Six months to a year ago, CNN replaced its middle aged prime time male anchors with 31 year old Kaitlin Collins and 34 year old Abby Phillips.

Shortly thereafter, CNN platformed The Former Guy with their right wing “town hall” and I swore to never watch any of their programming again. But I’ve backslidden. As one does. CNN’s Middle East coverage has been solid and I like Collins and Phillips a lot, especially compared to the oldy and moldy former guys. Among other strengths, Collins and Phillips do not get ruffled. And, to borrow from some other cable news outfit, they come across as fair and (relatively) balanced.

I’m sure Collins and Phillips both aspired to rise to the top of their profession, but I’m guessing they were surprised by just how fast they got there. And yet, they’re excelling so much maybe the CNN suits should’ve promoted them earlier.

Among other broadcasters, MSNBC has countered with 45 year old Alex Wagner, 41 year old Ana Cabrera, and 44 year old Jen Psaki.

Cable news, at least on the left, has become a youngish woman’s game.

I’m guessing I’m not alone in watching a little more of CNN’s and MSNBC’s newer programming.

How many Kaitlin Collins and Abby Phillips are sitting on the bench—in politics, in business, in every economic sector—patiently waiting for the coach to call their number?

The answer is a hell of a lot. There are a lot of smart, caring, talented men and women in their third and fourth decade who we are not asking enough of. Who we are not providing sufficient opportunities to lead.

The President, who has and is doing a fantastic job, should announce he’s not running for reelection, that he’s passing the baton to the next generation of Democratic leaders. Handing off to the Gretchen Whitmers, the Gavin Newsoms, the Andy Beshears, and the 41 year old Pete Buttigieg. Among others who we don’t even know are on the bench because the “starters” are sucking all the air out of the room.

Not because of a widely reported poll that has appeared exactly one year from the election, but because everyone declines a lot in their 80’s. Maybe Joe isn’t too old to do the job well today, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to do it as well in 1-5 years. Why should we risk hoping Joe’s decline is going to be much less noticeable than on average when we don’t have to? When we have such a deep bench?

CNN had an executive who whacked his starters and then elevated his second stringers for an obvious win.

The Executive Branch is a different animal. A large ego is a prerequisite. Absent Jill, or some other confidant whose perspective the President implicitly trusts, all we can hope for is he decides himself to raise his hand and signal to the coach, I mean country, to take him out of the game. Doing so would secure his legacy.