‘LOST THE TRUST’

Black-Owned Radio Station Cuts Ties With Host Who Interviewed Biden

The Pennsylvania station blasted the practice of taking questions from the White House—and the White House for providing them.

WURD, the Black-owned Pennsylvania radio station that landed the first interview with President Joe Biden after the presidential debate, said on Sunday it had parted ways with the host who interviewed him. The station said the host, Andrea Lawful-Sanders, had arranged the interview “without knowledge, consultation or collaboration with WURD management,” and violated the station’s independence by taking questions from the White House. The station also subtly called out the White House for the practice, arguing it contributes to a historical cycle of marginalizing Black voices. “This practice of de-legitimizing Black voices continues today,” the station said. “WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other Administration. Internally, we will commit to reviewing our policies, procedures, and practices to reinforce WURD’s independence and trust with our listeners. But mainstream media should do its own introspection to explore how they have lost the trust of so many Americans, Black Americans chief among them.”