The president’s party liked and respected Biden for leading them to a series of big legislative wins over the last few years. There was definitely angst over Biden’s reelection chances, but it was manageable. The brutal war in Gaza and the White House’s failure to find an effective message on immigration and inflation were serious problems. Yet there was a sense that maybe Biden was turning the corner as the summer began and he’d be able to hammer Trump for the rest of the campaign, especially after Trump’s conviction in the New York hush-money case.

That all vanished in 90 minutes on June 27. Rank-and-file Democrats now find themselves caught between a president who says he isn’t going anywhere — and who’s working hard to stamp down dissent — and their own political futures.