Comment on Julián Castro and Beto O'Rourke spar in fight that appeared deeper than just policy

President Biden put out a direct-to-camera video this morning: “A year ago today, when we launched this campaign, I said we were in the fight for the soul of this nation. I told you nothing less than democracy and freedom were on the ballot. With every passing day, that has proven true.”

Politico: “According to interviews with two dozen people on both sides who were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive subject, the relationship between Biden and the country’s newspaper of record — for years the epitome of a liberal press in the eyes of conservatives — remains remarkably tense, beset by misunderstandings, grudges and a general lack of trust.”

A new NBC News poll finds “26% of registered voters say there is a chance they could vote for a different presidential candidate come November, while 66% of those surveyed say they have made up their minds.” “Almost the same share of voters currently backing Biden (81%) or Trump (78%) also say they do not plan to change their vote.

A top Hamas political official told The Associated Press the Islamic militant group is willing to agree to a truce of five years or more with Israel and that it would lay down its weapons and convert into a political party if an independent Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders.

“The Biden campaign is in talks with former President Obama about appearing with President Biden at a star-studded Los Angeles fundraiser in mid-June,“ Axios reports.

“A trio of recent polls shows that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent candidacy may be hurting former President Trump more than President Biden,” Axios reports. “President Biden says his polling numbers are moving in the right direction. They look even better when the latest results for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are factored in.”