Biden Administration Scripted Cabinet Meetings, Used Multiple Cameras to Manage Flubs

A new book titled "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios's Alex Thompson, reveals that members of President Biden's White House staff scripted Cabinet meetings and used multiple cameras to cover up his mistakes, highlighting efforts to conceal his cognitive decline. The book describes how staff would prepare answers for Biden by contacting various departments ahead of meetings, resulting in largely scripted conversations even in private settings. Several Cabinet secretaries, interviewed anonymously, characterized the meetings as uncomfortable and overly scripted, with some noting Biden relied more on note cards when the press was absent. The book also discusses other struggles Biden faced, such as not recognizing longtime acquaintances and contingency plans for his potential wheelchair use. Critics have accused Tapper and mainstream media of previously covering up Biden's cognitive issues, with Tapper acknowledging some past shortcomings in his coverage. Despite some aides defending Biden's inquisitiveness in smaller meetings, the overall portrayal raises concerns about transparency and the management of the president's public image.