The Week Evening Review
Biden courts seniors, chaos spirals at Paramount, and a basketball star challenges Klobuchar

 
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION

Will Biden's courtship of seniors make a difference?

President Joe Biden is just months away from his electoral rematch with Donald Trump, and he's looking to woo a group of voters he knows well: seniors. At 81, Biden's age remains a key factor, and most data shows that older voters are now supporting him in greater numbers than younger voters.

Three senior groups have endorsed Biden for president, and the White House has launched its Seniors for Biden-Harris coalition, which will organize events including postcard writing, bingo nights and pickleball tournaments while highlighting the administration's efforts to protect programs like Social Security and Medicare.

What did the commentators say?
Age is an "unmistakable part of the bitterly contested race for the White House," said Jeff Zeleny and Eric Bradner at CNN. The Biden campaign has long-attempted to paint the president in a more youthful light but is "suddenly embracing age" and "turning to seniors." While "other parts of the Biden coalition are fraying, the campaign is putting a renewed focus on seniors to volunteer and vote."

Biden's ability to court seniors is crucial, because Americans ages 65 and older "turn out at significantly higher rates than younger voters do, giving them outsize clout," said Ken Thomas and Dante Chinni at The Wall Street Journal. Biden remains steadily in the lead with seniors for now, in part because he has been "performing well among Americans who are closely monitoring the election, giving him an advantage with seniors who actively consume cable television and news coverage in their retirement." Additionally, "some polling has shown seniors with more favorable views of Biden's handling of the economy."

However, a "feeling of dramatic movement among older voters toward Biden may be overstated," Matt Grossmann, a public policy director at Michigan State University, said to the Journal. While polling provides a snapshot, it's "hard to compare changes in voting habits among age groups over time" across multiple election cycles. Even so, "one hypothesis for why older voters look more likely to support Biden may be that older voters are less concerned about Biden's age."

What next?
If seniors vote as expected in November, the election between two "historically old candidates would upend long-held assumptions about how Americans vote," said Axios. This rings especially true given that "preserving democracy has emerged as one of the clearest dividing lines between younger and older voters."

 
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QUOTE OF THE DAY

'Mallorca is bursting at the seams, and we are on a road to collapse both ecologically and societally.'

Matias Pizarro, a Mallorcan resident, on the impact of tourism on the Spanish island. Mallorca remains a world-famous tourist destination, but locals are concerned about the impact of vacationers on the island's resources. 

 
 
The Explainer

The spiraling chaos at Paramount

Paramount Global has needed an economic lifeline for months. The company thought it found one with Skydance Media, but a deal to merge the brands fell apart in the final stages of negotiations. Now, Paramount is back to square one, and Hollywood is left wondering what will happen to the iconic studio. 

Why has it been struggling? 
Paramount has been looking to sell itself and get a financial boost for some time now. The studio has been "struggling to recover from last year's monthslong strikes by Hollywood writers and actors, a soft advertising market, and falling cable subscriptions in the United States that have eroded profit for its TV business," said Reuters. The company's streaming service, Paramount+, is also lagging far behind its competitors.

Paramount has been on a steady decline ever since CBS merged with Viacom in 2019 to create Paramount Global. But shares of Paramount have "fallen more than 65% since then, losing more than $14 billion in market value," said Reuters. 

What went wrong with the deal? 
The merger between Skydance and Paramount was declined at the last minute at the behest of Paramount Chairwoman Shari Redstone. She "just didn't want to sell," said The New York Times. 

As talks got closer, a "fundamental question hovered over everything: Was the Redstone family finally ready to part with the media empire it has owned for decades?" said the Times. Paramount and Skydance had already agreed to an $8 billion deal that would see Redstone receive $2 billion and Skydance buy out nearly half of Paramount's shares, CNBC said. However, Redstone "decided she still wasn't satisfied and communicated her desire to end the talks to Skydance," said The Wrap.

