Joe Biden needs to raise the bar for presidents again

[View in browser]( [Image]( December 30, 2020 [A photo illustration shows President-elect Joe Biden facing away from the viewer, head slightly down, with a red-tinted image of the U.S. Capitol building behind him]( In 2016, the country voted for the candidate willing to "drain the swamp." Four years of scandals and outrages later, President Donald Trump has managed to find an almost impressive number of new lows to hit over the course of his term. It means that the bar for President-elect Joe Biden as he comes into office is nearly on the floor. But Biden's administration shouldn't be judged solely against Trump, Hayes Brown argues in his newest essay. Instead, "Biden, like Obama, should be held to the previous standards set for presidents, leaving Trump as an outlier," Brown writes. The big caveat: Four years of ignoring Trump means that the GOP shouldn't get a free pass for the bad-faith attacks that they leveled at the Obama administration. Read the full analysis at the top of your Wednesday [MSNBC Daily](. UNDERSTANDING THE NEWS [Alternate text] Top perspectives and analysis from our MSNBC columnists [Alternate text] [A photo shows a brick two-story building with windows broken in the Christmas explosion in Nashville. A sign reading ''Nashville'' is painted on the building.]( Dean Obeidallah [Isn't it strange how no one is talking about the religion of the Nashville suicide bomber?]( The media sees non-Muslims who commit atrocities as nuanced, complicated characters. Muslims who do the same are simply ‘terrorists.’ [Alternate text] [A photo shows a hand with red-painted nails reaching into a wallet to remove two dollar bills.]( Steve Benen [Trump's fundraising efforts take a sketchy turn with bogus claim]( While asking for money, Trump told prospective donors he'd vetoed the economic relief bill. That plainly wasn't true. It got me thinking: can he do that? WATCH NOW [Alternate text] All In [Mehdi Hasan: Wealthy GOP senators don’t need $2,000—so they think you don’t either]( [A photo of cars waiting in a long line at a food pantry]( Rachel Maddow [Covid-19 regrets follow one state Republican official home from White House party]( [A photo of the White House]( The ReidOut [Neal Katyal: 'Trump is still living in a fantasy world' on election results]( [A photo of President Donald Trump standing next to the presidential seal]( Rachel Maddow [Trump uses photo of wrong medal to falsely imply he received Nobel Prize]( [A photo of the Nobel Peace Prize medal for physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and literature, which has a different design than the medal given to Peace Prize winners.]( LISTEN NOW [Alternate text] [A photo of a shopping complex with large yellow letters spelling out ''Sherman Phoenix'' and a billboard showing flames and the face of a young Black woman]( [Into America]( Black Toys R Us Many Black parents get creative to find toys for their kids that reflect just how beautiful and special they are. Trymaine Lee talks to Yla Eason, the creator of one of the first Black superhero toys in America, and his own 8-year-old daughter Nola about why representation matters. [A graphic shows an image of The Oath podcast logo as shown on an iPhone next to text that reads: ''This Week: Jon Jarvis, Former National Park Service Director. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.'']( [The Oath]( Heather PenneyThis week on The Oath, D.C. Air National Guard pilot Heather Penney discusses being one of the first women to fly an F-16 and the mission she was ordered to fly on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. [An illustration shows an iPhone with the latest episode of ''Do No Harm'' on the screen. Next to it is an image of two adults leading a child down a dark hall, and text reading, ''All 6 episodes available now'']( [Do No Harm]( Bonus Episode: Reporting Do No Harm In a special bonus episode, NBC News Investigative Reporter Mike Hixenbaugh shares what he’s learned about the child welfare system – and what happens when that system goes too far. MORE ON MSNBC [Alternate text] [Alternate text]( Join us on Tuesday, Jan. 5 for special coverage of the two Georgia runoffs that will determine control of the Senate. Rachel Maddow, Joy Reid, Nicolle Wallace & Brian Williams will have the analysis you need, while Steve Kornacki delivers live results at the Big Board. Watch Georgia Runoffs: Fight for the Senate at 7 p.m. Eastern. Tell us what you think. [Drop us an e-mail.](mailto:msnbc.digital.editors@nbcuni.com?subject=MSNBC Daily) Were you forwarded this email from a friend? [Subscribe to the MSNBC Daily here](. Follow MSNBC [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [LinkedIn]( Check out the MSNBC channel on Apple News Download the NBC News Mobile App and watch MSNBC [Listen live to MSNBC on TuneIn]( [Image] [Image] [Privacy]( [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_daily)