Waukesha, Wisconsin – WAUK, a Wisconsin-based talk radio station, edited an interview with President Joe Biden at the request of his campaign before it aired on July 4. Civic Media, the station’s broadcaster, confirmed the edits on Thursday.
The interview, conducted on July 3, was altered after the Biden campaign requested the removal of two segments. The station’s production team deemed the segments “non-substantive” and agreed to make the cuts. Civic Media management later became aware of the edits and released the full, unedited interview, highlighting the importance of public scrutiny of high-profile officials.
The segments removed included Biden’s statements about the representation of Black individuals in his administration and his remarks on former President Donald Trump’s 1989 call for the death penalty for the since-exonerated Central Park Five.
Following the interview, Civic Media stated it is reviewing its internal policies for live and pre-recorded interviews and reassessing standards for non-news programming. Despite disagreeing with the decision to make the edits, the broadcaster expressed its support for the team involved in the interview.
Biden will be participating in a press conference on Thursday evening, which is expected to be closely watched by Democratic lawmakers. Additionally, he will sit down for an unedited interview with NBC’s Lester Holt on Monday, aiming to reassure his supporters of his candidacy after a recent interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.
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