Radio Station Boots Host for Following Biden’s Script – Shocker!

Stock-Asso / shutterstock.com
Stock-Asso / shutterstock.com

Well, folks, it’s happened again. The “most transparent administration in history” has been caught playing puppet master. The radio station that hosted President Joe Biden’s first post-debate interview has cut ties with the host after she admitted to asking pre-approved questions. Shocking, right?

Andrea Lawful-Sanders, the now-former host of “The Source” on WURD in Philadelphia, confessed to CNN that she received the questions directly from Biden’s team. “The questions were sent to me for approval. I approved them,” she said. How convenient.

Let’s break this down. The White House officials drafted the questions, sent them to the radio station, and Lawful-Sanders gave them the green light. Imagine that—a supposedly independent journalist taking cues from the people she’s supposed to hold accountable. It’s like letting the fox guard the henhouse.

WURD Radio’s President and CEO, Sara M. Lomax, quickly distanced the station from this debacle. She emphasized that the interview was arranged without WURD’s management knowing or agreeing to the pre-determined questions. Lomax declared, “The interview featured pre-determined questions provided by the White House, which violates our practice of remaining an independent media outlet accountable to our listeners.”

Well, isn’t that rich? It is an independent media outlet, accountable to its listeners, yet somehow oblivious that its host was spoon-feeding scripted questions from the White House. Lomax continued, “As a result, Ms. Lawful-Sanders and WURD Radio have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately.” How noble.

“WURD Radio remains an independent voice that our audience can trust to hold elected officials accountable,” Lomax added. Really? Because last I checked, allowing the White House to dictate the narrative isn’t exactly what I’d call accountability. This stunt jeopardized the trust of their audience—something they claim to value highly. This doesn’t look good for a station that prides itself on being Pennsylvania’s only independent Black-owned talk radio station.

Let’s not forget that Lomax had to underline that WURD is “not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other Administration.” But actions speak louder than words, Sara. This incident has highlighted a glaring inconsistency between what WURD preaches and its practices.

Ultimately, this is just another example of the cozy relationship between the media and those in power. It’s a reminder of how crucial it is to have truly independent voices in journalism. We need media outlets that aren’t afraid to ask the tough questions and hold leaders accountable, regardless of political affiliation. So, next time you hear “independent media,” maybe take it with a grain of salt. If this episode has taught us anything, it’s that independence in the media is becoming a rare commodity.