Biden plans public events blitz as White House pushes back on pressure to leave the race

The White House says President Joe Biden will meet with Democratic lawmakers and governors and sit for a network TV interview in the coming days as he pushes back against growing pressure to step aside in the 2024 race. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says Biden wants to “turn the page” after the outcry over his shaky performance in last week’s debate against Republican Donald Trump. Jean-Pierre says the 81-year-old president has no intention of stepping aside, characterizing his debate failings as simply evidence of “a bad night” when he had a cold. But Democratic leaders are increasingly signaling that they're not buying White House attempts to brush off Biden’s performance in the debate as just a momentary lapse.