In the aftermath of President Joe Biden's debated performance, new revelations have come to light showing that his recent interviews were tightly controlled by his campaign team. Questions were submitted to radio hosts in advance, igniting a wave of criticism and concerns about the President's ability to handle unscripted media engagements.

Andrea Lawful-Sanders, who hosts 'The Source' on WURD, and Earl Ingram of WMCS in Milwaukee both conducted interviews with Biden last Wednesday. CNN's Victor Blackwell interviewed the radio hosts and revealed that the questions used during the interviews were nearly identical and were pre-approved by Biden's campaign. Lawful-Sanders confirmed this, noting that she received eight questions from the campaign and selected four to use in her interview.

Lawful-Sanders justified her adherence to pre-approved questions by emphasizing the significance of addressing issues pertinent to the black and brown communities in Philadelphia. She stated: When I was asked to do this interview, it was most important to me to have the voices of the Black people heard... Those questions proved to be exactly what black and brown communities desired. However, she admitted that questions were sent for her approval, raising doubts among critics regarding the President's ability to field spontaneous questions.

The Biden campaign has defended the practice. Lauren Hitt, a spokeswoman, remarked in a statement that it is common for interviewees to share preferred topics in advance to ensure relevance to current news. Hitt added: The questions were relevant to the news of the day -- the president was asked about his debate performance as well as what he'd delivered for black Americans. Despite this, controversies continue as questions regarding Biden's mental fitness remain at the forefront.

The concerns were only amplified by Biden's performance in these pre-scripted interviews. During his chat with Lawful-Sanders, he mistakenly claimed to be the first vice president -- first Black woman -- to serve with a Black president. In the interview with Ingram, Biden failed to provide a coherent response to a question about the importance of voting, stumbling through his answer in a way that did little to alleviate concerns about his mental acuity.

These revelations have resonated strongly within political circles. Ingram's interview itself was an effort to recover from Biden's lackluster debate performance. The gaffes and incoherent moments from the debate had already intensified worries among Democrats about Biden's capability to go head-to-head against a robust opponent like Donald Trump.

Calls for Biden to step down have grown louder, with several House Democrats openly suggesting he should exit the race. Sen. Mark Warner from Virginia is reportedly working to build a coalition urging Biden to withdraw. Further complicating matters, an eleven-page memo from anonymous Democratic operatives has been circulating, advocating for Vice President Kamala Harris to take over as the candidate.

The situation has underscored the extent of internal unrest within the Democratic Party. Critics argue that protecting Biden through controlled interviews does little to prove his mental competence. The delayed acknowledgment of such tactics by major media outlets further fuels distrust and frustration among voters and political analysts alike.

Meanwhile, the Biden campaign continues to maintain that the pre-approved questions were a standard practice that ensured relevance to pressing topics. Critics, however, view it as a sign of desperation and a reflection of the President's diminishing ability to handle impromptu public interactions.

This development serves as a microcosm of the broader debate gripping American politics — is President Biden capable of leading the nation effectively or do these controlled narratives highlight an urgent need for new leadership? As the election approaches, the discourse over Biden's cognitive abilities and the ethical considerations of pre-approved media engagements is likely to continue influencing public opinion.