Biden suggests to allies he may limit evening events to get more sleep

President Joe Biden suggested to Democratic governors that he may limit evening events after 8 p.m. so he can get more sleep, according to two sources familiar with the exchange.

Biden met with the governors on Wednesday evening as he sought to assuage allies' concerns after a disastrous debate performance left Democrats anxious about the president's ability to serve and campaign for re-election.

He also joked that while his health was fine, "it's just my brain," one source told NBC News.

The remarks were first reported by The New York Times and are part of a stream of leaks about the contents of the meeting, which was not attended by staff for the governors, the White House or the campaign. He also said he'd seen a doctor after the debate, contradicting a White House claim from earlier.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Biden surrogate who was on the call and is viewed as a potential future Democratic presidential candidate, said Biden's 8 p.m. comment was not "literal."

"It was more of a rhetorical framework of just being fit and rested because he was burning at both ends, you know, that last 10 or so days. And I think that was sort of what he was reflecting, is just a more steady focus on being his energetic self," Newsom said.

A fourth person with knowledge of the meeting downplayed the president's comments about needing more sleep, adding that Biden acknowledged generally he does need to be better at finding time to rest.

The Biden campaign defended