It might be behind a paywall so I hope everyone’s able to read it, but I just came across this truly epic piece in the New Yorker by Adam Gopnik. It’s a reaction to Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race yesterday, pointing out it’s Shakespearian undertones: Biden’s move can be seen as having tragic qualities – a great man brought down by his own failings and limitations. To be honest what I find most impressive about it is how quickly it came out, given that this news only emerged yesterday evening. It presents Biden as an almost Lear-like figure, falling on his own sword for the greater good. “of all the Shakespearean figures whom Biden’s fall recalls, it is Lear. Lear in his sense of self-loss; Lear in his inability to understand, at least at first, the nature of his precipitous descent; and, yes, Lear in the wild rage, as people sometimes forget, that he directs at his circumstances.” Mind you, I did have to raise an eyebrow at the extent to strayed into pretentiousness: it does seem to over-egg the pudding slightly, but on the whole is a good read first thing on a Monday morning.

As for myself, I think Biden has made the right decision. It was becoming clearer and clearer how frail he was becoming; he wouldn’t be able to hold his own against Trump. Perhaps Harris will now bring renewed vigour into the Democrat campaign, giving us hope that western civilisation might be safe after all.