How a narrative of failure upended Biden's 1st year


Six months ago, it looked like Joe Biden's presidency was off to a strong start. Though the presidential election was closer than most polls had predicted, Biden ran ahead of congressional Democrats. The new president and his party managed to pass the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan less than two months after Inauguration Day, despite razor-thin margins in both houses of Congress. The administration did a good job of making several highly effective vaccines against COVID-19 widely available. And Biden announced the coming withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, fulfilling a campaign promise strongly backed by public opinion. For all of this, the new president was rewarded with approval ratings in the low-to-mid-50s.
Then came the chaotic execution of the Afghanistan exit from late July through the end of August. That sent Biden's numbers off a cliff, and they've never recovered.
Presidential success or failure in Washington is a function of narratives. When a good one takes hold, with a series of positive stories seeming to reinforce it, a president's approval rises or stays steady. But when something goes wrong and appears to be followed by events that demonstrate a pattern of ineptitude, support can collapse.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The defining story since late summer has been one of a president and administration continually sideswiped by events. Withdrawal from Afghanistan unfolded nothing like what Biden had promised. The Delta and Omnicron waves of COVID-19 made the president's early July declaration of independence from the pandemic seem flat-footed and premature. Persistent supply-chain problems and surging inflation have caught the White House off guard and left it sounding defensive. Democrats in Congress have spent much of the past few months bickering amongst themselves about social policy and voting rights, and Biden seems unable to get them out of that rut.
Many point to the persistence of the pandemic as Biden's primary problem. Others highlight rising prices and empty store shelves. Still others blame the administration's fealty to progressive activists or the perception of foreign policy fecklessness. The truth is Biden is faltering because of all of it. Each story reinforces the perception that the country is adrift, lacking in leadership, and persistently knocked off course by forces the White House is powerless to master or control.
The good news is the administration appears aware of the need for a reset. Hence the presidential press conference announced for Wednesday afternoon, on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Biden's inauguration. The bad news is that this appearance before reporters may end up being upstaged by defeats in the Senate for administration priorities Biden himself has championed in recent speeches — another story of a White House seemingly outmatched by events. We may have to wait a while longer before we see a true Biden reset.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Damon Linker is a senior correspondent at TheWeek.com. He is also a former contributing editor at The New Republic and the author of The Theocons and The Religious Test.
-
October 12 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the MAGA Matrix, bear and bull markets, and ICE at a job fair.
-
The quest to defy ageing
The Explainer Humanity has fantasised about finding the fountain of youth for millennia. How close are we now?
-
Crossword: October 12, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Could Democrats lose the New Jersey governor’s race?
Today’s Big Question Democrat Mikie Sherrill stumbles against Republican Jack Ciattarelli
-
Gaza peace deal: why did Trump succeed where Biden failed?
Today's Big Question As the first stage of a ceasefire begins, Trump’s unique ‘just-get-it-done’ attitude may have proven pivotal to negotiations
-
‘Every argument has a rational, emotional and rhetorical component’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Why is this government shutdown so consequential?
Today's Big Question Federal employee layoffs could be in the thousands
-
Shutdown: Democrats stand firm, at a cost
Feature With Trump refusing to negotiate, Democrats’ fight over health care could push the government toward a shutdown
-
Trump’s plan for a government shutdown: mass firings
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As lawmakers scramble to avoid a shutdown, the White House is making plans for widespread layoffs that could lead to a permanent federal downsizing
-
Democrats: Harris and Biden’s blame game
Feature Kamala Harris’ new memoir reveals frustrations over Biden’s reelection bid and her time as vice president
-
Democrats might be ready for a shutdown. What do they want?
Today’s Big Question A ‘hardened approach’ against Trump