Texas sends bus of undocumented migrants to New York 3:02
Editor's Note:
Frida Ghitis, (@fridaghitis) a former CNN producer and correspondent, is a world affairs columnist.
She is a weekly opinion contributor for CNN, a columnist for The Washington Post, and a columnist for the World Politics Review.
The opinions expressed in this comment belong solely to the author of it.
See more opinions on CNN.
(CNN) --
For a president so many believe is failing, Joe Biden is suddenly pulling off an impressive string of victories.
And they are not minor.
In fact, Biden is on a roll in both domestic and foreign policy.
After a series of painful defeats, including high-profile setbacks on his Build Back Better bill, the Biden presidency appears to have turned the tide.
On Thursday, Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona announced that she would support the Reduce Inflation Act, virtually guaranteeing that the landmark climate, health care and tax bill will pass the Senate, which is divided fifty%.
Hours later, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing the nation's economy is still on the upswing, bringing back more than half a million jobs in July.
Unemployment is down to just 3.5%, matching the half-century low last recorded in February 2020.
Huge US jobs surprise: Economy added 528,000 jobs in July
However, there is little sign that the president's position has improved significantly.
Biden is winning battles, but he's not getting much love for them.
Is it just a matter of time before Biden's polls catch up with the new wave of achievement?
It is difficult to redraw an image after it has been etched in the public's mind.
Efforts on the right to paint the 79-year-old as senile and unable to meet the demands of his office have met with much success, certainly among Republicans.
And many Democrats, especially young ones, have turned away from the president, disappointed with the pace and scope of what his administration has been able to accomplish.
However, after months of legislative blockage, Biden's agenda is not only moving forward, but moving at a rapid pace.
In foreign policy, Biden had a good week, despite the simmering tensions with China.
US forces killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, who took over leadership of al Qaeda after the assassination of Osama bin Laden.
Biden was heavily involved in the decision to launch the precision drone strike that led to his death in Kabul, ensuring he avoided civilian deaths that have marred other counterterrorism operations.
"Justice has been done and the terrorist no longer exists," said Joe Biden after the anti-terrorist operation that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri
But the most historic moment came on Wednesday, when the Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve a resolution to ratify Finland and Sweden's NATO membership: only Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri voted against, while Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted in favor.
It is the largest expansion of the alliance in decades, and a major blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
More than five months after he launched his war, Putin's efforts to control Ukraine and split NATO have largely failed because Biden has held the alliance together, even helping Europe confront the militarization of gas exports. by Putin.
But it was on the home front that Biden seemed to have the most difficulty.
After promising bipartisanship as a candidate, Biden couldn't even get all 50 Senate Democrats to support key pieces of his platform.
Now, despite the alarming radicalization of the Republican Party and the numerous setbacks caused by Sens. Joe Manchin and Sinema (not to mention the Supreme Court), Congress is passing multiple important pieces of legislation.
Last week, Congress passed the CHIPS Act by a wide margin, which will increase semiconductor production and make the United States more competitive against China.
This came shortly after Biden signed the first major gun safety law in decades.
Despite falling short of what Biden and his party stood for, endorsing him in the current political environment is a remarkable achievement.
Speaking of bipartisanship, 47 Republicans joined House Democrats in passing the Respect Marriage Act.
The bill, a preemptive measure following Justice Clarence Thomas's call to reconsider the Supreme Court's decision allowing the federal right to same-sex marriage, protects not only gay marriage, but also interracial marriages and marriages. safeguards against other forms of discrimination.
Senate approval is still uncertain.
The Supreme Court ruling on abortion could open the doors to reconsider the right to equal marriage and contraceptives
Then came the real surprise.
Senators Manchin and Chuck Schumer reached a deal that revived key elements of Biden's agenda in a bill called the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Now that Sinema has signed, the law is poised to become the "BFD" that Biden and his supporters have been waiting for.
If passed, it would be the largest climate investment in US history.
The bill will also establish a minimum tax for large companies to avoid paying little or nothing and make health care and prescription drugs more affordable for millions of Americans.
Despite its $433 billion cost, the bill reduces the deficit.
A study by Moody's Analytics concludes that the bill will control inflation, reduce the deficit and boost the economy, while also addressing climate change.
US Senate passes sweeping Democrat health and climate bill
The two main axes of the bill, the economy and the environment, have the power to impact the electoral results.
Despite the disappointment with Biden, which may be due in part to his poor rhetorical skills, Americans are also concerned about pocketbook issues.
And there are certainly bright spots on that front.
Gasoline prices have been on the decline for more than 50 days.
Fears that the Federal Reserve's efforts to rein in inflation will push the economy into a deep recession appear to be fading.
At least many investors appear to have changed their minds: The S&P 500 has soared 13% from its mid-June low, and the Nasdaq is up 16% in the same period.
This is a new bull market, some say.
Adding to the good news for Democrats, voters in Kansas—yes, Kansas!—turned out in large numbers to defend abortion rights, suggesting a way to avoid a highly predictable disaster in the November midterms.
Democrats are taking the lead in the public's preference for party control of Congress.
According to a recent Monmouth University poll released this week, 38% of Americans say they want Democrats in charge, and another 12% lean Democrats, versus 34% who prefer Republican control, with another 9% leaning toward the Republican Party.
Biden's numbers, on the other hand, do not move much.
At least not yet.
According to the Monmouth poll, Biden had a 38% approval rating, up 2% from June, but still a long way from July 2021, the last time he had a net positive rating (with 48% approval, vs. 44% disapproval).
But if the Manchin-Schumer compromise passes, as seems likely, Biden's standing with Democrats, especially younger voters, could get a boost.
And if gas prices continue to drop, inflation starts to ease, and the stock market doesn't tank again, the bulk of the country, many of whom aren't obsessed with politics, could start to feel more optimistic, that would help Biden's approval gain some momentum.
As long as he is president, Biden will face headwinds from shameless distortion by right-wing operatives, and he will suffer for not being the most charismatic and eloquent president at a time when the country's own democracy is under threat.
However, at this point in his presidency, he can bask in a string of victories, and hope that the tide has turned.
AbortionJoe Biden