📺 Axios PM: Watching Biden

💾 Plus: End of an era | Friday, July 05, 2024

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Amazon   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Jul 05, 2024 Good afternoon, and happy Friday! Today's newsletter, edited by Sam Baker, is 628 words, a 2.5-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for copy editing.     1 big thing: Biden's huge interview   President Biden poses for a selfie after arriving in Madison, Wis., today. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images President Biden's interview today with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos is supposed to be the first big step toward climbing out of the hole Biden dug for himself during the debate. Biden vowed this afternoon at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin: "I'm staying in the race. ... I am running and going to win again." But the interview (airing 8 p.m. ET) might not move the needle all that much, top Democrats tell Axios. 🎤 One House Democrat told Axios' Andrew Solender the interview will likely change "zero" minds in Congress: "The deciding factor is that the public ... now believes he is not capable. And for that reason alone, he needs to step down." "I think the ship has sailed," said another House Democrat. 💡 Reality check: The debate was widely viewed. The reaction was overwhelming. And it's had a long time to sink in before Biden's team put together the upcoming events designed to change public perceptions about his age. A brief interview — no matter how many times ABC plans to replay it — can only go so far. Screenshot: CNN 👀 "There were 40 million people that watched the debate, so it'll take more than a rally and an interview to prove that he can make the case that Trump is unfit to be president," Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) told Axios. "Nobody thinks that having a decent interview is the end of the problem," said another House Democrat. "He would need to suddenly materialize as the Biden of 20 years ago, and that's not going to happen." How to watch ... Go deeper.     2. ⛈️ Beryl likely to hit Texas this weekend   Data: NOAA; Map: Jared Whalen and Will Chase/Axios Forecasts for Hurricane Beryl put Texas in the crosshairs of a storm that has defied the odds for days, Axios extreme-weather expert Andrew Freedman reports. Coastal Texas residents from Brownsville to the Houston area need to prepare for the potential arrival of tropical storm-force winds and storm surge flooding as early as Sunday morning. And while the storm is currently losing steam, there's reason to believe it could reintensify, as it has done before. 🌀 Go deeper: Axios' new hurricane tracker will provide real-time updates on the path, intensity and forecasts for every hurricane this year — which is expected to be an especially active hurricane season. Explore the tracker.     A message from Amazon StoveShelf uses Amazon tools to grow     Scott started StoveShelf in his Milwaukee apartment. After partnering with Amazon he has been able to grow his business and move operations into a warehouse. Key number: More than 60% of sales in Amazon's store come from independent sellers. Discover more.     3. 📉 Labor market losing steam   Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   The labor market is showing signs of weakness, Axios Macro co-authors Courtenay Brown and Neil Irwin write. Employers are easing hiring, and the share of jobless Americans is rising. 📊 By the numbers: There were 206,000 jobs added to U.S. payrolls last month, according to today's jobs report — a decent gain. But downward revisions to prior months' data show a more rapid slowdown than previously thought. 🏦 Why it matters: The Fed might not be able to continue its inflation fight without risking further weakness in a labor market that is the bedrock of the economy. Today's jobs numbers in isolation probably aren't enough to trip alarm bells, but paired with softer readings on inflation and consumer spending, a September interest rate cut now looks more likely than not. Go deeper.     4. 💾 End of an era   Discarded old floppy diskettes used for backup. Photo: Getty Images Japan — one of the most technologically advanced countries on Earth — is finally saying goodbye to the floppy disk, the N.Y Times reports. A slew of rules and regulations have long required various Japanese businesses to keep records on floppy disks. The country's digital minister began a campaign to erase those rules two years ago, long after the floppy disk had left the mainstream. The last rule was finally eliminated just last week. ⌨️ Reality check: Since floppy disks were mandatory for so long, some sectors — including at least one bank — are still using them.     A message from Amazon Amazon helps small businesses grow     When Daniel and Eileen started their local houseplant business, they struggled to find customers. Amazon's marketing tools helped them grow their business beyond their hometown of Apopka, Florida. Key number: More than 60% of sales in Amazon's store come from independent sellers. Learn more.   Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Advertise with us. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. 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