The sitting president of the United States called half of the country — Republican voters — “garbage” last night, which during an ordinary news cycle, and with a fair media, might garner attention on the airways and condemnation from both political parties.

Some headlines from this morning:

BBC: Biden tries to clarify ‘garbage’ comment after fresh US election row

CNN: Biden may have handed Trump a big assist with his ‘garbage’ gaffe

NBC: Biden sets off a firestorm with his response to Trump rally comedian’s Puerto Rico comments

New York Times: Trump and His Allies Link Biden’s ‘Garbage’ Comment to 2016 ‘Deplorables’ Remark

New York Times: Biden Appears to Insult Trump Supporters as ‘Garbage,’ but Quickly Tries to Clarify

The Guardian: Biden says ‘garbage’ remark was aimed at comedian, not Trump supporters

Washington Post: White House, Trump campaign clash over whether Biden called Trump supporters ‘garbage’

The Hill: Biden appears to call Trump supporters ‘garbage’

AP: Biden suggests Trump supporters are ‘garbage’ after comic’s insult of Puerto Rico

CBS: “Supporters” or “supporter’s”? Biden comments about Trump “garbage” rally anger the GOP

Hallmark rule of journalism: Omit needless words. Every headline should include, if not limit itself to, the words, “Joe Biden calls Trump supporters ‘garbage.'” White House press officials will of course try to clean up Biden’s remarks. Luckily, there’s a video of the president’s comments, and even more fortuitously, last night was one of the rare moments in which Biden was slightly coherent. Judge for yourself: “Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage,” Biden said. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”