First, while Republicans labored to elect a House speaker, Biden held a bridge-building event with prominent Republicans, notably Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has described divided government as an opportunity to tackle big, controversial policies.
No, really, a literal bridge-building event. Biden may have intended the event to show what his White House can do with a little GOP goodwill, but with the speakership in doubt because of resistance from 10 percent of the GOP’s half of the House, the symbolism went further.
On Sunday, Biden made his first trip to the southern border as president, after two years of Republican demands he go see the chaos and struggles there for himself.
