While he tried to separate himself from the Obama White House legacy in Afghanistan — to horrific results, as commemorated earlier this week — Biden was insistent on carrying the torch for one policy in particular. He kept up the dogged pursuit of mending relations with Iran. 

Making friends with Iran may have been inspired by breaking with former President Donald Trump’s demeanor toward the country as it was about continuing what was viewed as crucial diplomacy in the Obama administration. Biden walked into the Oval Office in much the same way Trump did, insisting on tearing up the agreements his predecessor had made and substituting his own. 

That posture has contributed to waning confidence in the United States as a leader on the world stage, which the Washington Examiner is diving into this week. 

This morning, Defense Reporter Mike Brest took a long look at one of the primary rivals raising concerns from U.S. allies that the U.S. has lost its authority with the world. 

Iran has been waging a proxy war in Israel for nearly a year. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon are stretching Israel Defense Forces troops in the northern part of their country as it tries to eradicate Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 

The country was more blatantly involved in an attack on Israel in April, when it, for the first time, launched drones and missiles directly at Israel from inside Iran. The U.S. stepped up to help bat that offensive down, but it showed a new willingness to conduct an out-and-out war with Israel that had previously taken cover under the guise of proxy forces. 

Tensions escalated when Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran last month while he was visiting the country to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. It is assumed Israel was responsible for the attack, though it hasn’t taken responsibility. 

Despite Biden pushing Iran not to retaliate for the assassination, the country hasn’t softened its resolve to destroy Israel — or to interfere in U.S. elections. 

“Tehran is seeking to sow discord in the U.S. ahead of the election to divide the country. Several groups with ties to Iran have ramped up their online influence campaigns targeting Americans ahead of November’s election, according to a report from Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center from earlier this month,” Mike wrote. 

Iran has been tied to a recent spear phishing campaign that duped Trump campaign officials and resulted in vetting documents for Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Trump’s running mate, getting sent to major U.S. news outlets.

Agitating against allies in the Middle East, continuing operations to work toward acquiring a nuclear weapon, and fiddling in foreign elections have been Iran’s modus operandi during Biden’s tenure. It’s not clear what the U.S. will have to do if it wants to show the world it is willing and able to stand up to rogue actors following in Iran’s footsteps. 

Click here to read more about the wavering authority Iran is trying to expose.

Democrats’ deep bench

No one at the Democratic National Convention last week wanted to start talking about 2028. Excitement for Vice President Kamala Harris storming to a lead in 2024 was dominating the discourse as Democrats soaked up the vice president’s message of “joy.” Most eyes were firmly on November, though there were a handful of speakers who had their sights set on a point not far away, just in case Trump maneuvers another 2016-style upset. 

Rising stars, such as Govs. Andy Beshear (D-KY), Roy Cooper (D-NC), Wes Moore (D-MD), J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), Josh Shapiro (D-PA), and Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), had moments to shine in Chicago. They were careful not to take up too much of the spotlight, but, as White House Reporter Naomi Lim pointed out for us this morning, they knew their moments were too good to waste. 

“Their speeches defended a Harris presidency compared to another Trump administration but took the opportunity, too, to amplify a little biographical information of their own,” Naomi wrote. 

“Several members of her team of rivals spent convention week speaking to state delegation breakfasts, Democratic National Committee meetings, and reporters on her behalf, as well as taking photographs with fans, a maelstrom of activity in comparison to the Republican National Convention last month in Milwaukee,” she wrote.

It wasn’t long ago Democrats appeared panicked about who they could tap to replace Biden if he was forced to exit the race. Harris was a historically unpopular figure who would be difficult to replace, given her position in the Biden administration. The most seasoned replacement, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), had vowed publically he had no intention of trying to replace the president, and his California-sized baggage might have made him a difficult sell in battlegrounds. 

The governors mentioned were all seen as viable candidates, eventually, but none were ready for prime time on such short notice. 

Now, Harris is surging. Her favorability ratings have improved, and she has overtaken Trump in the Real Clear Politics national average. A Harris victory would give those raw governors enough time to mature into viable contenders, though they might all have their hearts set on contests as far away as 2032. 

Newsom wasn’t given a prime-time speaking slot. It’s not clear he was elbowed out of the spotlight out of fear he might outshine Harris, but his surrogates said the governor doesn’t have plans to fade into the background. 

“I think Gov. Newsom has been an acute supporter of the vice president,” Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) told reporters in Chicago. “I think Gov. Newsom will remain a national figure. He always has been, always will. He’s the best governor in the country.” 

In the case of a Democratic loss in November, the crop of ambitious governors might not be willing to defer to Harris the same way Republicans have for Trump. 

“We were thinking in Michigan that Kamala was going to have her as her vice president, you know, so we’re in full support of Gretchen when she runs,” Michigan delegate Bobby Christian told Naomi about Whitmer. “We know she has the ambition. So we’re just waiting to see.” 

Click here to read more about the Democrats preparing to step up after Harris.

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For your radar

Biden has nothing on his public schedule.

Harris will travel to Savannah, Georgia, to hold several campaign events in the southern part of the state with her running mate.

Vance will stump in Pennsylvania at 3 p.m. and Wisconsin at 7:30 p.m. to talk about the economy and energy.