The Hill’s Brett Samuels has a new piece out detailing Biden’s strategy of portraying himself as a “protector of freedom,” which would effectively flip the script on Republicans by using a word and concept that is normally touted by conservatives.

The term “freedom” or “freedoms” was invoked six times in the president’s reelection launch video. And his campaign’s first official ad used those words seven times.

“It’s pretty clear the strategy here is going to be, ‘Republicans are coming after our freedoms and our ability to do X, Y and Z,” one Democratic strategist told The Hill.  “Those are typically talking points Republicans use, so we are playing on their turf and winning.”

Read full story here.

Meanwhile, The Hill’s Julia Manchester and Alex Gangitano report that Republicans are seeking to hit Democrats over age going into 2024.

The main target is President Biden, who at 80 years old is the oldest president in history running for reelection. But Republicans, most recently presidential candidate Nikki Haley, are also calling on Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 89, to step down.

“The attacks illustrate how the GOP sees age as a way to defeat Biden in 2024, even as its party is led by a 76-year-old in former President Trump and an 81-year-old in Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell,” Julia and Alex report.

Haley has also called on politicians older than 75 years old to have to take a mandatory competency test, which was seen as a clear jab at Trump and Biden. The former South Carolina governor has specifically called on politicians to take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which is defined as “a brief, 30-question test that helps health care professionals detect cognitive impairments very early on.”

Two Democrats on opposite ends of the country announced on Monday that they would not be seeking reelection in 2024.

In Washington State, Gov. Jay Inslee revealed he would not seek a fourth term, effectively clearing the way for younger Democratic voices in the state. Attorney General Bob Ferguson and state Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz have both expressed interest in the position.

Meanwhile, on the East Coast, Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin announced he would would not seek reelection, opening up that state’s Senate seat.

The Hill’s Al Weaver and Mychael Schnell report that Democrats are already prepping for an upcoming “rare” Senate race to replace Cardin. In fact, only five people have represented Maryland in the upper chamber over the past 35 years.

Democratic sources on Monday indicated that three possible candidates lead the pack of contenders to replace Cardin: Reps. David Trone (D-Md.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D).