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The median age of senators is 65. We’re heading into a presidential contest that might find candidates who are 78 and 82 facing off on Election Day. Our government, people have argued, is a gerontocracy. But is that a bad thing? Should our older leaders take a back seat? And for all of us, how do you know when it’s the right time to retire?
Background reading
“Inside the Complicated Reality of Being America’s Oldest President” (The New York Times)
“Feinstein, Back in the Senate, Relies Heavily on Staff to Function” (The New York Times)
(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)
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Follow our hosts on Twitter: Michelle Cottle (@mcottle), Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT), Carlos Lozada (@CarlosNYT) and Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen).
“Matter of Opinion” was produced this week by Phoebe Lett, Sophia Alvarez Boyd and Derek Arthur. It was edited by Stephanie Joyce. Mixing by Isaac Jones. Original music by Isaac Jones, Efim Shapiro, Carole Sabouraud, Sonia Herrero and Pat McCusker. Our fact-checking team is Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker and Michelle Harris. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski. Our executive producer is Annie-Rose Strasser.