Editorial cartoons for June 30, 2024: Presidential debate, heat wave, religion in schools

The first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump dominates this week’s editorial cartoon gallery, led by reactions to Biden’s raspy, faltering performance. The gallery’s lead image, by Phil Hands, visually references “The Scream,” by Edvard Munch, to capture Democrats’ anguish.

Before the debate, editorial cartoonists were anticipating a meltdown by Trump, which did not materialize.

Nick Anderson and Mike Luckovich refer to a claim, without evidence, that Biden is on performance-enhancing drugs. Dana Summers calls Biden’s ability to string two coherent sentences together as a “deepfake.” Scott Stantis portrays the candidates as babies throwing a tantrum. To Michael Ramirez, the “real presidential debate” is, “How did we end up with these two knuckleheads?”

Editorial cartoonists also commented on the persistent heat wave, positing a connection to climate change. “Still think it’s a hoax?” a wife asks her husband in Walt Handelsman’s offering. He replies from the freezer, “Yes.”

Other news events in this week’s gallery include a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom; progressive New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s stinging loss in Tuesday’s Democratic primary over his views on the war in Gaza; foot-dragging by the courts deciding Trump classified document and presidential immunity cases; and the “blistering heat affecting millions” — the white-hot housing market.

Cartoons were drawn by Jack Ohman, Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and Mike Luckovich, Steve Breen and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.