Earl Ingram, a radio host from Wisconsin, has acknowledged receiving pre-approved questions for his interview with Joe Biden. This revelation follows Biden’s debate performance and growing scrutiny over his preparedness for re-election.
Speaking to ABC News, Ingram, who hosts “The Earl Ingram Show” on WMCS, confirmed, “Yes, I was given some questions for Biden.” He noted that he couldn’t cover all the topics he intended before the interview concluded.
This disclosure makes Ingram the second radio host this weekend to admit to receiving predetermined questions for a Biden interview. Andrea Lawful-Sanders, host of “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia, similarly revealed on CNN that she was sent questions for her interview with Biden for approval. “I approved them,” Lawful-Sanders stated, outlining that her questions focused on Biden’s accomplishments, debate performance, and election stakes.
CNN’s Victor Blackwell observed that the questions Lawful-Sanders asked were “essentially the same” as those in Ingram’s interview. This similarity raises concerns about the authenticity of the interactions and the potential impact on public perception of Biden’s readiness.
Ingram expressed gratitude for the opportunity to interview Biden, despite the pre-approved questions. “To think that I was going to get an opportunity to ask any question to the president of the United States, I think, is a bit more than anybody should expect,” he told ABC News. He downplayed the issue, emphasizing the significance of the interview opportunity.
Critics argue that providing questions in advance may not alleviate concerns about Biden’s capability to lead. Blackwell commented, “It’s just that 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 before the interview so that the president knows what’s coming.”
In defense, Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt explained to Fox News Digital that sharing preferred topics is a common practice. “These questions were relevant to news of the day – the president was asked about his debate performance as well as what he’d delivered for black Americans. We do not condition interviews on acceptance of these questions, and hosts are always free to ask the questions they think will best inform their listeners,” Hitt stated.
As the 2024 election approaches, these revelations highlight the ongoing debate about transparency and the authenticity of political interviews.
You really think Trump doesn’t do the same thing so his handlers can try and keep him on point?