now. good day, i m chris jansing live at msnbc headquarters in new york city. the major twofold test for president biden as he travels abroad but with big political implications back home. can he showcase unity among western allies over the wars in ukraine and gaza while u.s. voters are increasingly skeptical, and how much will the push to preserve democracy really resonate come november? plus, more high drama in delaware as hunter biden s ex-wife takes the stand in his federal trial, what she just finished telling the jury, her brief testimony under subpoena including talk of drug paraphernalia, rehab, and infidelity and whether it s likely to help or hurt her former husband s defense. a pair of critical races taking place 2,000 miles apart, but providing new clues to one of the most consequential political questions of 2024. will democrats hold on to the senate, or can republicans take it back? we ll break that down in the senate contests in montana and new jersey
he s going to meet with president zelenskyy of ukraine while he s here in france and try to make the argument to americans that it matters to them, matters to the united states what happens in the battlefields of ukraine. can you think, jim, a reagan-esque speech which is grounded in patriotism work, though, in 2024? i really do, and i think it s the perfect contrast. this is joe biden s sweet spot. this is where he feels comfortable, and as voteders start to focus on this election, the contrast between his steady leadership, which is what he promised and donald trump s sense of chaos and anarchy and his past comments praising dictatorial leaders talking about how great they are, controversial statements about democracy, saying he would want a third term, this might be the last democratic election, he ll be a dictator. that contrast is what the biden campaign is hoping for. i think friday s speech sets the tone as he did before the 2022