Biden entered office facing daunting crises – only to be hit with more crises

A confluence of high-stakes events - mass shootings, inflation, the Ukraine war - have left Americans deeply pessimistic about the direction of the country and frustrated with Washington

In his third run for president, Joe Biden's pitch to Americans was simple: after half-a-century in elected office, including eight years as vice-president, he understood the demands of what is arguably the hardest job in the world. It was a point Biden stressed on the campaign trail, in his own folksy way: Everything landed on the president's desk but locusts."

Nearly a year-and-a-half into his presidency, Biden now appraises his own fortunes differently. I used to say in Barack's administration: Everything landed on his desk but locusts'," he told Democratic donors in Oregon. Well, they landed on my desk."