Like many other 81-year-old men, President Biden has sometimes mangled a sentence or mixed up a fact during his three and a half years in office. But in recent weeks, people who have spent time with the president said that his lapses appeared to have grown more frequent, more pronounced and more worrisome.
My colleagues interviewed current and former officials and others who have encountered Biden behind closed doors over the last few months. They found that Biden’s moments of disorientation had generated concern among some advisers and foreign allies.
Those worries became increasingly urgent last week after Biden’s debate against Donald Trump. Advisers and officials who see him regularly but not every day or week said they were stunned by his debate performance because it was the worst they had ever seen him.
By many accounts, Biden is not the same today as he was in 2021. One European official said he appeared “out of it” at meetings last month. His trips to Europe were marked by moments of sharpness — including in a complex session on diverting income from Russian assets to aid Ukraine — mixed with occasional blank-stared confusion, according to people who met with him.
Biden is not disoriented or listless all the time. Since the debate, people who have met with the president described him as alert, coherent and engaged in complicated discussions, and his campaign has sought to shore up support from influential Democrats.
But some Democrats have taken their panic public. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said that he was “horrified” by Biden’s debate performance. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, said it was “legitimate” to ask if it was the result of a “condition,” and Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting Democrat in Congress to call for him to withdraw.
Trump’s sentencing was delayed until September
The Manhattan prosecutors who in May secured a conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony counts agreed today to postpone his sentencing, as the former president had requested, so that the judge could consider whether the Supreme Court’s landmark immunity decision yesterday might imperil the verdict.
Israel’s generals want a truce in Gaza
In a major shift in their thinking over the past few months, Israel’s top generals want to begin a cease-fire in Gaza even if it keeps Hamas in power for the time being, according to interviews with multiple officials. That position puts them at odds with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has opposed a truce that would allow Hamas to survive the war.
The generals are worried that they are running low on supplies and that their forces need to recuperate in case a broader war breaks out with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group in Lebanon.
In related news, crowds of Palestinians fled a swath of southeastern Gaza after Israel ordered evacuations and struck several targets.
Try out a new vacation spot this summer
Tens of millions of Americans are expected to travel this holiday week to embrace, or escape, the summer weather. For those looking for something new, my colleagues on the Travel desk have some recommendations.
If you’re looking for a beach, we picked out six gems across the country (just remember to grab some French fries). If you prefer a national park, consider getting off the beaten path and heading into the backcountry. And for those searching for indoor entertainment, our critic recommends 15 local theaters worth checking out this summer.
This young ballerina’s rapid rise was part of a plan
An American Ballet Theater soloist, Chloe Misseldine is just 22, but she’s already becoming a star in the dance world. Last month, she was riveting as Tatiana in the ballet “Onegin,” a role usually reserved for more senior dancers. And tomorrow, she takes on the starring role in “Swan Lake” at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Misseldine’s distinctive magnetism has been noticeable since she joined American Ballet Theater’s junior company six years ago. But her meteoric ascent is in part because of the artistic director Susan Jaffe’s master plan: Start them young and give them time to grow.
Caesar salad, the pride of Tijuana
As the legend goes, Caesar salad was invented 100 years ago this week in a cafe in Tijuana, Mexico. It was a different recipe at the time: There was a whole egg and Worcestershire sauce, but no anchovies. But that’s not going to stop the city from holding a four-day celebration to commemorate the dish’s centennial.
Famous chefs are coming to town, and a sculpture of Césare Cardini — the man for whom the salad is named — is being unveiled. But going largely unmentioned is that there is still a dispute over who actually deserves credit for creating the dish.
Have a rich and tangy evening.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew
Emree Weaver was our photo editor today.
We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
