Ezra Klein, a prominent columnist at The New York Times, recently stirred controversy with his 4,000-word piece titled “Democrats Have a Better Option Than Biden.” In this article, Klein argues that Democrats should replace President Joe Biden as their presidential nominee due to signs of age on the campaign trail. He proposes a brokered convention in Chicago as the solution, emphasizing that it would dominate the news, showcase the party’s deep bench of leaders, and underscore their commitment to democracy. However, this idea has faced criticism, with some viewing it as undemocratic and reminiscent of the tumultuous 1968 Chicago convention. Klein’s call for a brokered convention has sparked intense debate within the Democratic Party1.
While Klein’s argument has its merits, it’s essential to consider Biden’s mounting strengths, even as commentators focus on his age as a central weakness. As the 2024 election unfolds, the discussion around Biden’s candidacy continues, with both supporters and critics weighing in on his fitness for office23.
- Use a KWL chart to activate students’ prior knowledge about the Democratic Party, presidential elections, and the role of the media:
- K: What do you already know about the Democratic Party and the 2024 presidential election?
- W: What do you want to know about Ezra Klein’s argument regarding Joe Biden’s candidacy?
- L: What did you learn from the lesson?
- Step 1: Introduce the podcast and the topic. Give students some background information on the podcast host, Ezra Klein, and the topic of his audio essay: Joe Biden’s presidency and the 2024 election. Explain the main argument of the essay: that Biden should step aside and let the Democratic Party choose a new nominee at the convention. Ask students to think about why Klein makes this argument and what evidence he uses to support it.
- Step 2: Listen to the podcast and take notes. Have students listen to the podcast, either as a whole class or in small groups, and take notes on the main points, examples, and counterarguments that Klein presents. You can provide them with a graphic organizer or a note-taking template to help them organize their notes. Alternatively, you can have them use the transcript of the podcast to follow along and highlight key passages. Use the note-taking template below. Biden DEMOCRATS HAVE A BETTER OPTION THAN BIDEN
- Step 3: Discuss the podcast and the topic. After listening to the podcast, have students share their notes and reactions with each other. You can facilitate a class discussion or have students work in pairs or small groups. Some possible discussion questions are:
- Do you agree or disagree with Klein’s argument? Why or why not?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of Klein’s argument? How does he address potential objections or alternative views?
- How does Klein use rhetorical strategies, such as ethos, pathos, and logos, to persuade his audience?
- How does Klein use data, facts, and sources to support his claims? How does he cite his sources and provide references?
- How does Klein use audio elements, such as music, sound effects, and voice tone, to enhance his message and engage his listeners?
- What are some of the implications or consequences of Klein’s argument for the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and the American democracy?
- Step 4: Create a podcast response. Have students create their own podcast response to Klein’s audio essay, either individually or in groups. They can agree, disagree, or offer a different perspective on the topic. They should use evidence and reasoning to support their position, as well as cite their sources and provide references. They should also use audio elements, such as music, sound effects, and voice tone, to make their podcast interesting and appealing. You can provide them with some tools and resources to help them record and edit their podcast, such as Audacity, Soundtrap, or Anchor. You can also give them some tips and examples on how to make a good podcast, such as this guide or this podcast.
- Step 5: Share and evaluate the podcast responses. Have students share their podcast responses with the class or with another group. Have them listen to each other’s podcasts and provide feedback. You can use a rubric or a checklist to help them evaluate the podcasts based on criteria such as content, organization, argument, evidence, sources, references, audio quality, and audio elements. You can also have them reflect on their own podcast creation process and what they learned from the activity.
Listen to the podcast while reading the transcript. Source: The New York Times
Fill inn your own words.
Title: Democrats Have a Better Option Than Biden?
Author: Ezra Klein
Main Argument: (Summarize Klein’s central argument in a sentence or two)
Supporting Evidence:
- (List examples or specific details Klein uses to support his argument)
- (List examples or specific details Klein uses to support his argument)
- (List examples or specific details Klein uses to support his argument)
Counterarguments:
- (List potential opposing viewpoints to Klein’s argument)
- (List potential opposing viewpoints to Klein’s argument)
- (List potential opposing viewpoints to Klein’s argument)
Strengths of Klein’s Argument:
- (List the aspects of Klein’s argument that you find persuasive)
- (List the aspects of Klein’s argument that you find persuasive)
Weaknesses of Klein’s Argument:
- (List the aspects of Klein’s argument that you find questionable or lacking)
- (List the aspects of Klein’s argument that you find questionable or lacking)
My Response:
- (State your agreement or disagreement with Klein’s argument)
- (Provide your own perspective on the topic, using evidence to support your stance)