MSNBC’s Rep. Jim Clyburn – a key figure in the 2024 Biden Presidential Campaign – was taken aback by some unexpected bad news on the April 10 edition of Morning Joe. Not expecting any challenges on friendly turf, Clyburn’s defense of the so-called “Bidenomics” was interrupted by host Mika Brzezinski with an update of the current economic situation. Brzezinski had to cut off Clyburn’s overly rosy picture of the Biden economy to bring him back to reality and inform him about the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase, indicating a concerning trend of high inflation.
Clyburn, who had been discussing his grievances about the spread of misinformation and misrepresentation on social media, was clearly caught off guard by the breaking news. Trying to stay composed, he listened as Brzezinski validated the news and shared the alarming update: “The consumer price index increased at a faster than expected pace last month, a signal that inflation remains stubbornly high.”
It was an awkward moment for Clyburn, who then had to sit through a segment with CNBC anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin discussing the negative consequences of the current economic trend, especially for the Biden administration. Sorkin even made a remark about the previous president, suggesting with a hint of sarcasm that “they’re throwing a party in Mar-a-Lago.”
Sorkin went on to explain the gravity of the situation, reminding viewers that “the truth is that right now inflation has now moved in the opposite direction,” making it difficult for the administration to justify their actions. He also pointed out that this trend would negatively impact mortgage and credit card rates, delivering another blow to the Biden economy. The financial expert further emphasized how the current high inflation numbers caught many by surprise, leaving Clyburn clearly embarrassed and off guard.
However, the awkward moment could have been avoided if Clyburn’s Bidenomics talking points were not so misleading and unsubstantiated in the first place. Brzezinski had asked Clyburn about the plight of struggling Americans who feel “gaslit” and responded by showcasing a graphic that favored former President Donald Trump with a 9.3 percent advantage among key undecided voters when it came to issues affecting them and their families’ finances.
While trying to defend the administration’s actions, Clyburn’s arguments seemed feeble and unrealistic. He tried to dismiss the relevance of 401ks in people’s daily lives, but his claims of inflation being low and people’s incomes being high were later challenged and proven false by Brzezinski and highlighted by Sorkin.
In fact, statistics show that American median weekly real earnings have gone down under Biden, from $373 in the first quarter of 2021 to $371 in the fourth quarter