Wednesday Briefing

The Democratic Party is still deeply divided about President Biden’s electoral prospects.Credit…Eric Lee/The New York Times

Biden faces increasing isolation

As President Biden contends with the rebellion against his candidacy within his own party, he has relied for advice on family members and a few loyalists, who are true believers in the mythology of Joe Biden as the “comeback kid.”

The result has been a standoff between Biden and his inner circle on the one hand, and, on the other, broad swaths of voters and elected Democrats who fear an electoral wipeout in November.

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump has muted some of the pressure on Biden to exit the race. But weeks after the president’s disastrous debate performance, the Democratic Party is still divided about his prospects and his acuity.

Adam Schiff, a California representative running for Senate, gave a warning during a private meeting with donors over the weekend. “We may very, very well lose the Senate and lose our chance to take back the House,” Schiff said, according to people with knowledge of the remarks.

Next steps: Leaders of the Democratic National Committee are moving to confirm Biden as the party’s nominee before the end of July, according to people briefed on the matter.

Fewer migrants: June saw the fewest illegal crossings of the southern border since January 2021. But it is far from clear that Biden will reap the political benefits.