That is an version of The Atlantic Each day, a publication that guides you thru the most important tales of the day, helps you uncover new concepts, and recommends one of the best in tradition. Join it right here.
A senior GOP consultant from Texas vanished from Congress for 5 months. Kay Granger, who’s 81 years outdated, stepped down as chair of the Home Appropriations Committee this previous spring, and she or he introduced final yr that she wouldn’t search reelection. Someday in July, she disappeared from Congress totally and has since missed months’ price of votes.
Final week, The Dallas Categorical (whose now-CEO mounted a major problem towards Granger in 2020) reported that Granger has been residing in an assisted-living facility. Her son quickly confirmed that she has lived there for no less than a number of months; yesterday, he reportedly mentioned that the consultant’s decline was “very speedy,” and that she’d moved into the power earlier than she’d begun exhibiting indicators of dementia. In a assertion to Axios, Granger mentioned, “Since early September, my well being challenges have progressed making frequent journey to Washington each troublesome and unpredictable.” Yesterday, her employees posted an image of the consultant; it’s unclear what number of of her colleagues knew about her situation.
As soon as once more, the ethical questions of America’s political gerontocracy reveal themselves. That is an particularly delicate topic, as a result of so many people have family members—dad and mom, grandparents, siblings—who’re in cognitive decline. They deserve our consideration, compassion, and honesty. That’s additionally true for members of Congress, Supreme Courtroom justices, and presidents. However the stakes there are a lot increased, and in these circumstances, typically compassion means being truthful about when it’s time to maneuver on.
Because the Granger story reminds us, having a politician keep of their position even whereas struggling cognitive decline is damaging to those that depend on them. Constituents and native officers in Texas appeared shocked to study that their consultant had vanished. State Republican Government Committeeman Rolando Garcia mentioned it was a “unhappy and humiliating method” for Granger to finish her profession. “Unhappy that no one cared sufficient to ‘take away the keys’ earlier than she reached this second,” he wrote on X. Did Granger’s employees and household cowl for her? Did they mislead the general public? Did they mislead Granger herself? How onerous is it to inform highly effective figures in politics that it’s time to resign? In 2024, these are acquainted questions. Aged members of Congress and Supreme Courtroom justices alike have resisted calls to retire; Senator Dianne Feinstein and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg each died in workplace. For a lot of this yr, our politics has been dominated by octogenarians, together with Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Grassley (who, on the age of 91, is definitely a nonagenarian). However Joe Biden’s resolution to run for reelection on the age of 80 was the strongest case towards the gerontocracy.
Regardless of rising indicators that Biden was in decline, the White Home remained firmly in denial—no less than till the disastrous presidential debate in June. Final week, The Wall Road Journal reported intimately how Biden’s employees shaped a protecting phalanx across the frail president, tightly controlling entry, scripting interactions along with his Cupboard, and scheduling conferences round his “unhealthy” instances. (The White Home denied that the president’s schedule “had been altered as a result of his age.”) “Interactions with senior Democratic lawmakers and a few cupboard members—together with highly effective secretaries resembling Protection’s Lloyd Austin and Treasury’s Janet Yellen—have been rare or grew much less frequent,” the Journal reported. “Some legislative leaders had a tough time getting the president’s ear at key moments, together with forward of the U.S.’s disastrous pullout from Afghanistan.” All of the whereas, the White Home pushed again towards proof that Biden—the oldest man ever to function president—could be unable to successfully serve for one more 4 years.
America’s politicians have an age drawback, and the problem appears particularly acute amongst congressional Democrats. The prevalence of older politicians can arguably make the elected class much less related to youthful voters and make it tougher for brand spanking new voices to rise in politics. However at its core, this is a matter of honesty: Didn’t the American folks have a proper to know that Biden was struggling? Didn’t Texans need to learn about Granger? And if both of them was being lied to by these supporting them, didn’t they themselves deserve the reality too?
Finally, Biden did bow out—and one consequence is that the subsequent president of the USA will, like Biden, be 82 years outdated on the finish of his time period.
Associated:
Listed here are 4 new tales from The Atlantic:
At present’s Information
- President Biden commuted the sentences of virtually all the prisoners at the moment on federal loss of life row. Thirty-seven prisoners, all of whom have been convicted of homicide, will serve life in jail with out the potential of parole.
- The Jordanian international minister and the Qatari minister of state arrived in Damascus to fulfill with Syria’s new management.
- At a rally yesterday, Donald Trump mentioned that his administration may try to regain management of the Panama Canal. The comment prompted a response from Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, who mentioned that “each sq. meter of the Panama Canal belongs to Panama.”
Dispatches
- Work in Progress: California raised the minimal wage for fast-food employees—and employment stored rising, Rogé Karma writes. So why has the legislation been proclaimed a failure?
Discover all of our newsletters right here.
Night Learn
Expensive Therapist: How Do I Deal With My Hostile Sister?
By Lori Gottlieb
This vacation season, I’ve been navigating some main challenges with my older sister and my boyfriend. The problem began final winter, when my boyfriend wished to purchase an funding property within the state the place I’m from and my sister at the moment resides. My sister grew to become very upset with me and my boyfriend for investing in a spot the place she lives. We acquired indignant cellphone calls and disparaging textual content messages from her. We have been shocked at her response. I’ve but to make up with my sister as she by no means apologized, however I’ve been cordial along with her when round the remainder of our household.
Extra From The Atlantic
Tradition Break
Learn. These six books are excellent for studying by the hearth whereas the times develop imperceptibly longer.
Look. This yr, The Atlantic’s artwork division created and commissioned hundreds of pictures to assist the journal’s journalism. Listed here are a few of their favorites.
Play our day by day crossword.
Isabel Fattal contributed to this text.
If you purchase a e book utilizing a hyperlink on this publication, we obtain a fee. Thanks for supporting The Atlantic.