Actions on audio recordings, marijuana and debates address political vulnerabilities. As he nears the end of his first term, President Biden, a long-standing institutionalist, is growing more comfortable using the full powers of the presidency - and in an election year, his latest actions have the added benefit of potentially shaping the political landscape in his favor. On Thursday morning, Biden asserted executive privilege over audio recordings from the special counsel investigation into his handling of classified documents - blocking Republicans from using clips to attack or embarrass him in political ads. In the afternoon, he publicly endorsed the Justice Department's recommendation to loosen restrictions on marijuana, which came at his urging and could usher in a historic shift in the nation's drug policy that Democrats hope will boost support among young voters and communities of color. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/16/biden-executive-privilege-debates/

Source: Washington Post May 17, 2024 11:03 UTC