Does this look like he is reading a script for the first time, and that he is not comfortable with what he does not know? Watch how Lauer is grilling him on closing the border, "This is by no means a gotcha type of question" about his family traveling. How Lauer let Biden answer questions without interrupting him with accusations.
Compare this to how President Trump has been treated by the national press for the last three years. I really forgot how much the news media played favorites with the Obama administration.