What comes next?
Paramount "appears increasingly likely to go it alone," Guggenheim analyst Michael Morris said to The Hollywood Reporter. But its "current strategy has no hope of creating a viable, profitable long-term business," said Richard Greenfield, an analyst at LightShed Partners. Expect an "aggressive battle between Amazon Prime Video, Warner Bros. Discovery/Max and NBCU/Peacock to license Paramount's content or create some form of joint venture with Paramount+."

 
 

Statistic of the day

1.2M: The number of Stellantis cars being recalled by the automaker over a software glitch that can disable the rearview cameras. Stellantis is the parent company behind Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat and others, and the recall includes Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, as well as Rams and Chrysler Pacificas. 
The Associated Press

 
 
In the Spotlight

Royce White, the basketball star challenging Klobuchar

On paper, Royce White seems like an ideal political outsider: a charismatic public figure with a compelling personal narrative. The Minnesota Republican Party tapped White — a former college basketball star, first-round NBA draft pick, mental health advocate and popular podcast host — as its endorsed candidate to take on Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar. 

However, White's endorsement came "qualified, with reservations." White, who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) in 2022, has long courted the fringes of his party's right wing with offensive rhetoric about women, Jewish people and the LGBTQ+ community. It marks a significant moment for the Minnesota GOP, which has struggled to win statewide office for years.

'Unusual candidate'
While Minnesota Republicans "overwhelmingly" backed White's endorsement, he has "gotten major pushback" from "three of the last Republicans to win a statewide race in Minnesota — former senators Rudy Boschwitz and Norm Coleman, as well as former Gov. Tim Pawlenty," CBS News said. White has rejected their criticisms, claiming their style of Republican politics has "never really been very successful" at bringing in younger voters and voters of color. 

White is an "unusual candidate," state party Chair David Hann said to ABC affiliate KTSP. "There's no question about it." Nevertheless, "we have to give him the opportunity to make the case." White's endorsement "reflects poorly on the state political party," which knew of many of his controversies before his endorsement, the Minnesota Reformer said. White will likely be a "gift to Democrats this cycle," The New York Times said. 

'Support of national far-right Republican figures'
While some Minnesota conservatives have attributed White's party endorsement to "low convention turnout and a flawed nominating process," it can also be attributed to the "support of national far-right Republican figures" such as Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), InfoWars host Alex Jones and Steve Bannon, who introduced White at the party convention, The Star Tribune said.

Crucially, White is not yet the Minnesota GOP's official Senate nominee. Candidate Joe Fraser announced he would continue to pursue the nomination in the August GOP primary despite his party endorsing White. With White on the ballot, Democrats will "win and win big this fall," Fraser said in a campaign video. 

White faces an "uphill battle," said Ja'han Jones at MSNBC. He's also proof that Democrats should pay attention to the "right-wing podcast world," which is where "conservative celebrities are created, narratives are spun and campaigns are launched."

 
 

Good day ?️‍?

… for Thailand. The country became the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage on Tuesday. The Thai Senate voted with a landslide majority of 130-4 to codify protections for same-sex unions. Thailand is the third country in greater Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, after Taiwan in 2019 and Nepal in 2023.

 
 

Bad day ?

… for the Bling Bishop. Known as such due to his flamboyant lifestyle, Brooklyn pastor Lamor Miller-Whitehead was sentenced to nine years in prison on Monday for financial fraud. He was convicted in March of various fraud schemes, including wire fraud and attempted extortion, en route to stealing millions of dollars.

 
 
Picture of the day

Cooling off

Boys play in Dhaka's Buriganga River as Bangladesh swelters in a severe heatwave. Scores of heat-related illnesses and deaths have been reported as temperatures have soared in recent weeks.
Syed Mahabubul Kader / ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock

 
 
Puzzles

Test your general knowledge with The Week's daily crossword, part of our puzzles section, which also includes sudoku and codewords

 
 
The Week recommends

Don't let sweltering temperatures force you to put your hiking boots away this summer. There are plenty of places to go on a temperate trek, from the wilds of Alaska to the caves of Kentucky.

