Investigative journalist Josh Dawsey, writing for the Wall Street Journal, has unveiled a “fierce” effort by some of President Joe Biden’s top aides to shield him from pollsters and campaign staff during his 2024 election bid. Speaking on the “Politics War Room” podcast with Democratic strategist James Carville and journalist Al Hunt, Dawsey highlighted the internal dynamics within Biden’s team. While some aides expressed concerns about Biden’s viability as a candidate, others were committed to securing a second term for him, regardless of the challenges.

### A Divided Team Dawsey’s new book, “How Trump Retook the White House and Democrats Lost America,” provides an in-depth look at the internal struggles within Biden’s campaign. Hunt referenced the book during the podcast, pointing out what he described as the “myopic selfishness” of Biden and his advisers. According to Dawsey, a core group of aides worked diligently to keep critical information away from Biden, especially following a challenging debate in June. This group aimed to maintain control over the narrative and prevent any dissenting voices from reaching the president.

### Warnings Ignored Throughout 2023 and into early 2024, there were numerous warning signs about Biden’s candidacy. Despite these signals, some of Biden’s closest aides, including Steve Ricchetti and Michael Donilon, were determined to keep him in the race. They reportedly restricted access to pollsters and campaign staff, ensuring that only favorable information reached Biden. This insular approach created a barrier between the president and those who had growing concerns about his campaign.

### External Challenges The situation was further complicated by external events, such as an attack involving Hamas in 2023. This incident coincided with a poorly received interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur, adding pressure on Biden’s campaign. Despite these challenges, discussions about whether Biden should continue his presidential bid were never brought directly to him.

### Internal Struggles Dawsey noted that some senior aides, including former advisor Anita Dunn, were unable to voice their concerns directly to Biden. The campaign faced difficulties in securing donors and fundraisers, with numbers reflecting poorly on their efforts. Despite these setbacks, key figures like Donilon and Ricchetti remained steadfast in their support for a second term.

### Conclusion The revelations from Dawsey’s book paint a picture of a campaign fraught with internal conflict and external pressures. While some aides pushed for change, others were committed to maintaining the status quo. Representatives for Joe Biden and his aides did not immediately respond to requests for comment on these claims.