Biden Campaign Sent Interview Questions to Local Radio Hosts

Radio hosts Andrea Lawful Sanders and Earl Ingram have revealed that the Biden campaign provided them with questions in advance of their interviews with the president, raising concerns about the transparency of the interview process.

Radio hosts Andrea Lawful Sanders and Earl Ingram have admitted to receiving questions from the Biden campaign prior to their interviews with the president, sparking concerns about the transparency of the interview process.

Sanders, who hosts "The Source" on WURD in Philadelphia, told CNN anchor Victor Blackwell on Saturday that the questions for her interview with Biden "were sent to me for approval." Ingram, host of "The Earl Ingram Show" on WMCS in Milwaukee, confirmed to ABC News that he was given five questions to ask Biden during their recent chat.

Biden Campaign Sent Interview Questions to Local Radio Hosts

Sanders stated that she approved the questions, which Blackwell detailed as being about Biden's accomplishments, debate performance, progress in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, what's at stake in the election, and what he would say to voters considering not voting. Blackwell pointed out that the questions Sanders asked were "essentially the same" as those in Biden's interview with Ingram.

Ingram said he didn't get a chance to ask all the questions he wanted before their time was up, but didn't see anything problematic with being given the questions, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to speak to the president.

Biden Campaign Sent Interview Questions to Local Radio Hosts

Blackwell expressed concern that the practice of providing questions in advance may undermine efforts to dispel concerns about Biden's fitness for office. He argued that it raises questions about the president's ability to handle spontaneous interactions and respond to unexpected inquiries.

In response to Sanders' statements, Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt told Fox News Digital that it's "not at all an uncommon practice for interviewees to share topics they would prefer." She emphasized that the questions were relevant to current events and that hosts are free to ask additional questions.

Biden Campaign Sent Interview Questions to Local Radio Hosts

However, critics argue that the practice of providing questions in advance limits the journalist's ability to hold the interviewee accountable and prevents them from pursuing potentially uncomfortable lines of questioning. They contend that it creates an artificial and controlled environment that does not accurately reflect the dynamics of a typical interview.

The revelations have sparked a debate about the ethical implications of providing questions in advance and whether it undermines the integrity of the interview process. Some argue that it undermines the journalist's role as an independent observer and raises questions about the extent to which the interviewee is prepared to answer unscripted questions.

Others maintain that it is a common practice that allows interviewees to be better prepared and prevents awkward or inappropriate questions. They argue that it doesn't necessarily compromise the integrity of the interview, as the journalist still has the freedom to choose which questions to ask and pursue follow-ups.

The practice of providing questions in advance has been used by political campaigns and other organizations for decades. It is seen as a way to control the narrative and ensure that the interviewee is well-prepared and on message. However, it is important to strike a balance between allowing the interviewee to be prepared and preserving the journalist's ability to hold them accountable and ask challenging questions.

The controversy surrounding the Biden campaign's practice of providing questions in advance highlights the ongoing debate about the role of journalists in holding powerful figures accountable and the ethical considerations that arise in the interview process.