Duluth, Minnesota
Its prime position on Lake Superior is a boon for Duluth in the summer, when the mercury rarely reaches above 76 degrees. These mild temperatures draw people to the lake and Duluth's 200 miles of paved and natural-surface hiking trails. The accessible half-mile Chambers Grove Park Interpretive Trail goes by historical landmarks, like the first rail bed built in Duluth, while the Ely's Peak loop boasts beautiful views of the St. Louis River.

Igloo Creek Campground, Denali Park, Alaska
Hikers looking for abundant trails in a cooler spot will find this near the Igloo Creek Campground in Denali National Park and Preserve. During the summer, highs are typically in the 60s, and rain can be expected. This small campground has just seven tent spots and is in a serene area between Cathedral Mountain and Igloo Mountain, right alongside Igloo Creek. 

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
It may be hot and humid outside, but it's always a crisp 54 degrees inside Mammoth Cave. Put on your hiking shoes and sign up for a guided tour like the Grand Avenue tour. It takes visitors on a four-hour trek through slot canyons, tunnels and tubular passageways. And it not only gives you relief from the heat while getting your steps in but also provides insight into Mammoth Cave's history and geology.

 
 

Poll watch

Finland has the highest overall levels of trust in the news, according to a new poll from YouGov and the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. The poll surveyed over 94,000 people in 47 countries and found that Finland has the highest trust levels at 69%, while Greece and Hungary have the lowest levels at 23%.

 
 
INSTANT OPINION

Today's best commentary

'Juneteenth is about more than the end of slavery'
Los Angeles Times editorial board 
Juneteenth is "no more a holiday just for Black people than the Fourth of July is a holiday just for white people," says the Los Angeles Times editorial board. It "recognizes and celebrates a profound milestone in American history," but it "didn't end systemic racism and its discriminatory effects in housing, employment and education" that are still felt today. However, there are "reasons to celebrate this holiday," as Juneteenth is about "honoring fortitude, perseverance and, yes, optimism."

'We have run federal agencies. Here's what the civil service needs.'
Mike Hayden, James Loy, Mike McConnell, John Negroponte and Sean O'Keefe at The Washington Post 
There should be a new way of appointing civil servants that "preserves all that is right with our civil service but also addresses what almost everyone agrees is wrong with it," say Mike Hayden, James Loy, Mike McConnell, John Negroponte and Sean O'Keefe. Using "political ideology as a litmus test" in civil appointments "presents a dangerous risk to our national security," but "these employees must also be held accountable for doing their jobs well."

'Why I'm calling for a warning label on social media platforms' 
Vivek Murthy at The New York Times 
The mental health problem among "young people is an emergency, and social media has emerged as an important contributor," says Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. It's "time to require a surgeon general's warning label on social media platforms," which would "regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe." But a "warning label would not, on its own, make social media safe for young people," so the "rest of society can play a role also."

 
 
WORD OF THE DAY

vivification

The activity of giving vitality and vigor to something. An ancient Egyptian manuscript was recently discovered of the "vivification of the sparrows," the earliest-known story of Jesus Christ performing a miracle as a child. Researchers at the Hamburg State and University Library in Germany found the story of Jesus as a 5-year-old turning clay pigeons into live birds on a fragment of papyrus from an ancient school in Egypt in the fourth or fifth century.

 
 

Evening Review was written and edited by Theara Coleman, Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, Justin Klawans, Harold Maass, Joel Mathis, Summer Meza, Devika Rao, Rafi Schwartz, Anahi Valenzuela and Peter Weber, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images; AaronP / Bauer-Griffin / GC Images via Getty Images; Andy Lyons / Getty Images for BIG3; Paul Souders / Getty Image