The last few weeks have witnessed a media firestorm of questions about President Joe Biden's cognitive state, with many now wondering about the extent to which his appearances in recent years have been carefully stage-managed and scripted.
Amid those concerns, Andrea Lawful-Sanders, a Philadelphia radio host who recently interviewed Biden, came forward and admitted that the queries she posed to the president were taken directly from a list provided to her by the White House, as Breitbart reports.
The radio personality's disclosure came during an appearance on CNN's First of All during which she discussed her conversation with the president on her show, The Source, on WURD.
CNN host Victor Blackwell inquired about Lawful-Sanders' experience with the president and his handlers, wondering about how she put together the segment that ultimately aired.
Referencing her chat with Biden and that of another radio host, Blackwell said, “Andrea, let me ask you here about your interviews and something -- I listened to both of them, and there's something that's similar here, you each were -- you asked four questions, and maybe that's what you were allowed to ask by the campaign or the White House.”
“But they were essentially the same questions, both interviews, about accomplishments, progress in your respective state, what's at stake in the election, what he has to say about his debate performance, and what he would say to voters who think their vote doesn't matter, or might sit this election out,” he went on.
Then Blackwell posed the question to which everyone wanted an answer, saying, “Were those questions given to you by the White Houses or did you have – or the campaign or did you have to submit questions ahead of this interview?”
Answering that question directly, Lawful-Sanders replied, “The questions were sent to me for approval. I approved them.”
She was then asked to verify that the White House provided questions to the host in advance of her discussion with the president.
“Yes. And I got several questions, eight of them, and the four that were chosen were the ones I approved,” she added.
Reacting to that admission, Blackwell said, “Okay. And the reason I ask is not a criticism...it's just that if the White House is trying not 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.”
As ABC News subsequently noted that it was not just Lawful-Sanders who received pre-written questions from the White House before interviewing Biden, as Wisconsin radio personality Earl Ingram reported a similar experience.
“Yes, I was given some questions for Biden,” he stated. “I didn't get a chance to ask him all the things I wanted to ask.”
A Biden campaign spokesperson insisted that it is not “uncommon” for interviewees to suggest preferred topics in advance of a discussion and said the hosts remained free to ask whatever they liked, but whether Lawful-Sanders and Ingram felt that way at the time is another matter altogether.
Predictions about who former President Donald Trump will choose as his running mate have yielded a short list of possibilities, the Washington Post reported. Some, like columnist Max Boot, believe Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio would be the best option, but Trump has yet to choose.
Boot believes that Trump's pick for vice president is more consequential than usual. "Conventional wisdom holds that vice presidents don’t matter much, either in elections, because voters choose based on the top of the ticket, or in practice because they have few assigned duties," Boot wrote.
"But Joe Biden’s choice of Kamala D. Harris in 2020 is shaping up to be a momentous decision now that the president might have to leave the race following his disastrous debate performance. So, too, will former president Donald Trump’s soon-to-be-announced choice of a running mate be significant," Boot wrote.
The New York Times bestselling author floated the Republican possibilities, including Rubio, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Only time will tell who Trump thinks is best, but Boot and others have their ideas.
As Boot pointed out, "Trump could always surprise," but most agree that his likely choices include one of the three. "All three are born-again Trumpkins who, in the past, were bitterly critical of the man they now seek to serve," Boot pointed out.
"Vance once said Trump could be 'America’s Hitler,' Rubio called him a 'con artist,' and Burgum said he would never do business with him, because 'you’re judged by the company you keep.' But, although united in hypocrisy, the three men are separated by their policy views — particularly on foreign affairs," Boot added.
"For U.S. allies worried about the future of American foreign policy should Trump return to office (and most of them are), Vance would be the worst possible choice. Rubio and Burgum would be more reassuring selections," the columnist said.
"To be sure, all three men mouth similar MAGA pieties, but Rubio and Burgum don’t sound as if they mean it. Vance, by contrast, sounds like a true believer with the zeal of a convert," Boot claimed.
Boot went on to point out that Vance has held firm against funding the Ukraine war and is more of a "populist-nationalist" than the others. "Rubio and Burgum are much more traditional — and hence less alarming — in their foreign policy views, notwithstanding their mental gyrations to please the MAGA base," Boot claimed.
While Boot and others have all but chosen Rubio as the only man for the job, the ticket hits one major snag: both Trump and Rubio are Florida residents, according to ABC News. The news outlet pointed out that the 12th Amendment to the Constitution forbids it.
"If Trump selected Rubio as his running mate, electors from Florida could not vote for both Trump and Rubio under the 12th Amendment. But it would be perfectly fine for electors from the other 49 states to vote for both," the news outlet clarified.
That would mainly impact them in Florida and award Trump fewer delegates than available. However, the majority of the other states give all of the electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in that state.
The only alternative would be for one of them to move out of the state, which would most likely fall to Rubio since Trump has gone to great lengths to exit his previous home state of New York. If that were the case, Rubio could then jeopardize his senate seat.
