Alex Thompson on 'Original Sin': Biden's Alleged Cover-Up and 2024 Election Dynamics

The Genesis of 'Original Sin'

• 💡 The book "Original Sin" explores Joe Biden's decision to run for a second term and Donald Trump's 2024 election victory from a Democratic perspective.
• 📌 A key starting point for the authors was observing Biden's unprecedentedly low media availability since November 2021, a pattern that continued throughout his presidency.
• 🧠 The authors felt a "Spidey sense" that Biden was being intentionally hidden by his administration, despite explanations of a new media strategy.

Unnamed Sources and Election Timing

• 🎯 The book's genesis was a gut instinct on November 6th, the day after the presidential election, suggesting there was more to the story of Biden's decline than publicly known.
• 🗣️ Over 200 unnamed sources were interviewed, many only speaking after the election due to fear of repercussions on their careers.
• 🤝 An agreement was made to use anonymous sources to ensure critical information about Biden's health and administration dynamics was revealed.

The Democratic Party's Dilemma

• ⚠️ The "original sin" is framed as Biden deciding to run for re-election, compounded by the Democratic party's fear of a second Trump term.
• ⚖️ This fear led to justifying actions that some considered undemocratic, such as not holding a fair primary and suppressing dissent within the party.
• 📉 Many within the Biden administration reportedly lacked confidence in his ability to serve a full four-year term.

Concerns Over Biden's Health and Decision-Making

• 🩺 The timing of former President Trump's prostate cancer diagnosis announcement raised suspicions among longtime Biden aides, with some suggesting Biden likely had cancer during his presidency.
• ❓ Cabinet members themselves questioned who was truly making decisions, feeling that the president was shielded and decisions were presented in a way that limited his actual choice.
• 🔒 The author believes Biden is now even more insulated due to a "Biden theology" within his inner circle, a reverential belief in his ability to overcome obstacles.

Transparency and Future Mechanisms

• 📜 Historical precedents like Woodrow Wilson, FDR, and JFK hiding medical issues are cited, suggesting Biden's lack of transparency is not unique but requires a forcing mechanism for transparency.
• 🏛️ The only potential forcing mechanism identified is congressional action to mandate disclosure of all medical issues for presidents, especially in the nuclear age.
• 🔍 The issue extends beyond Biden and Trump, as information about Trump's health and medications is also largely unknown.