Ms. Zacharia spent eight minutes reading from a script, called on only three reporters and made an awkward slip-up.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

A sample of people at the president’s midterm stump speech in Tennessee defended the Pentagon’s announcement that it would livestream the execution of a mass shooter.

© Alex Kent/The New York Times

The president offered support for the Republican Senate candidate, after earlier grumbles, but focused much of his speech on a defense of his own record.

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