President Joe Biden has spent the last several weeks touting his economic agenda and the effects his policies have had on job growth across the nation.
Despite his status as the leader of the Democratic Party and the front-runner for its 2024 nomination, Democrats have not been hesitant to criticize Biden over an increase in labor union strikes, his border strategy, and tensions with lawmakers stemming from the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Rifts between the party and the president could complicate his path to reelection as GOP front-runner former President Donald Trump is proving to be a formidable opponent.
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Labor strikes on the rise
This summer, workers in various industries have threatened strikes or have successfully gone on strike, putting pressure on the Biden administration to prepare for large-scale work stoppages.
The United Auto Workers union said last month that its members voted in favor of authorizing a strike against the Detroit Three automakers, demanding a large pay raise and better hours from the automakers that are bringing in billions in profits. The strike seems likely, as 146,000 UAW workers will halt production if a deal is not reached by the time their current four-year contract expires on Sept. 14.
Speaking in Philadelphia at Labor Day events, a holiday honoring workers, Biden told reporters he doesn’t believe a strike between the Detroit Three automakers and UAW is going to occur, saying he’s “not worried” about the possible standoff.
The largest strike of UPS Inc. workers seemed inevitable, as employees fought for higher pay and better working conditions, when a deal with the Teamsters union for the new five-year contract was reached last month.
Meanwhile, Hollywood is at a standstill, with tens of thousands of actors joining screenwriters in asking for increased compensation and better working conditions. Talks between the unions and the studios appear to have reached an impasse.
While several of the top unions in the nation endorsed Biden earlier this year, the recent string of potential strikes undermines his self-description as “the most labor-friendly president in history.”
A worsening immigration crisis
Cities across the country are struggling to house immigrants who illegally crossed the border after Biden allowed Title 42 to end earlier this year, which previously gave the government the power to expel them quickly.
While leaders in red states such as Texas and Florida have expressed their frustrations at Biden’s handling of the border crisis, the president has received a wave of backlash from his own party, specifically in New York City, where an influx of immigrants has devastated the city.
Intraparty conflict has arisen in New York between Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) and New York City Mayor Eric Adams over how the state versus the city is choosing to shelter more than 100,000 people who have arrived over the last year.
Adams made a striking admission to CNN recently, telling reporters that he has not spoken to Biden in 2023 but remains in touch with White House officials on the matter. Adams has been openly critical of Biden, demanding the president to do more to aid New York.
Other Democrats have called on the federal government to help, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) telling the New York Times that “immigration is arguably this administration’s weakest issue.”
Inflation Reduction Act tensions
Biden has been feuding with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who is not a stranger to crossing swords with other members of his party, over parts of the Inflation Reduction Act — the legislation that took more than a year of negotiations to pass.
Following the first anniversary of the largest climate spending bill in America’s history, Manchin praised some aspects of the “historic” IRA but pledged to “push back on those who seek to undermine this significant legislation for their respective political agenda.” Manchin has threatened to work with Republican lawmakers to prevent certain policies in Biden’s green agenda and accused the administration of pushing a “radical climate agenda.”
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Manchin claimed Biden betrayed their deal by implementing extensive climate laws, arguing the tax breaks and provisions on electric vehicles are not what was agreed upon.
Despite Biden’s decisive lead in national polls, a majority of Democrats don’t want to see the president in the Oval Office again. Fifty-five percent of Democrats believe Biden should not run again in 2024. However, 82% reported they would definitely or probably support him if he was the party’s nominee, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released last week.
