Well, it looks like there will be no presidential interview during halftime of the Super Bowl this year:
The President was looking forward to an interview with Fox Soul to discuss the Super Bowl, the State of the Union, and critical issues impacting the everyday lives of Black Americans. We’ve been informed that Fox Corp has asked for the interview to be cancelled.
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) February 10, 2023
It sounds more like it’s the White House that’s dodging the interview.
From CNN:
Biden is not expected to participate in the annual presidential Super Bowl interview with Fox, the network airing the game this year. The Biden administration attempted a workaround that avoided a sit-down with Fox News, with which the White House has a contentious relationship. Fox has canceled the interview, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a tweet Friday.
Fox did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Aides for Biden had instead been working toward an interview with Fox Soul, a small streaming platform aimed at Black Americans owned by FOX Television Stations.
An interview with the Fox Soul network could have allowed the White House a workaround to still participate in the traditional pre-game conversation with a Fox-aligned outlet without having to sit with one of Fox News’ anchors or reporters. That plan, however, was doomed to fail.
CNN’s Oliver Darcy says the White House should just come out and say why they’re not going to let Biden do the Fox News interview, and he was happy to help:
I don't understand why the White House is playing this game. Of course Fox Corp is not going to let them bypass Fox News for an interview with Fox Soul, a small streaming operation with a tiny audience. Why not just say that they're declining the Fox News interview & outline why? https://t.co/RI2AZCPLdQ
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) February 10, 2023
Because the reason would be Biden might actually get challenging questions?
Anyway, the story here is that the White House is apparently snubbing Fox News for a pre-Super Bowl interview, as Biden continues to ice out the right-wing channel and decline requests for sit downs.
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) February 10, 2023
According to Darcy, it’s probably for the best because Fox News has been so challenging to this administration. And by “challenging” we mean in the lefty media “peddling misinformation” sense:
I'd also note: It seems the Biden WH could make an easy case to the public about why he's not sitting down with a channel that employs extremists like Tucker Carlson who launch vicious attacks on him & his admin/family. But instead they've decided to play a rather silly game.
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) February 10, 2023
Nah. Simply put, there was no way in hell the White House was going to let Bret Baier grill Biden in front of a Super Bowl-sized audience.
“You could make an easy case that a journalist was too tough on The President of the United States” – said no actual journalist ever. https://t.co/BLMibWi7or
— a newsman (@a_newsman) February 10, 2023
Bingo!
Laugh out loud.
How dare those extremists go onto cable news networks and openly discuss stories the journalists have refused to do their jobs and cover diligently. https://t.co/pOAPB8cyEb
— Kyle Lamb (@kylamb8) February 10, 2023
If Carlson's attacks had no basis, Brandon's handlers would happily allow him to refute/expose them in front of a moderate interviewer (of which there's many @ fox). https://t.co/VZaVpr1gUb
— Mega MAGA Torrent🇸🇴 (@seeaustinnow) February 10, 2023
Right? Why wouldn’t the White House want the president who, according to them, is presiding over economic utopia and secure borders want Biden to have the opportunity to set Fox News journos straight in front of a massive Super Bowl audience?
One more thing:
Fox Soul sounds like CNN+
— Jason “Storm Chaser” Nelson (@Storm4Congress) February 10, 2023
Except it actually still exists.
UPDATE: This is pretty funny:
OLIVER DARCY: "Fox will never agree to President Biden avoiding its main news channel for the Super Bowl interview"
OLIVER DARCY, SAME DAY: "Fox agrees to President Biden avoiding its main news channel for the Super Bowl interview" pic.twitter.com/LlN2kGp8W3
— Brad Slager: CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) February 10, 2023
Great catch.
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