Biden radio interview scandal escalates as host is FIRED for allowing White House to send scripted questions - even though president still made major gaffe
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Joe Biden's future continues to hang in the balance after his debate performance spurred a chorus of calls from Democrats demanding he drop out of his reelection race.
The president arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sunday morning to rally support at a church after bombing his 'make or break' ABC interview,
The post-debate sit-down aired Friday and was meant to quell concerns, but only led to more worries within the Party with just weeks until the Democratic National Convention.
Biden is making a few campaign stops in swing state of Pennsylvania on Sunday to try and recover public perception.
And Vice President Kamala Harris is going to Las Vegas, Nevada this week as her name is floated among those who could replace Biden for the presidential ticket in November.
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19:11
Radio station with Biden's first post-debate interview FIRES host for using questions provided by president's team
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
The host of Joe Biden's first post-debate media appearance was fired after saying she received and used questions provided from the president's team ahead of the interview.
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.
The Philadelphia-based station added that the 'practice of de-legitimizing Black voices continues today' and is concerned that any perception of accepting prepared questions will make it seem that WURD Radio is a 'mouthpiece' for the Biden administration.
Lawful-Sanders admitted the Biden team sent her eight prepared questions to ask the President – and that she used four of them.
Earl Ingram a host for WMCS in battleground state Wisconsin, and Andrea Lawful-Sanders at WURD in Philadelphia, were both sent the talking points this week.
15:21
'We pray for our president' Philadelphia pastor says as Biden attends church in Pennsylvania campaign swing
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
Joe Biden, 81, locked arms with Bishop Ernest C. Morris, 91, during Sunday morning church service at Mt. Airy Church of God in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The prayer from Bishop Felton included an urge for clarity amidst calls from the Democratic Party for the president to step down amid a public decline:
Bless us oh God so we understand what is going on politically, and we make the right decision.
We are together because we love our president, we pray for our president, we ask that you continue to give him strength.
The stop comes before Biden will continue to Pennsylvania capital of Harrisburg for a campaign rally as he does damage control after his debate disaster.
21:14
Joe Biden tells Pennsylvania ice cream social what he's best known for – sunglasses and ice cream
Biden, notorious for his love of ice cream, held an event where Pennsylvania voters chowed-down on the sweet treat as the president attempted to appeal to swing state voters amid public decline.
Joe Biden attempted to appeal to those in at an ice cream social in Pennsylvania amid a flailing public decline.
After a church service and stop at a campaign office in Philadelphia on Sunday morning, Biden made a final stop in Harrisburg to round out a day-long swing through the battleground state.
'Folks, with your permission, I'm going to find out if we have any ice cream,' Biden mumbled. 'You know, ain't it really dull when you have a president who's known for two things – Ray Ban sunglasses and chocolate chip ice cream?'
Some at the outdoor event described the president's remarks as hard-to-hear.
Earlier on Sunday, Biden attended service at the predominantly black Mt Airy Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia. Several times during the service, the president appeared confused or dazed.
20:48
Exclusive:Voter monitor in Pennsylvania explains why she's 'concerned' about voter fraud in 2024
A Pennsylvania 'election judge' has major concerns about interference in the upcoming November election.
A 24-year-old Pennsylvania 'election judge' has major concerns about interference in the upcoming November election.
Emily Carr, who has only been old enough to vote in one general election in her lifetime, tells DailyMail.com that electronic voting machines, outdated laws and bad actors could impact the outcome in the battleground state.
Carr has been an election volunteer for years despite her young age, steadily climbing the ranks from clerk to minority inspector and onto majority inspector before being appointed as a judge of elections in her home county.
She expressed concern over just how chaotic and unorganized election day can be - and the many mistakes that could lead to improperly counted ballots.
19:48
Joe Biden stops at campaign office in Philadelphia with Sen. John Fetterman
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA.) stumped for President Joe Biden at a campaign office in Philadelphia on Sunday.
The stop came after Biden attended a service at the predominantly black Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ earlier in the day.
After Philadelphia, Biden headed to the state's capital of Harrisburg as he attempts to woo voters in the battleground swing state after a series of fumbles since his disastrous debate.
19:40
More Democrat House leaders call for President Joe Biden to exit reelection race
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
Even more top Democratic lawmakers called on President Joe Biden to step aside during a Caucus call Sunday afternoon.
