Today's story: At age 81, Joe Biden was the oldest person ever to seek the U.S. presidency. And while voters had concerns about his age, he easily won the Democratic Party's nomination. But after a terrible debate performance, he withdrew from the race. The sitting vice president, Kamala Harris, will face Donald Trump in the November election. Learn this English expression: A race is 'down to the wire' if the result is in doubt until the last moment Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/707 -- Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English. You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English. How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English. The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English. -- Did you like this episode? You'll love the full Plain English experience. Join today and unlock the fast (native-speed) version of this episode, translations in the transcripts, how-to video lessons, live conversation calls, and more. Tap/click: PlainEnglish.com/join Here's where else you can find us: Instagram | YouTube | WhatsApp | Email Mentioned in this episode: The Expressions are back! Subscribe to our new podcast, "Essential English Expressions." Each episode shows you step-by-step how to use a common English expression, with plenty of examples. Season 1 is available now. Download or stream all 14 episodes at [link].

Today's story: Most American families are confronted with the decision to buy or rent a home at some point. This decision is a common one around the world, but the specific pros and cons can be different, depending on the country. Here's what the decision is like in the U.S. Learn this English expression: When someone has given you money, and you return it, you pay that person back Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/705 -- Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English. You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English. How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English. The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English. -- Did you like this episode? You'll love the full Plain English experience. Join today and unlock the fast (native-speed) version of this episode, translations in the transcripts, how-to video lessons, live conversation calls, and more. Tap/click: PlainEnglish.com/join Here's where else you can find us: Instagram | YouTube | WhatsApp | Email Mentioned in this episode: The Expressions are back! Subscribe to our new podcast, "Essential English Expressions." Each episode shows you step-by-step how to use a common English expression, with plenty of examples. Season 1 is available now. Download or stream all 14 episodes at [link].