President Joe Biden’s campaign has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that they provided lists of pre-approved questions to two radio hosts for Biden’s first post-debate interviews. The interviews, which took place on Black radio shows in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, were seen as an attempt to showcase Biden’s ability to communicate effectively following his lackluster debate performance against Donald Trump. Radio host Earl Ingram disclosed that Biden’s team supplied him with a list of four questions without any room for negotiation.
Similarly, Andrea Lawful-Sanders, host of “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia, shared that she had been given a list of eight questions from which she selected four for her interview with Biden. The Biden campaign defended this practice, stating that it is common for interviewees to suggest topics they would prefer to discuss, emphasizing that the questions were pertinent to current events like Biden’s debate showing and his impact on the Black community.
During his interview with Ingram, Biden addressed his debate performance, admitting, “I didn’t have a good debate. That’s 90 minutes on stage. Look at what I’ve done in 3.5 years.” Despite the scripted nature of the interviews, Biden emphasized the high stakes of the election, underscoring the importance of democracy, freedom, and the economy.
The controversy around the pre-approved questions has sparked discussions about Biden’s ability to handle unscripted moments and raised questions about campaign transparency. Ingram, a radio veteran, acknowledged the unusual nature of receiving preset questions for a guest but viewed the opportunity to interview the President as a unique experience.
Since the interviews, Ingram reported an influx of callers expressing opinions on whether Biden should stay in the race, with a majority showing support for his continuation. The Trump campaign did not respond immediately to queries about their interview practices or potential cancellations due to subject matter.
