Milwaukee radio station says it edited Biden interview at request of his presidential campaign

A Milwaukee radio station that has faced backlash recently after it aired an edited interview with President Joe Biden, said Thursday that they made the edits at the request of the president's campaign.

The president appeared on the "Earl Ingram Show" on July 4, which was recorded July 3, where he addressed a largely black audience in an effort to do damage control after a rough debate performance last month.

White House aides reportedly sent questions for Ingram to ask before the interview, and the show was edited to remove two segments at the request of the campaign, according to the station's owner Civic Media. 

“It was reported to Civil Media management that immediately after the phone interview was recorded, the Biden campaign called and asked for two edits to the recording before it aired,” the company said in a news release. "In the interest of transparency, and consistent with Civic Media’s mission and core values, we are sharing the edited segments now, and making the full, unedited interview available."

The company continued: "Given the gravity of the current political moment, the stakes in this election, and the importance of public scrutiny of public officials in the highest office, we believe it is important to share this information."

Civic Media said an investigation into the editing was launched after they were notified, and that the production team at the time felt the edits to the interview were “non-substantive." The segments were related to the "Central Park Five" and his record of having the most black people employed in his administration.

"I served with the first black president, I chose the first black woman to be my vice president, I appointed the first black woman to be a Supreme Court Justice," the president said leading into the quote.

He then stated in an edited clip: "In addition to that, I have more blacks in my administration than any other president, all other presidents combined, and in major positions, cabinet positions.”

The company admitted that it failed to meet its journalistic standards when making the edits, but that it stands by Ingram, and that the edits were “made in good faith.”

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.