‘Safety beats idealism’: our panel reacts to Biden’s decision to run again | LaTosha Brown, Jill Filipovic, Osita Nwanevu, Bhaskar Sunkara

After surviving the Trump debacle, it was important that we had an administration that could re-establish some level of credibility in the political arena. Given the volatility of the current political environment and the depth of political division in America, Biden has demonstrated he is able to hold together a big tent of diverse groups and push an agenda.

We need political leadership from someone who believes in democracy, can navigate the intense political polarization of this moment, and bring some sense of civility back to American politics.

While I remain a critic of Biden's criminal justice reform policies, it is astounding, given the obstructionist efforts of the Republican party to block any measurable progress, that he has been able to get so much of his agenda through a deeply divided Congress. Whether or not one agrees with all his policies, he has been an effective president.

We live in a country that is riddled with "isms" - including ageism. Aside from the false and fear-based narratives planted by rightwing Republicans, there is nothing in Biden's leadership, decision-making or policies that indicates he is incapable of leading or serving as president.

It pains me to say this, but Joe Biden should run for re-election.

Biden was toward the bottom of my picks during the 2020 Democratic primary. He's a moderate Democrat, and he's lackluster when it comes to the issues I care most about: women's rights, abortion rights, LGBT rights, immigration. While Biden has become more adept at using the right language on these issues, his administration's policies have ranged from largely absent (abortion) to terrible (immigration).

Still: he should run, and I will vote for him if he does.