This is Tangle: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported politics newsletter that summarizes the best arguments from across the political spectrum on the news of the day — then “my take.”
Note: This is the second part in a two-part series. You can read part one here.
Defining issues, 2021-2024.
In this section, we’ll discuss four issues that defined Biden’s term that were not necessarily part of his campaign promises or early term priorities. While each of these issues is complex and not easily reduced to a simple score, we aim to give a concise analysis of the challenges Biden faced and how he handled them.
Inflation
Inflation was one of — if not the — defining issues of Biden’s term. Inflation was also a global issue, as disruptions caused by the pandemic impacted supply chains and prompted economic dislocation. In 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove up food and energy prices. Still, voters expressed widespread dissatisfaction with Biden’s handling of inflation, and it was rated as the number one issue in the 2024 election in many polls.