BIDEN’S EMBARRASSMENT. Much of Washington has been fixated on the coming hearing of House Democrats’ Jan. 6 committee. That could turn out to be a lucky thing for President Joe Biden if it distracts the public’s attention from an embarrassment he, not to mention the United States of America, is experiencing on the West Coast.

Biden is attending the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. A White House news release said he will focus on “pressing challenges, including economic prosperity, climate change, the migration crisis, and the Covid-19 pandemic.” As important as those might be, the part of the president’s trip that has gotten the most coverage is his planned appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. News reports have suggested that Biden’s appearance is the result of the president feeling “frustrated” by his low job approval rating and eager to improve his image. How dropping in on the third-rated late-night comedy show will fix that is not entirely clear.