Judiciary Ranking Member Jerry Nadler and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano are among those who expressed they want Biden to end his White House bid, according to reports.
Reps. Don Beyer, Adam Smith and Joseph Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, also said Biden should step aside.
It came during a call held by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Most on the call on Sunday agreed that Vice President Kamala Harris should be the nominee.
18:55
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff tests positive for COVID-19 two days after July 4 with President Biden
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, his office announced.
Emhoff, along with wife and Vice President Kamala Harris, was with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for July 4 festivities just two days before the positive test.
His office reeleased a statement on the diagnosis:
He is fully vaccinated and three times boosted. He is currently asymptomatic, continuing to work remotely, and remaining away from others at home.
Out of an abundance of caution, yesterday, the Vice President was tested for COVID-19. She tested negative and remains asymptomatic.
18:15
Republicans demand answers on White House doctor's Biden ties after 'never recommending President take a cognitive test'
The House Oversight Committee is looking to understand more about White House Physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor’s has never reccomended that President Joe Biden take a cognitive test.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly insisted during a press conference Tuesday that Biden had not been to the doctor to take a mental acuity test after the debate. But Biden said during a meeting with governors last week he said he saw his doctor after the debate and they determined everything was fine.
Oversight Chairman James Comer wrote in a letter to O'Connor:
The statements by the White House Press Secretary and President Biden appear inconsistent, and the Committee seeks to understand the extent of your role at the White House at this time.
The Oversight Committee is concerned your medical assessments have been influenced by your private business endeavors with the Biden family.
Dr. O’Connor had involvement with Americore, where the president's brother, James Biden, was serving as principal. James sent $200,000 to President Biden while the company was experiencing financial distress.
Given your connections with the Biden family, the Committee also seeks to understand if you are in a position to provide accurate and independent reviews of the President’s fitness to serve.
18:00
Democrat protesters outside Biden Philadelphia campaign stop urge president to 'pass the torch'
Protesters line the streets outside Joe Biden's campaign stop at a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday morning.
The demonstrators were urging with signs that the president step aside to let another canidate run in November.
'thank u Joe but time to go,' one sign reads.
Another urged Biden to 'pass the torch' and included a drawn image of the State of Liberty's torch.
17:29
Rep. Byron Donalds says Democrats 'covered up' Joe Biden's decline to 'protect their radical agenda'
Rep. Byron Donalds thinks Democrats have been covring up for President Joe Biden's mental decline in a bid to protect the leftist agenda.
The Florida Republican, floated as a potential vice presidential pick for Trump, told Fox News Sunday:
I do not believe that Joe Biden has the capabilites of serving out the rest of this term, let alone running for president.
We do have a responsibility to make sure the occupant of the Oval Office has the capabilites to do that job. But that responsibility lies with the Vice President, Kamala Harris, and with the Cabinet. What we are seeing is they have decided to cover-up for Joe Biden to protect their radical agenda – as opposed to doing what is in the best interest of the American people.
16:53
Sen. Bernie Sanders snubs colleague's plan to discuss President Joe Biden's future with Democratic lawmakers
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says he will not be attedning the meeting with Democratic lawmakers to discuss President Joe Biden's future amid his public decline.
Fellow Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has organized the meeting with colleagues as those within the party prepare to publicly call on Biden to step out of his reelection race after his disastrous debate performance.
But Sanders told CBS Face the Nation in a Sunday interview that Warner is a 'more conservative member' of the Democratic Caucus.
No, I have not been invited. No, I will not attend.
Democrats reportedly remain unconvinced by Biden's shaky performance of late with one Virginia senator leading the charge to try and force him to withdraw.
16:45
RNC slams Joe Biden's record in Pennsylvania during his campaign swing in the battleground state
During Joe Biden's one-day campaign swing tin Pennsylvania on Sunday, Republicans ran counterprogramming to his visit.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley released the following statement:
Joe Biden only has 33 percent approval in the Keystone State because his policies have failed Pennsylvania families. From crippling inflation and housing prices that are making life unaffordable to police shortagesand deadly fentanyl that are making communities less safe, it’s no wonder why Pennsylvania voters are lining up to Make America Great Again by supporting President Trump.
16:43
Sen. Graham urges Trump to pick VP that 'adds value' to 2024 ticket as he speculates Kamala will replace Biden
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says Vice President Kamala Harris will 'most likely' replace Joe Biden on Democrats' 2024 presidential ticket.
