A second local radio host told ABC News on Saturday that he was given a list of questions ahead of his interview with President Joe Biden this week.
“Yes, I got a couple of questions for Biden,” CivicMedia’s Earl Ingram told ABC News. Ingram, a prominent Wisconsin radio host, interviewed Biden this week following his debate performance.
Ingram said he was asked five questions, but ended up asking four.
“I didn't have a chance to ask him everything I wanted to ask,” he said.
Ingram is the second interviewer to say they were given questions to ask the president by Biden staff this week. Earlier today, another local radio host who interviewed Biden this week told CNN she was given questions to ask Biden for the interview.
“We do not condition interviews on whether or not we accept these questions, and hosts are always free to ask whatever questions they think will best inform their listeners,” Biden’s campaign told ABC News on Saturday.
Ingram told ABC he didn't necessarily see anything wrong with the practice. “To think that I would have the opportunity to ask a question to the president of the United States, I think, is a little bit more than anyone would expect,” he said.
He went on to say that he was grateful that he got to interview Biden at all.
“The fact that they gave me this opportunity definitely meant a lot to me,” Ingram said.
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Andrea Lawful-Sanders, host of WURD's “The Source,” told CNN earlier today that Biden officials gave her a list of eight questions ahead of their interview with Biden.
“The questions were sent to me for approval and I approved them,” she said.
“I was asked multiple questions — eight in total,” she continued. “And the four that were chosen were the ones that I approved.”
In response to Lawful-Sanders, Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt said in a statement that it is not “unusual” for interviewees to share topics they would rather have. She noted that Lawful-Sanders was “free” to ask questions as she saw fit. She also noted that it was the campaign that sent the questions, not the White House, as other reports have alleged.
Lawful Sanders indicated in her interview with CNN that she ultimately “approved” of the questions asked.
“It is not at all unusual for interviewees to share topics they would rather have. These questions were relevant to the news of the day — the President was asked about his performance in the debate and what he meant to African Americans,” the statement said. “We do not condition interviews on accepting these questions, and hosts are always free to ask whatever questions they feel will best inform their listeners. In addition to these interviews, the President also participated in a press conference and an interview with ABC yesterday. Americans have had multiple opportunities to see him unscripted since the debate.”
2nd local radio host says they were asked questions before Biden interview, originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
