown up “on their team”. There is a divide in the age groups as the younger democratic officials support Palestine. What other elected officials of a different political party support Palestine and endorse it publicly? Do many Republicans? In American politics, those are your options without fundamental change to the voting system.

                • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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                  11 months ago

                  What other elected officials of a different political party support Palestine and endorse it publicly? Do many Republicans? In American politics, those are your options without fundamental change to the voting system.

                  I.

                  AM.

                  NOT.

                  ADVOCATING.

                  FOR.

                  VOTING.

                  FOR.

                  ANOTHER.

                  PARTY.

                  • Sanctus@lemmy.world
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                    11 months ago

                    You jumped into the chain that started with someone claiming voter apathy. What do you think I’m on about?