The senator told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday that Donald Trump needs to pick someone that 'adds value' to the Republican ticket in November if Biden is ousted.
Graham also said the Republican Party would need to change its strategy over the next four months if a switch-up were to happen.
If she does become the nominee, this is a dramatically different race than it is right now today... If I were President Trump, I would make sure I pick somebody [as VP] that could add value in 2024.
16:27
Gov. Gavin Newsom dodges on if he would run in an 'open convention' next month
California Gov. Gavin Newsom campaigned for Joe Biden in Pennsylvania a day before the president made his own stop in the crucial swing state.
Newsom, a surrogate for Biden's reelecton campaign, has been floated as a potential replacement for the president should be drop out of the 2024 race.
But Newsom, while stumping for Biden in Pennsylvania on Saturday, told reporters he wouldn't run in an 'open convention.'
That's not even, it's to me, it's the hypothetical that gets in the way of progress in terms of promoting this candidacy.
That's a legit question, but it's exactly where the other party wants us to be is having this internal fight. And I think it's extraordinarily unhelpful. Said that literally the second after the debate. It was my first public comments. So I've been consistent in this belief, not just privately, but publicly
16:03
Biden urges party unity during church remarks as Democrats continue to call for him to drop out
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
President Joe Biden tried to strike an optimistic note during short remarks at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday.
The 81-year-old urged his party to 'stick together' amid a mass of calls for him to step down as the Democratic candidate in November. He didn't say during the six-minute remarks whether that 'unity' would be continuing to back him on the ticket.
Biden told the congregation during the Sunday morning service:
I’ve been doing this a long time and I, honest to God, have never been more optimistic about America's future – if we stick together.
I think that we just have to work together… We must unite America today. Thats my goal. That's what we're going to do.
15:05
Biden attends church in Philadelphia during Pennsylvania campaign swing
President Joe Biden's first stop in his on-day Pennsylvania campaign swing on Sunday was to a church in Philaelphia.
He arrived at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ before 11:00 a.m. and was seen center stage clapping to the choir's music.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parke arrived at the church service with the president.
14:57
Joe Biden lands in Philadelphia for multiple campaign stops in Pennsylvania
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
President Joe Biden was greeted by Pennsylvania lawmakers as he arrived in Philadelphia on Sunday.
The 81-year-old is making multiple campaign stops in the consequential swing state while he continues cllean-up from his car crash debate and disastrous follow-up interview.
Democratic Sens. John Fetterman and Bob Casey shook hands with Biden when he landed in Philadelphia. Fetterman's wife Giselle was also there as the president stpped off Marine One.
The city's Mayor Cherelle Parker and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) were also there to greet the president.
From Philadelphia, Biden will head to the state's capital of Harrisburg for a rally.
14:25
Sen. Chris Murphy tells Biden to hold a town hall or press conference to quell debate concerns
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is the latest to join a chorus of Democrats claiming Joe Biden needs to do more to prove he is the right person to run on the 2024 presidential ticket.
Biden held a rally in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday and his first post-debate interview aired that evening on ABC – but only led to more concerns over his fitness for a second term.
Murphy said in an interview on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday:
I think there’s no doubt that the president’s performance at the debate has raised questions for voters… Questions as to whether this is still the old Joe Biden.
Personally – I love Joe Biden – I don’t know that the interview on Friday night did enough to answer those questions. And so I think this week is going to be absolutely critical. I think the president needs to do more.”
I’m not advising his campaign, but if I were I would probably suggest that the president get out there and do a town hall, that he do a press conference, that he show the country that he’s still the old Joe Biden – one of the best retail politicians that this country has ever seen.
13:54
Rep. Adam Schiff advises Biden to seek advice from 'people with some objectivity'
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said President Joe Biden's debate performance has sparked a lot of doubt over his ability to serve another four years.
The June 27 debate ‘rightfully raised questions’ on whether the 81-year-old ‘has the vigor to defeat Donald Trump,' Schiff told NBC’s Meet the Press during a Sunday interview.
The California Democrat's advice for Biden:
Seek out the opinions of people you trust … people with some distance and objectivity.
Congressional Democrats are growing antsy about their own races in November amid panic over President Joe Biden’s rapid public decline.
