Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
“Happy Juneteenth everybody!” says Kamala Harris, the nation’s first Black vice president, on a day when it becomes a national holiday. pic.twitter.com/vi6OpbVe6f
— Matt Viser (@mviser) June 17, 2021
Well-earned victory laps!
Thursday Morning Open Thread: Rubbing It InPost + Comments (181)
The Critique: Biden had grins, hugs and “love” for allies. But will not offer a morsel of bread to Putin. https://t.co/29RUaeW70k
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 16, 2021
… In the visual record of Biden’s interactions with his G-7 counterparts in Cornwall and the leaders of the NATO alliance in Brussels, during his official arrival in Geneva in advance of a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Biden telegraphed ease — even though none of the problems he must contend with are easy. In his public gestures and expressions, Biden painted a portrait of civility, good humor and control as he stood alongside America’s friends.
There’s diplomacy in the details, in the aesthetic grace notes. And in the empty spaces.
For his meeting with Putin on Wednesday, his administration has made it plain that there will be no side-by-side news conference. No mutual answering of questions. During their conversation, there will be no meal. No bread will be broken, but presumably there will, at least, be water.
So much has changed in the vividly fraught relationship between America and its allies and its stubbornly credulous relationship with Russia these past four years. When Macron first met then-President Donald Trump, their long handshake might well have set a record. It was akin to an arm-wrestling match, as each man’s knuckles turned white and their jaws clenched. Their subsequent encounters included handshakes that were tests of endurance and brute strength, with at least one instance of the American yanking on the Frenchman’s hand as if he were prepared to wrestle him to the mat.
But after an administration whose public stance was defined by anger and chest-thumping — and the actual shoving of other world leaders — Biden’s every “hello” is a course correction for the historical record. He and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg engaged in a shoulder-clasping tête-à-tête in Brussels while visiting the memorial to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The president arrived in Geneva and returned the Swiss gesture of placing one’s hand over one’s heart in a warm and fuzzy welcome. And as some countries begin to see signs of a dissipating pandemic, the diplomatic handshake — so maligned, so germy and yet so deeply ingrained — has made a comeback, but without the palpable animosity of the Trump years…
The visuals don’t tell the full story of policies and negotiations. But they do tell us something about the intent, and the tone — about the way in which one wants to be seen. Biden’s walk across the international stage has been both considered and considerate.
He wrapped his allies in an embrace. And he promised not to give bread and comfort to his adversaries.
“Joe Biden wants a relationship with Russia that is stable & predictable. Trouble is, unpredictability is Vladimir Putin’s thing.” Our summit preview from Geneva. Producer @BBCWillVernon Camera/edit @mattgodtv @BBCNews @BBCWorld #GenevaSummit pic.twitter.com/rFImSBd3ho
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) June 15, 2021
President Biden flew to Geneva where he will, for the first time since taking office, meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting comes as relations between Washington and Moscow are at their most fraught in years https://t.co/0c2IumFuGO pic.twitter.com/rhBNrfiJeO
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 16, 2021
Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Summit to Talk AboutPost + Comments (241)
The Transatlantic Alliance is the strong foundation on which our collective security and our shared prosperity are built. It’s an honor to be at NATO HQ today, reaffirming America’s commitment to our 29 Allies and our vision for a more secure future. pic.twitter.com/vUJIszZAvT
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 14, 2021
The Pulitzer Prizes awarded a special citation to Darnella Frazier, the teenager who pulled out her cellphone and recorded the police restraint and death of George Floyd. That video helped launch a global movement against racial injustice.https://t.co/nX72yCVfe9
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 11, 2021
What’s your message to Putin? “I’ll tell you after I deliver it,” said President Biden as he arrived at G7 summit. pic.twitter.com/TiMwcDcxPM
— Steve Holland (@steveholland1) June 11, 2021
This had been a big question about the summit. Definitely the right call. The risk is Putin would use it to grandstand and overshadow the meetings with allies. https://t.co/0mQyJFWHzJ
— Tom Wright (@thomaswright08) June 11, 2021
It is unlikely that we will see any breakthroughs at the upcoming Putin-Biden summit — but despite all the difficulties, there are still signs for optimism, writes former Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov.https://t.co/oXzNqccqox
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) June 11, 2021
Blessed are those who expect little, for they are seldom disappointed:
… As officials with a proven track-record — who also have considerable experience in communicating with each other — are in charge of setting the scene for the meeting, we can safely assume that there will be no annoying communication failures or emotional outbursts that could get in the way of a level-headed discussion in Geneva…
Even a cursory list of the problems facing the U.S.–Russia relations reveals just how overwhelming and difficult the agenda of the upcoming summit is likely to be. The conversation in Geneva will inevitably be extremely specific. At times, it will be tough and not necessarily pleasant for either side.
