Philadelphia radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders found herself at the center of a political firestorm, hotter than a July afternoon. Her crime? Conducting what’s been dubbed a “softball” interview with Joe Biden and then spilling the beans about the pre-approved questions provided by his campaign.
The drama unfolded faster than you can say “media ethics.” Lawful-Sanders, who hosted the urban radio program “The Source” on WURD, admitted that she received a list of predetermined questions from the Biden camp before her post-debate interview with the President. The revelation ignited a national uproar, leading to Lawful-Sanders’ dismissal quicker than a plot twist in a soap opera.
In a candid Instagram video, the now-former host explained her forced resignation, thanking her audience for their support. “The questions were sent to me for approval. I approved them. I got several questions. Eight of them and the four that were chosen were the ones that I approved,” she said, laying it all out like a confessional on reality TV.
WOW. The radio host who interviewed Joe Biden says that the White House provided the questions for the interview. CNN's Victor Blackwell: "If the White House is trying now to prove the vim, vigor, acuity of the President I don't know how they do that by sending questions first… pic.twitter.com/5BCQh12yft
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) July 6, 2024
The scandal first came to light when conservative media highlighted Lawful-Sanders’ lenient line of questioning, which seemed more scripted than an award show acceptance speech. The situation went from awkward to cringe-worthy when Biden, in a bizarre gaffe, mistakenly declared himself the “first Black woman” to serve as vice president—a mix-up involving his VP Kamala Harris and his tenure under Obama. “By the way, I’m proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, the first Black woman to serve with a Black president,” he told a bewildered Lawful-Sanders.
https://twitter.com/VigilantFox/status/1810419787660513353
The fallout was swift. WURD Radio, Pennsylvania’s only independent Black-owned talk radio station, issued a statement emphasizing the breach of trust. “Agreeing to a predetermined set of questions jeopardizes the trust listeners place in its journalistic standards,” declared Sara Lomax, WURD’s President and CEO. She assured the public that the station had no prior knowledge of Lawful-Sanders’ coordination with Biden’s team and reiterated their commitment to journalistic integrity.
https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1810046144984014851
The radio host to whom Joe Biden bragged about being the first black female VP was just fired for taking scripted questions from his campaign.
Joe’s campaign is letting a REAL Black woman take the fall for his bullshit. Another BLACK JOB lost under Biden! pic.twitter.com/I3EX8s9RFw
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) July 7, 2024
As if the plot couldn’t thicken any further, Earl Ingram, another radio host, confirmed receiving a similar list of recommended questions ahead of his own interview with Biden. While Biden’s spokesperson assured The Times that the campaign would cease offering pre-approved questions to media outlets, the damage to public trust had already been done.
Lawful-Sanders’ departure underscores the delicate dance between media and politics, where transparency and trust are paramount. For WURD, maintaining its 20-year history of independent journalism became more critical than ever. Lomax’s statement reaffirmed their dedication to holding elected officials accountable without fear or favor.
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