Elections

Biden says he intends to run in 2024 but makes no commitment

Published

3 years ago

March 25, 2021

Screen Shot 2021 03 25 at 3.13.44 PM scaled

President Joe Biden told reporters on Thursday his “expectation” is to make a reelection bid in 2024, but he did not set any election plans in stone.

“The answer is yes, my plan is to run for reelection,” he said during his first formal press conference as commander-in-chief. “That’s my expectation.”

By this time in office for former President Donald Trump, he had already set up a reelection committee. Biden laughed off this comparison a reporter made between the two.

“My predecessor needed to. […] Oh God, I miss him,” he joked.

BREAKING: Biden on running in 2024: "My plan is to run for re-election. That's my expectation." pic.twitter.com/IncVFJjsuI
— Axios (@axios) March 25, 2021

Although, Biden fended off follow-up questions about whether his remarks represented a formal pledge to run in 2024.

“Look, I don’t know where you guys come from, man. […] I’m a great respecter of fate,” he said. “I’ve never been able to plan three and a half, four years ahead, for certain.”

At 78 years old, Biden is not only the oldest person to be sworn in as commander-in-chief, but he is also the oldest occupant of the Oval Office—ever. The previous record-holder for oldest president was Ronald Reagan, who—when he departed the White House in 1989—was 78 days younger than Biden was on Inauguration Day 2021.

If he runs for reelection and wins, Biden would be 82 years old at his second inauguration.

Moreover, assuming Biden does indeed run again, 2024 could very well see a rematch between him and Trump. The former president has left the door open for bid to retake the White House.

MORE ON 2024: Trump hints when he’ll decide on 2024

Polls have regularly indicated that if Trump were to enter the race, a majority of GOP voters would support him in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, with him trouncing the nearest runner-ups by a longshot.

If Trump were to win reelection, he would be 78 when sworn in a second time.

MORE ON 2024: Poll: Majority of GOP voters still favor Trump for 2024

Although, if Biden does not run for reelection, many have suggested that Vice President Kamala Harris should be his heir apparent.

At Thursday’s press conference, Biden said he would expect Harris to be on his ticket if he ran again. However, he deflected questions about whether he would square up against his predecessor in the next election.

“I have no idea if there will be a Republican Party,” he said. “Do you?”

MORE ON 2024: Romney: If Trumps runs in 2024, ‘I’m pretty sure he will win’ GOP nomination

You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @Douglas_P_Braff.

Nation

Elizabeth Warren Acknowledges Unintended Consequences of Obamacare

Published

7 days ago

November 27, 2023

Alexander Carter

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a longtime supporter of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is now acknowledging the unintended consequences of the healthcare legislation, particularly its impact on industry consolidation and rising healthcare prices.

Warren, who has been a vocal proponent of Obamacare, has recently had what the Wall Street Journal reported as an “epiphany” regarding the consequences of the healthcare law. In a letter addressed to the Health and Human Services Department inspector general, Warren, along with Senator Mike Braun of Indiana, expressed concerns about vertically-integrated healthcare companies potentially increasing prescription drug costs and evading federal regulations.

According to reports from Fox News, the bipartisan letter highlighted issues with the nation’s largest health insurers allegedly bypassing Obamacare’s medical loss ratio (MLR). According to Warren, these insurers, through vertical integration, have manipulated the system, leading to “sky-high prescription drug costs and excessive corporate profits.”

The senators detailed how conglomerates, like UnitedHealth Group, with ownership across various healthcare sectors, could inflate medical payments to pharmacies and, by realizing those payments on the pharmacy side, appear to comply with MLR requirements while retaining more profits.

Moreover, despite the Democrats’ argument that the MLR would benefit patients, it has incentivized insurers to merge with or acquire pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), retail and specialty pharmacies, and healthcare providers. This, in turn, has made healthcare spending less transparent, as insurers can allegedly shift profits to their affiliates by increasing reimbursements.

Warren, who has consistently voted against Obamacare repeal efforts, notably advocated for a “Medicare for All” proposal during her 2020 presidential campaign. Despite her prior support for the healthcare law, Warren’s recent concerns about its unintended consequences have raised questions about the long-term effects of Obamacare and its impact on the healthcare industry.