Of course, Biden is not solely responsible for failing to fix all the country’s problems. But he is responsible for failing to acknowledge and address issues as they arise. For instance, Biden spent much of this year downplaying the surge in migrants showing up at the border, suggesting it was just a seasonal issue even when data showed this was unlikely. The administration failed to clarify a false story of Border Patrol agents striking Haitian migrants with their reins at a time when it was coming under fire for failing to prevent thousands of people from gathering and being held under an overpass in Del Rio, Texas.

The administration has pursued a similar path on the economy. As inflation continues to cut into American wallets and supply chain disruptions worry consumers, Biden spent the summer downplaying the prospects of long-term inflation. Only last week did Biden finally address the issue head-on. Even if Biden’s summer projections prove correct, and the current trends do taper off next year, he took far too long to express sympathy with Americans concerned about their economic situation…

The White House should acknowledge Americans’ concerns about the hardships we’re experiencing in both domestic and foreign policy. Reasoning with the public and admitting missteps in Afghanistan or at the border isn’t a sign of weakness but one of strength.

Strong leaders can reason with their people about when things go wrong. Continuing to spin and telling Americans things are going better than they really are asks them to disbelieve their own eyes, and it’s unlikely to lift Biden’s sagging ratings.