In this no-holds-barred episode of Meeting in the Middle, Julius Hernandez sits down with Maryland-based political advocate and civic educator Candidly Tiff to unpack one of the most complicated and emotionally charged topics in recent Democratic politics: Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis, the wave of commentary around his cognitive health, and the fracture it has exposed within the Democratic Party.
Together, they tackle everything from the online cruelty following Biden’s diagnosis to the media’s role in shaping narratives about age, fitness, and truth in leadership. They also debate whether Biden’s inner circle failed him—and the country—by pushing forward despite growing concerns, and what accountability should look like now that the campaign torch has been passed.
And in a sobering second half, they shift the lens toward 2028, exploring how the Republican Party is experimenting with a more populist economic message, what that means for working-class voters, and why Democrats need to refocus on rebuilding trust with the public—or risk losing even more ground.
This episode isn’t just about Biden. It’s about what kind of politics we want going forward—and whether Democrats have the courage to course-correct before it’s too late.
