Friday mailbag!

Here we go!

Happy Friday!

We made it!

And you are probably having a better Friday morning that Scottie Sheffler, the world’s #1 golfer, who was arrested this morning in Louisville as he tried to make his way to the 2nd round of the PGA Championship.

So, there’s that.

Lots to get to — thanks as always for your great questions! — so we let’s jump right in. (Soundtrack for today’s mailbag : The new Avett Brothers album.)

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Q: Ok. So we've got 2 scheduled debates on the books between Biden and Trump.

What are the odds that these debates actually happen as planned?

A: HA! I have been thinking about this too!

I actually think they will happen and here’s why. Joe Biden isn’t going to back out. He really can’t. He needs the debates to a) change the dynamic of the race and b) prove to people he is up to the job. It would be a bad look.

Which means that Trump is the one who could pull out. Which is, of course, possible because it’s Trump. He’s totally mercurial and erratic.

But, I don’t think he will do it. Because I think he (and his campaign) really believe that these debates are going to reveal that Biden is too old to be president. That Trump is going to house him. And they aren’t going to pass up that opportunity.

I think Trump has actually hurt himself — and the expectations going into these debates — with his portrayal of Biden as a drooling fool. Like, if Biden is good AT ALL, people are going to say he cleared the bar he needed to clear.

Would I be totally shocked if Trump pulls out of the debate? No. But I would say it’s like a 10% chance.

Q: Chris, with the debates set and more eyes swaying towards election stuff, we all know about Biden's problems of being perceived as too old for the job, but do you think there are increased risks for Trump as well? There have been reports about him stumbling over words, losing his place in speeches, or even zoning out for a minute. His speeches so far have really been for supporters, and they've helped cover for him (like when he kept mistaking Biden with Obama), but do you think he's at risk of displaying his own set of "senility moments", and if so what impact do you think it would have on uncommitted voters?

A: I mean, there are ALWAYS risks to both candidates in a debate. When you have that many people watching — 73 million people watched the first Biden-Trump debate in 2020 — the stakes are high.

And, yes, Trump says stuff in his rallies that make no sense. When you read the transcripts like I do, it becomes totally apparent. But is he “zoning out”? No.

There is an effort among some on the left to say that Trump has dementia or some other mental condition — and that he is deteriorating. Candidly, I don’t see it. He’s kind of always been the same — bullying, bragging etc.

I think Trump is going to be Trump in these debates. He has one setting, one gear. He’s going to interrupt Biden. He’s going to say stuff that isn’t true. He’s going to attack the moderators. And afterward, he’s going to say he won despite all of the very unfair things lined up against him. It’s what he does.

Q: I would like to see some suggestions from you about the questions that ought to be posed in the upcoming debate.