Both Biden and Putin knew this coming in and agreed to the meeting anyway, hoping it would be a success — and the two sides need it to be a success, for many reasons. Therefore, despite all the difficulties, there is every reason to wait for news from Geneva with hope and reasonable optimism.
Top U.S. and Chinese diplomats appear to have had another sharply worded exchange, with Beijing saying it told the U.S. to cease interfering in its internal affairs and accusing it of politicizing the search for the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/g4qTAYXev1
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 12, 2021
And if you think that was an ugly convo…
Nevada’s governor has signed a law making the Western state the first to vote on the 2024 presidential primary contests, bumping Iowa and New Hampshire from their leadoff spots. It's likely to set off maneuvering by other states to move up their contests. https://t.co/0PAS8p3UPP
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 11, 2021
Saturday Morning Open Thread: One Step At A TimePost + Comments (209)
Boris Johnson says Biden administration is "a big breath of fresh air", adding after first bilateral meeting with the president: "It's new, it's interesting."
— Hugo Gye (@HugoGye) June 10, 2021
After all the ‘two bros together’ japery between Johnson & TFG over the last few years, it might’ve been considered unseemly for him to scramble like this…
“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” Biden said, dodging a handshake from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to greet his new wife Carrie first. https://t.co/PuWthIU239
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) June 10, 2021
“I told the prime minister we have something in common. We both married way above our station,” @POTUS said at Boris Johnson bilat.
“I’m not going to dissent from that one,” @BorisJohnson said.
“I’m not going to disagree with you on that. Or indeed on anything else.” pic.twitter.com/drPmUXPV4o
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) June 10, 2021
But maybe (I’m told the British upper classes are sensitive about some things) he was just embarrassed he’d undercalculated on the traditional goodwill gift exchange:
"As a gesture of friendship and in recognition of their shared interest in cycling," @POTUS gave @BorisJohnson a touring bicycle and bike helmet custom-made by @bilenkycycles, a small family business in Philadelphia that crafts American bicycles, says a @WhiteHouse official.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) June 10, 2021
good grief pic.twitter.com/jN2s0RCJP5
— Benjamin Freed (@brfreed) June 11, 2021
Not quite Wikipedia-printout bad, apparently, but hardly in the same category as a custom bike…
PM Boris Johnson gifts photo of Edinburgh anti-slavery mural to US President Joe Biden https://t.co/5W4GjHG5zt
— BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) June 11, 2021
Friday Evening Open Thread: Our (President) Joe Meets BoJoPost + Comments (57)
On my first foreign trip, we’re going to make it clear — the United States and the democracies of the world are standing together to tackle the challenges of our new age. pic.twitter.com/Mb0eDT00UK
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 10, 2021
Friday Morning Open Thread: <em> ‘The United States Is Back’</em>Post + Comments (165)
An observation: Right now is not easy, no matter who you are. The last 16 months were tough. And the sadness, anger, & fatigue are finally oozing to the surface.
So please, let’s default to having grace for each other.
We sure could all use it.
— Megan Ranney MD MPH ?? (@meganranney) June 10, 2021
Thursday Morning Open Thread: Setting ForthPost + Comments (140)