What's Happening

Politics

A Majority of Voters Think It's Time for Biden to Step Aside

What's going on: A new CBS poll shows just how bad things are getting for President Biden: Following last week’s debate, an increased number of voters do not think he should be running for another four years. This may not come as a surprise to many of the roughly 51 million viewers who tuned in on Thursday. The poll results showed 63% of registered voters think 81-year-old Biden should not seek reelection. An even larger percentage of them said the president doesn't have the cognitive health to serve another term. As for former President Trump, only half the electorate thinks he has the cognitive fitness to be president. With just a little more than four months until the election, at least three major media outlets called on the president to sit this one out. Biden’s campaign has pushed back, saying in a fundraising email to supporters that it would only “lead to weeks of chaos” and put Democrats on a “highway to losing.”

What it means: The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is slated to formally select the party’s nominee near the end of August, leaving them almost two months to sort out a game plan. Although Biden has more than enough delegates needed to secure the nomination, under DNC rules his party could force him out of the race, though that’s highly unlikely. If Biden were to have a change of heart, all 3,894 of his pledged delegates would automatically become uncommitted to any candidate, which could lead to a free-for-all in the party. It looks like it may not get to that point, considering Biden’s campaign hasn’t indicated he’s dropping out of the race.

Related: The Seven Democrats Who Could Replace Biden if He Drops His 2024 Reelection Bid (Business Insider)

US News

SCOTUS' "Chevron" Ruling Puts A Number of Regulations in Jeopardy

What's going on: The future regulation of food and drug safety, the environment, and public health is in doubt after a Supreme Court ruling on Friday. In a 6-3 decision, the justices voted along ideological lines to overturn the “Chevron deference,” which has been the basis of approximately 17,000 decisions in the lower courts. For the past 40 years, the Chevron doctrine told the courts to defer to federal agencies’ interpretation of laws that may be too vague (as many laws typically are). Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority, saying the doctrine “has proved to be fundamentally misguided” and that the high court’s decision will have a limited impact on retroactive decisions. Justice Elena Kagan disagreed, highlighting the importance of giving regulatory agencies the power to provide their expertise.

What it means: The high court’s decision is the latest in a string of overturned precedents in recent years (see: abortion and affirmative action). Judges could now be solely responsible for interpreting laws that govern various aspects of American life — from the water we drink, to the food we eat, to the cars we drive. The decision will make it more difficult for federal agencies, like the EPA and FDA, to regulate businesses and protect consumers. It could also prompt a slew of legal challenges to regulations across the federal government. Meanwhile, the ruling is considered a win for conservatives and business groups, who have pushed to reign in the power of the federal government.

Related: Brace Yourself, the Supreme Court Could Rule on Presidential Immunity Today (Reuters)

Tech

The Doctor Won't See You, But a Hologram Version Will

What's going on: A hospital in north Texas is believed to be the first in the country to use hologram doctors to treat patients. No, this isn’t a prank. The hospital started offering patients the option to see a doctor remotely as a hologram in May. The company behind the tech doesn’t use AI or require Siri to go to med school. Instead, a 7-foot-tall device called a Holobox displays a realistic 3-D live video of an actual doctor who can interact with patients through the screen. The hospital has been using the hologram doctors for pre- and postoperative appointments.

What it means: Don’t expect to see a Holobox in doctors’ offices across the country. Some health experts aren’t sure hologram doctors add anything special to a patient’s experience or improve access to care, especially with the growth of telehealth. The hospital’s CEO says the Holoblox helps cut back on travel time for doctors and allows them to fit in more patients, who would still have to drive to the hospital. Holograms went from giving concerts to making it into the doctor’s office. They’re moving up in this world.

Related: A Hologram Revolution Might Be Closer Than You Think (BBC)