A Pennsylvania talk radio station has severed ties with host Andrea Lawful-Sanders following revelations that she used questions from Joe Biden’s campaign during a post-debate interview.
Sara M. Lomax, President and CEO of WURD Radio, announced Sunday that the interview on “The Source” was “arranged and negotiated independently… without knowledge, consultation or collaboration with WURD management.” Lawful-Sanders’ actions violated the station’s journalistic standards, leading to a mutual agreement for her immediate departure.
“WURD Radio remains an independent voice that our audience can trust will hold elected officials accountable,” Lomax stated. “Agreeing to a pre-determined set of questions jeopardizes that trust and is not a practice that WURD Radio engages in or endorses.”
Biden campaign defended the practice
Lawful-Sanders did not respond to immediate requests for comment. However, she confirmed her resignation in a Facebook video, stating, “Life is moving, things are shifting and changing, and in a day or so, you’ll hear more.”
The Biden campaign, responsible for coordinating the interview, asserted that hosts have always been free to ask their own questions. “Moving forward, we will refrain from offering suggested questions,” a campaign representative noted.
Following concerns about Biden’s debate performance against Donald Trump in June, the president engaged in pre-recorded interviews with two radio stations in swing states, including WURD. These interviews, airing on July 4, addressed his debate performance and broader issues affecting Black voters.
Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt defended the practice, stating, “It’s not at all uncommon for interviewees to share preferred topics. These questions were relevant to the news of the day.”
During the interview, Biden made a notable gaffe
WURD Radio, based in Philadelphia, prides itself as Pennsylvania’s only African-American owned and operated talk radio station. Lomax emphasized that WURD is not a “mouthpiece” for any administration and announced a review of the station’s policies to prevent future incidents.
During the interview, Biden made a notable gaffe while addressing what he would say to voters planning to sit out the election, a moment that attracted significant media attention.
Despite the controversy, Biden received a warm welcome from supporters at a campaign event in a predominantly Black church in Philadelphia, where he delivered an eight-minute address.