I have a few questions about this video of Joe Biden giving a talk to some kids at a swimming pool.

First, is it fake? I don't think so, but it's possible, given its from Facebook, the only major social media platform that openly welcomes doctored and deepfaked political videos.

Second, what is he talking about regarding his leg hairs? From the video:

"And by the way, you know, I sit on the stand and I get hot, I got a lotta, I got hairy legs that turn blonde in the sun. And the kids used to come up and reach in the pole and rub my leg down so it was straight and then watch the hair come back up again. And they looked at it. So I learned about roaches and I learned about kids jumpin' on my lap."

More importantly than what he is saying, is why is he telling this bizarre story to a bunch of kids who look completely tuned out to his blustering and bloviating?

Next, Biden segues to the time he insulted a local bully nicknamed Corn Pop. Like a scene out of a bad S.E. Hinton juvenile fiction knock-off, Biden says that as a lifeguard at the pool he spotted Corn Pop on the diving board. Biden noticed that Corn Pop had pomade in his hair and was concerned that it would pollute the pool water. Biden says he caught Corn Pop's attention by saying "Hey 'Esther,' (after the famous swimming celebrity Esther Williams), you, off the board or I'll come up and drag you off." Read the rest

In 1962, a 19-year old Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., in an effort to get to know more about the minorities who occupied the mean streets of Wilmington, Delaware took a job as a lifeguard at a local public pool. It was at that very pool when Joe ran afoul of a member of the Romans gang by the name of Corn Pop. Soon, straight razors, chain, and Esther Williams became involved.

Here's Joe, back at the scene of the crime in 2017 when the pool was renamed in his honor. I'll let him tell you the story.

Joe and Corn Pop's misadventures are getting renewed attention after The Root's Michael Harriot called bullshit on Twitter.

You can read the rest of the 19-tweet thread here.

So, because it's silly season, I'm sure someone will be offering a reward for information on Corn Pop's whereabouts. Only 141 more days until the Iowa caucuses. Stay strong.

(Photo: Gene J. Puskar/AP) Read the rest