--- title: 2016 Election: Joe Biden: 'I Just Don't Know' About 2016 Run description: Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday he remains uncertain whether he will mount a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. canonical: https://time.com/4022616/joe-biden-2016-election-bid/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-04T05:13:46.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:41:48.245Z article:section: Politics og:title: Joe Biden: 'I Just Don't Know' About 2016 Run og:description: The VP expressed doubts whether his family has the "emotional energy" for a run. og:url: https://time.com/4022616/joe-biden-2016-election-bid/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2b5628f2e8671474/69886246f887dcf9ace92353/rtx1qxuv.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3367 og:image:height: 1894 og:image:alt: Joe Biden speaks at meeting with Jewish community leaders at David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Joe Biden: 'I Just Don't Know' About 2016 Run twitter:description: The VP expressed doubts whether his family has the "emotional energy" for a run. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2b5628f2e8671474/69886246f887dcf9ace92353/rtx1qxuv.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Joe Biden: 'I Just Don't Know' About 2016 Presidential Run > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=f63e9eec-cd2d-4f3a-a516-3181154626f7&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | Subscribers | Open rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | 540,000 | 45.6% | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 430,000 | 50.7% | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Daily | 240,000 | 54.1% | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Tuesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 40,000 | 31.7% | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | 85,000 | 37.0% | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | 40,000 | 34.2% | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | 25,000 | 28.6% | Source: TIME, August 2026. Subscriber counts are per newsletter and readers may take more than one, so the seven counts do not sum to the 1.1 million+ unique newsletter audience. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Highest open rate | 54.1%, Health Matters | TIME, August 2026 | | Largest list | 540,000, The Brief | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=f63e9eec-cd2d-4f3a-a516-3181154626f7&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=f63e9eec-cd2d-4f3a-a516-3181154626f7&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ## Video: Biden Doesn't Know If He Has The 'Emotional Energy' For 2016 [Watch (HLS stream): Biden Doesn't Know If He Has The 'Emotional Energy' For 2016](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/VNNaQsFt.m3u8) (1:00)  _Published 2015-09-04. Vice President Joe Biden says he'll only enter the 2016 presidential race if he can make it work for his family._ by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Sep 4, 2015 5:13 AM UTC  U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a meeting with Jewish community leaders at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie, Florida, Sept. 3, 2015 U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks at a meeting with Jewish community leaders at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie, Florida, Sept. 3, 2015Joe Skipper—Reuters by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Sep 4, 2015 5:13 AM UTC Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday he remains uncertain whether he will mount a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, expressing doubts whether his family has the “emotional energy” for a run. Speaking at a synagogue in Atlanta to promote the Iran nuclear agreement, the former Delaware senator said in response to a question that he can’t put a timetable on his decision. “The most relevant factor in my decision is whether my family and I have the emotional energy to run,” Biden said. “Some might think that is inappropriate. Unless I can go to my party and the American people and say that I am able to devote my whole heart and my whole soul to this endeavor it would not be appropriate.” Biden maintained that political considerations like raising money and putting together an organization were not a factor in his hesitance. “The factor is can I do it. Can my family undertake what is an arduous commitment that we’d be proud to undertake in ordinary circumstances,” he said. “The honest to God answer is I just don’t know.” The vice president and his family are mourning the death of Biden’s son Beau from cancer in May. The family scion and Democratic rising star left behind two young children, and the elder Biden has spent weeks huddled with his family after the loss. Biden, who is no stranger to family tragedy after losing his first wife and a daughter in a car crash shortly after winning his Senate seat in 1972, said he knows from experience that “there’s no way to put a timetable” on determining when his family might be ready. “If I can reach that conclusion and we can do it in a fashion that would still make it viable I would not hesitate to do it,” Biden continued. “But I have to be honest with you and everyone who’s come to me, I can’t look you straight in the eye and say now I know I can do it.” Before Beau’s death, Biden had promised a decision by the end of summer, an already delayed start that would put his potential campaign tens of millions of dollars and months, if not years, behind Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s effort. Biden’s poll numbers are riding high, partially as a result of his distance from electoral politics, though some Democrats are hankering for him to make a third White House run. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4022616/joe-biden-2016-election-bid/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4022616/joe-biden-2016-election-bid/"},"headline":"Joe Biden: 'I Just Don't Know' About 2016 Presidential Run","datePublished":"2015-09-04T05:13:46.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-19T07:41:48.245Z","description":"\"I can’t look you straight in the eye and say now I know I can do it\"","url":"https://time.com/4022616/joe-biden-2016-election-bid/","keywords":["2016 Election","2016 Election","Joe Biden"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2b5628f2e8671474/69886246f887dcf9ace92353/rtx1qxuv.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Zeke Miller","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2b5628f2e8671474/69886246f887dcf9ace92353/rtx1qxuv.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Joe Biden speaks at meeting with Jewish community leaders at David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie","caption":"Joe Biden speaks at meeting with Jewish community leaders at David Posnack Jewish Community Center in Davie","creditText":"Joe Skipper—Reuters","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/2016-election/","name":"2016 Election"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4022616/joe-biden-2016-election-bid/","name":"Joe Biden: 'I Just Don't Know' About 2016 Presidential Run"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Biden Doesn't Know If He Has The 'Emotional Energy' For 2016","description":"Vice President Joe Biden says he'll only enter the 2016 presidential race if he can make it work for his family.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/VNNaQsFt/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-09-04T13:33:05.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/VNNaQsFt.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4022616/joe-biden-2016-election-bid/","duration":"PT1M","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4022616/joe-biden-2016-election-bid/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```