Wednesday, 23 October 2024

Radio Station Cuts Ties With Host That Asked Biden Questions Given To Her By His Team


US President Joe Biden during an event at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, on Sunday, July 7, 2024. Biden, 81, remains defiant that he will continue his White House run against Donald Trump, despite a firestorm of concerns over his age and mental acuity sparked by his debate performance more than a week ago.Hannah Beier / Bloomberg via Getty Images

The radio station that hosted President Joe Biden’s first post-debate interview cut ties on Sunday with the host who conducted the interview after she admitted to asking Biden questions that were given to her by his team.

The questions reportedly were drafted by officials at the White House and were then sent to the radio station by Biden’s presidential campaign.

Andrea Lawful-Sanders, host of “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia, told CNN that “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 added.

Sara M. Lomax, President and CEO, WURD Radio, said in a statement that the interview was arranged and negotiated without the “knowledge, consultation or collaboration” of WURD’s management.

“The interview featured pre-determined questions provided by the White House, which violates our practice of remaining an independent media outlet accountable to our listeners,” the statement said. “As a result, Ms. Lawful-Sanders and WURD Radio have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately.”

“WURD Radio remains an independent voice that our audience can trust will hold elected officials accountable,” the statement continued. “As Pennsylvania’s only independent Black-owned talk radio station, WURD Radio has cultivated that trust with our audience over our 20-year history. This is something we take very seriously. Agreeing to a pre-determined set of questions jeopardizes that trust and is not a practice that WURD Radio engages in or endorses as a matter of practice or official policy.”

Lomax added that the radio station was “not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other Administration.”


Source link