Joe Biden has not even been in office for 100 days, and more than 60 percent of Americans have already expressed their support for his policies.
His secret?
"America first": in vaccination, in business and for leadership in the political world.
Hardly has his government passed 1.9 trillion dollars in emergency aid when another three trillion dollars are to flow into infrastructure, education and climate projects.
That sounds great, but it has one crucial catch: Biden can only decide on the aid if he gets Republican senators on his side - or outsmarts them and undermines their most important instrument: the dreaded »filibuster«.
In an interview with Eight Billion Host Olaf Heuser, SPIEGEL correspondent Roland Nelles explains the fatal effect of this instrument of American politics: »The Republicans can block practically anything because the President doesn't need the normal majority of 51 votes in the Senate - which would have he - but 60 votes, so nine from the Republicans ”.
In domestic politics there is a threat of a standstill;
At the same time, Biden is on a confrontational course in foreign policy: In an interview when asked, the President called Vladimir Putin a “killer” and threatened consequences.
His Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken used the first diplomatic meeting with China for a spontaneous diplomatic skirmish and a flying visit to Brussels to scold the EU for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.
Can Biden's government afford political conflicts with the world powers despite massive problems in its own country?
René Pfister, also a SPIEGEL correspondent in Washington, describes Biden's dilemma as follows: “He wants to lead the world.
And on the other hand, there is a great need in the USA to concentrate on yourself. "