In breaking news, a Milwaukee radio station made two edits to an interview with President Joe Biden at the request of his campaign, according to Civic Media, the station’s owner.
The interview, which took place on July 3 with WAUK-AM host Earl Ingram, marked one of Biden’s first media engagements following his lackluster performance at the June 27 CNN Presidential Debate.
The requested edits have sparked outrage among the press corps, who have been frustrated by the White House’s handling of questions about Biden’s health and acuity. They are expected to confront Biden for the first time since the debate at a press conference during the NATO summit on Thursday.
Civic Media, a Wisconsin-based radio network, has since posted the edited clips and the complete unedited interview on its website. The edits included Biden’s statements about having more Black officials in his administration than any other president and the removal of a reference to former President Donald Trump.
A spokesperson for the Biden campaign confirmed that they had asked for the edits, stating, “Hosts have always been free to ask the questions and air the segments they think will best inform their listeners.”
In a statement, Civic Media CEO Sage Weil revealed that the Biden campaign requested the edits immediately after the interview was recorded. Weil emphasized the importance of transparency in the current political climate and reiterated the station’s commitment to sharing the information with the public.
While management at Civic Media initially viewed the edits as non-substantive, they have since expressed disagreement with that assessment. They are now clarifying internal policies to ensure that all staff adhere to the expected standards for live and pre-recorded interviews.
Despite the controversy, Civic Media stands by Earl Ingram and his team, stating that the edits were made in good faith. This comes after another radio host, Andrea Lawful-Sanders, resigned from a Philadelphia station following a post-debate interview with Biden that included pre-selected questions from the campaign team.
