Democratic leaders still hold sway over Biden

+ what would the Greeks say about Joe? US Edition - Today's top story: Joe Biden commits to staying in the race – like Nixon, his biggest threat comes from within his own party [View in browser]( US Edition | 9 July 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [At this week’s NATO summit, Ukraine is top of mind]( - [Don’t get buried alive at the beach this summer]( - [More athletes are opening up about their mental health struggles]( Lead story Since his widely panned debate with Donald Trump, President Joe Biden has repeatedly said that he’s staying in the race, despite growing criticism of his candidacy. Biden’s position will likely remain just as steadfast – up until an announcement saying the opposite, should he decide to drop out. “Politicians are always fully committed to some course of action until they are not, and they often express this in the most absolute terms,” Philip Klinkner, a scholar of American politics and the presidency at Hamilton College, [explained in an interview with me on Monday]( The exact scenario unfolding within the Democratic Party is unprecedented, with just four months until the presidential election. But it is not uncommon for politicians to publicly take hard-line approaches to their political futures. Richard Nixon and George McGovern initially stood firm. It was only after hemorrhaging support from their own political parties that they finally reversed course. But it isn’t clear if the handful of Democratic politicians calling for Biden to withdraw from the race will expand, prompting him to possibly reevaluate his feasibility as the party’s nominee. [ [Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with interesting perspectives from experts around the world](. ] Amy Lieberman Politics + Society Editor President Joe Biden arrives at a news conference in the White House on July 1, 2024. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images [Joe Biden commits to staying in the race – like Nixon, his biggest threat comes from within his own party]( Philip Klinkner, Hamilton College Politicians often are firmly committed to what they say they will do – until they announce otherwise. Politics + Society - [‘The immortal Gods alone have neither age nor death’: Wisdom from Greek tragedies for Joe Biden]( Rachel Hadas, Rutgers University - Newark In the ugly spectacle of American politics, it’s hard to keep humanity in sight. But literature, says a poet and scholar of the classics, can remind us of what we know about growing old. - [4 things to watch for as NATO leaders meet in US capital for high-stakes summit]( Garret Martin, American University School of International Service The three-day meeting is touted as a time to celebrate the alliance’s 75th anniversary. But gathered leaders face serious questions that will affect NATO’s future. - [Trump’s criminal conviction won’t stop him from getting security clearance as president − but Biden can still control his access for now]( Dakota Rudesill, The Ohio State University Under normal circumstances, Trump’s criminal record and other aspects of his life, including financial history, would disqualify him from getting access to classified information. - Arts + Culture - [By revealing their mental health struggles, pro athletes are scoring with fans]( Dae Hee Kwak, University of Michigan Talking about mental health can be difficult for anyone. It’s even harder for athletes, who are expected to exhibit mental toughness. Science + Technology - [Dig safely when building sandcastles and tunnels this summer – collapsing sand holes can cause suffocation and even death]( Stephen P. Leatherman, Florida International University Kids love digging and may not realize the dangers a hole in the sand can pose. - [When scientific citations go rogue: Uncovering ‘sneaked references’]( Lonni Besançon, Linköping University; Guillaume Cabanac, Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse Scholars have long measured the impact of a paper by counting the number of times other scientific articles cite it. Researchers have just detected a new kind of citation fraud. - [Unregulated online political ads pose a threat to democracy]( Steven Caplan, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Political ad transparency – who’s paying for ads and whether candidates stand behind them – is well-regulated for TV and radio. Online, not so much. Ethics + Religion - [Hajj in extraordinary heat: what a scholar of Islam saw in Mecca]( Ahmet T. Kuru, San Diego State University Despite reports of mismanagement, the 2024 Hajj brought together pilgrims of diverse backgrounds from 180 countries. Environment + Energy - [Extreme heat waves broiling the planet in 2024 aren’t normal: How climate change is heating up weather around the world]( Mathew Barlow, UMass Lowell; Jeffrey Basara, UMass Lowell Global temperatures have averaged at least 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than preindustrial times for over a year. Two scientists explain what that means and what humanity can do. 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