Regardless of who the media wants Trump to choose, it won't matter to voters. Trump has his own loyal following, and many Democrats are fleeing from Biden in droves regardless of who else is on the ticket.
President Joe Biden claims he needs more sleep and fewer working hours as the list of excuses for his disastrous debate showing last week continues to grow, the Washington Examiner reported. The president said this Wednesday during a call meant to rally support amid calls for him to step down from his reelection bid.
Speaking to Democratic governors in the meeting, Biden said he would reduce his workload going forward and take it easier. The president also suggested he would skip any events that take place after 8 p.m.
These measures came after Democrats called for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. Citing his horrible showing at the first debate with former President Donald Trump on June 27, many believe he should let someone else take his place as the Democratic candidate.
The trouble was apparent during the event as Biden seemed confused and often garbled his speech. He even appeared to freeze on occasion during the debate, suggesting serious cognitive issues for the 81-year-old.
Advisers close to Biden have reportedly been telling the president he may need to drop out of he can't pull out of this tailspin. The White House claims this is absolutely false.
Biden dismissed Democrats' concerns during the conference with the governors and promised he would not be dropping out. When Gov. Josh Green (D-HI) inquired about Biden's health status, the president denied there was any problem.
"It’s just my brain," Biden told Green. Some people thought it might be a joke, while others were left puzzled by this response.
This explanation is one of several offered by Biden and his handlers as a way of downplaying the serious mental deficiencies on display at the debate. Biden had also claimed it was jet lag after taking several trips overseas.
He claimed it "wasn't very smart" to globe-trot before the debate and that travel left him so tired he "almost fell asleep on stage," Biden said at a recent fundraiser. "It’s not an excuse but an explanation," Biden clarified.
Biden can attempt to explain away his poor performance, but it's unlikely to help. Democrats, including voters, donors, and politicians, are rightly concerned about his chances of losing against Trump.
Members of his own party have been leading the charge for Biden to step aside, including Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), who was the first to say so publicly. "Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw," Doggett wrote.
I wanted to share with you my statement calling on President Biden to withdraw. pic.twitter.com/ocwmsQ1f00
— Rep. Lloyd Doggett (@LloydDoggettTX) July 2, 2024
Others like Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) followed on Doggett's heels to suggest Biden must go. Things have become so dire that former Rep. Tim Ryan even urged Vice President Kamala Harris to take Biden's place as the nominee after Biden's "deeply troubling" performance.
Democrats are in trouble now that the whole world has seen what shape Biden is in. Their only hope is that Biden steps down, which seems unlikely given the president's resolve to stay in the race at all costs.
Several Democratic governors have pledged their support to President Joe Biden's reelection bid despite his horrible debate performance last week, Breitbart reported. Meanwhile, Biden has pledged not to concede or drop out as rumors swirl.
During his first debate with former President Donald Trump, Biden seemed confused, tripped over his words, and seemed to freeze at certain points. This has led many to declare him unfit to run for reelection even as Biden pledges to stay in the race.
Still, some Democrats are circling the wagons for him as the campaign season ramps up. A call with several Democratic state governors has yielded support from some of their heaviest hitters.
Among those are Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, who participated in a call with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Others who issued statements of support included Govs. Katie Hobbs of Arizona, Ned Lamont of Connecticut, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, and Wes Moore of Maryland.
Newsom and Whitmer both took to social media to show their loyalty to the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. Perhaps they feel their future chances require it, including becoming Biden's replacement should the time come.
"I have three words from the President tonight — he’s all in. And so am I," Newsom posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.
I heard three words from the President tonight -- he’s all in. And so am I.@JoeBiden’s had our back. Now it’s time to have his.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 4, 2024
Whitmer similarly posted a simple message that she wasn't wavering from the Democrats' presidential pick for 2024 after the call with Biden. "JoeBiden is our nominee. He is in it to win it and I support him," Whitmer posted.
.@JoeBiden is our nominee. He is in it to win it and I support him.
— Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) July 4, 2024
Despite the high-profile Democrats performing damage control, others have begun to speak up about the need for Biden to step down as the candidate. The first to do so was Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, the Associated Press reported.
Doggett, the 15-term lawmaker who represents the district that includes left-leaning Austin, said Biden wasn't able to "effectively defend his many accomplishments" during the debate. He called on Biden to "make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw" from the race.
"My decision to make these strong reservations public is not done lightly, nor does it in any way diminish my respect for all that President Biden has achieved. Recognizing that, unlike Trump, President Biden’s first commitment has always been to our country, not himself, I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw," Doggett said in a statement Tuesday.
"I respectfully call on him to do so," he added. Doggett said Biden should act as former President Lyndon Johnson did and step away from the race when victory is unattainable. "Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw. President Biden should do the same," Doggett added.
The emergency meeting to garner support to prop up Biden will do little to convince the American people that he's fit to serve. Now that voters have seen Biden for what he is, there's no going back regardless of what prominent Democrats say.