A House Democrat told Axios as lawmakers prepare to return from this Independence Day break:
The sh*t is going to hit the fan on Monday, when Congress returns. People are scared about their own races. But they're also worried about the country, and about democracy.
A Democrat oprative added that 'every single person not named Biden,' or paid by the president, realized it's a deep hole to climb out of.
13:25
Joe Biden continues debate clean-up with rally in swing state Pennsylvania
Joe Biden is making a campaign stop in swing state of Pennsylvania on Sunday as he continues to conduct clean-up after his disastrous debate.
The president will land at Harrisburg International Airport and speak on the tarmac around 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
It is the first campaign stop after his interview with ABC News that aired Friday and only stoked worries about his viability as a candidate in November with some calling the sit-down 'sad.'
The 81-year-old also held a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday.
Allies, donors and even some lawmakers say the interview and two campaign stops are vital for if he wants to avoid more calls to drop out before the Democratic Convention next month.
Joe Biden's campaign says it won't send pre-screened questions to media anymore as it cleans-up after radio host revealed they were sent what to ask the president.
A source familiar with Biden's media booking operations told The New York Post:
While interview hosts have always been free to ask whatever questions they please, moving forward we will refrain from offering suggested questions.
Radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders told CNN on Wednesday that she received eight questions from the White House telling her what she should ask Biden in one of his first post-debate interviews.
13:02
Voters are increasingly worried Biden couldn't lead U.S. through crisis
Only one in four voters believes President Joe Biden has the endurance to stay up for 48 hours during a Cuban Missile Crisis-like event, according to a new poll for DailyMail.com.
Only one in four voters think President Joe Biden could lead the U.S. through a crisis at the scale of something like the Cuban Missile Crisis.
A new DailyMail.com poll asked voters if they believe the 81-year-old could stay awake for 48 hours, like President John F. Kennedy had to do in 1962.
But most believe Biden doesn't have the mental or physical fitness to take on such a leadership role.
Donald Trump, 78, thinks competitor Joe Biden, 81, shouldn't cave to Democratic pressure to drop out and should see out their 2020 rematch in November.
The former president wrote Saturday on his social media platform Truth Social:
Crooked Joe Biden should ignore his many critics and move forward with alacrity and strength with his powerful and far-reaching campaign.
He continued sarcastically:
He should be sharp, precise and energetic just like he was in The Debate, in selling his policies...
Donald Trump has shared his surprising opinion on what he thinks President Joe Biden should do in the aftermath of his disastrous debate performance last week.
Campaign donors believe Joe Biden is in 'denial' about the need for him to withdraw from the presidential election for Democrats to be successful in 2024.
The president insists he is still in the race as donors are becoming increadsingly worried about his mental acuity and fitness for office following his train wreck debate performance against Donald Trump.
Sentiment is growing among inner circles and the public that it's time for Biden to end his reelection bid.
One donor estimates, according to The Washington Post:
For every 10 people who think he should exit, one thinks he should stay.
Earl Ingram a host for WMCS in battleground state Wisconsin, and Andrea Lawful-Sanders at WURD in Philadelphia, were both sent the talking points this week.
President Joe Biden's team provided a radio host with what questions to ask in his first post-debate interview.
In the disasterous interview, the 81-year-old appeared in even more cognitive decline as he called himself a black woman – and now its revealed the sit-down was scripted.
WURD radio in Philadelphia was sent eight questions to ask the president.
Journalist Andrea Lawful-Sanders says she ended up asking four - with Biden still managing to make a mess of his answers.
The president sparked a flurry of headlines after saying he was a 'black woman,' apparently while attempting to hail his appointment of Kamala Harris as vice president.
While his flub has been defended as a slip of the tongue, critics - including many within his own party - say Biden needs to get it perfect after his disastrous debate performance.
12:31
Kamala Harris is only 'realistic path' toward win in 2024, operatives write
By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
An anonymous document written by senior Democratic operatives argue Vice President Kamala Harris is the 'one realisitic path' out of the 'mess' created by President Joe Biden's debate performance.
The operatives claim they have no personal or professional ties to Harris, according to a copy of the document reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
Biden insists he will not step aside despite calls for him to drop out after bombing his debate against Donald Trump last month.
Harris, 59, is one of a few names Democrats are floating, but she has not beaten Trump in most polls and doesn't lead in surveys among those who want to see Biden replaced by another candidate.
The VP is heading to Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday for a solo campaign stop.