At this point, we must ask the question: Has the global popcorn industry adequately prepared its supply chains for the next few weeks? Or will the avalanche of demand for passing the popcorn during the Democrat Party Meltdown Theater tip us over into hyper-inflation?

Again?

Joe Biden has steadfastly refused to withdraw from the Democrat presidential nomination, insisting that only he can defeat Donald Trump. The DNC had plans to rush the delegates into a confirming first-ballot vote based on primary results. Biden lined up the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) behind his nomination and had pandered relentlessly the last three weeks to rad-progressives to shore up his left flank.

Today, however, the establishment wing of the party has apparently put its foot down. ABC News reports that both Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries got the DNC to delay the vote, allowing pressure to build further on Biden to resign:

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pushed the party to delay its nominating process, multiple sources tell ABC News.

This comes after Schumer met privately with President Biden on Saturday in Rehoboth, Delaware. Following the meeting, Schumer only described it as a "good meeting."

That assessment preceded the assassination attempt on Trump and his defiant and triumphant survival, however. In the days since, Democrats have convinced themselves -- and not without good reason -- that Biden can't compete with Trump. Of course, neither could anyone that comes out of an open convention process that bypasses Kamala Harris either, especially after telling Democrat primary voters that their votes don't count any longer.

But that's getting too far into the weeds. In the big picture, having Schumer and Jeffries intervene to cut off Biden's escape route so publicly sends a yuuuuuge signal. (A Politico report from last night suggests that Nancy Pelosi might be part of the effort now, too.) This is the Democrat establishment, after all -- the elected leadership of Democrats by Democrats on Capitol Hill and drivers of policy and ideological agendas in the party. Schumer and Jeffries aren't backbenchers, or even committee chairs/ranking members like Adam Schiff, but actual high-ranking party leaders. 

And they just crossed up the top party leader. 

That's Joe Biden, by the way. Or at least Hunter or Jill.

Lines appear to be drawn now between the Democrat establishment and the progressive activist/CBC wing. That's precisely what would happen in an open convention too, as all factions suddenly have to jockey for power in a vacuum left by a Biden exit. That's one reason why the DNC rigged the primaries to prevent a competitive challenge to Biden in the first place. He got the nomination, thanks to the intervention by James Clyburn and the CBC, to kick that internecine fight down the road until 2028. 

Now the "bridge to the future" has collapsed. Biden still hasn't taken the hint, but a comment during a BET interview is drawing some scrutiny:

This is the first time Biden said a theoretical medical condition could cause him to drop out.

Two weeks ago, he said only the Lord Almighty could get him to exit the race. Last week, he said it would only happen if aides showed him proof he couldn't win. https://t.co/oDImUEYPch pic.twitter.com/PxslBe5VSs

— POLITICO (@politico) July 17, 2024

I doubt that's a change. The full answer makes clear that he's not being told of any impediment, or at least not by anyone to whom he listens. He's not pulling out willingly, and at least so far, the DNC can't figure out a way to conduct a party coup. But it does now seem that the Democrat establishment may be looking for ways to prevent Biden from staying on the ticket, and Harris along with him, or at least a wider window in which to push him into a withdrawal.

And all of this chaos and division is taking place in the shadow of a so-far successful Republican convention where all of the factions have now aligned themselves behind Trump. The contrast between the unity in Milwaukee and the factional meltdown heading into Chicago could not possibly get more stark to American voters watching both from the sidelines.

And passing the popcorn, too. As long as supplies last, that is.