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Interview: Michelle Bryant of WNOV Milwaukee Interviews Joe Biden on Her Radio Show - March 13, 2024
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Joe Biden Person
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Michelle Bryant Person
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Note Person
Note
Neutral
00:00:00-00:00:00 ( sec)
"[Audio begins in progress]"
1
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:00:00-00:00:06 (6 sec)
"We got a whole lot going on, feeling really good."
2
Michelle Bryant
Positive
00:00:06-00:00:11 (6 sec)
"Yes, sir. I noticed that you guys had put 44 campaign offices around Wisconsin."
3
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:00:11-00:00:12 ( sec)
"Yup."
4
Michelle Bryant
Positive
00:00:12-00:00:19 (8 sec)
"I will actually be at one of the centers on Saturday for a canvass. So, we are ready to roll in Wisconsin."
5
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:00:19-00:00:24 (5 sec)
"Well, I'll tell you what. God loves you. If we win Wisconsin, we win it all. That's a fact."
6
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:00:24-00:00:43 (19 sec)
"Well, we are looking forward to doing our part. But, Mr. President, first of all, let me say congratulations on securing the needed delegates to be the Democratic presumptive nominee for the presidency this past Tuesday. And then, last weekend, you delivered your third State of the Union address, and you hit a lot of hot-button topics."
7
Michelle Bryant
Slightly Positive
00:00:43-00:00:50 (7 sec)
"Of everything you discussed, though, what is the most important thing you wanted people to takeaway from your address?"
8
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:00:50-00:01:15 (25 sec)
"The past president of the United States, Trump, has a fundamentally different view of the world and the United States than I do. He thinks we're a losing nation. He thinks we're declining. He talks about -- he says things like, for example, down in Mar-A-Lago, he said, "I know a lot of you are rich. We're going to give you more tax breaks." I mean, he ain't -- he cares about as much as the families that I grew up with as I don't know what."
9
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:01:15-00:01:54 (39 sec)
"And so, I think the big thing is we have to make sure people know what we've already done and what a threat Trump poses is greater than ever. What's at stake is our democracy, the soul of the nation, freedom under attack, the right to choose, the right to vote, the right to be who -- love who you love, and the right to having a president who will have the guts to stand up to Putin, stand up to dictators, and, you know, fight against the emboldening hate groups, talking -- this is the guy who talked about how he attempted to overthrow the election, was he's going to be doing this for the patriots, he said."
10
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:01:54-00:02:19 (25 sec)
"He's going to free them all if he gets elected. I mean, where is this coming from? This is not who we are. And the enthusiasm we're picking up as we go around the country is real. You know, we've raised a whole lot of money. We've -- particularly, we have 1,500,000 donors, including 500,000 of brand new and the small donors."
11
Joe Biden
Positive
00:02:19-00:02:32 (12 sec)
"Ninety-seven percent of the donations are under 200 bucks, and people tell me there's no enthusiasm out there from ordinary people? That's not what we're seeing. And I think the press is going to be coming around as well."
12
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:02:32-00:02:54 (22 sec)
"Well, I know here on the ground, we're doing a lot of conversations, talking to a lot of people. And I got to tell you, Mr. President, first of all, given the demographic makeup of our listening audience, primarily Black or African American listeners, this is a unique opportunity to speak directly to our listeners, understanding everything you know across the legislative and political landscape."
13
Michelle Bryant
Neutral
00:02:54-00:02:59 (5 sec)
"What do you think is at stake in this election for Black Americans specifically?"
14
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:02:59-00:03:19 (20 sec)
"Well, I think a lot is at stake. For example, you know, where -- I've made a number of promises, and I've kept those promises. Let's just say, for example, Black unemployment is a historic low and still going down since I came to office. Nearly 15 million jobs created, 2.8 million of those for Black Americans."
15
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:03:19-00:03:40 (21 sec)
"Black small businesses are starting up at the fastest rate in 30 years. More Black families have healthcare coverage than ever before. Look, we've cut Black child poverty in half, and Black homeownership is up. It's going to -- you know, I'm going to invest a hell of a lot more. We've also invested in Black universities, HBCUs."
16
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:03:40-00:04:21 (41 sec)
"I've canceled a significant amount of debt, 3.9 million borrowers, including many Black borrowers, and keep fighting for more relief. We're increasing the maximum -- the minimum Pell Grant for $900 affecting many who rely on Pell Grants. We returned neglected -- for example, you know, how many Black communities are in a situation where they're -- they come from a circumstance where they're in difficult -- they have difficulty, where families are in real trouble, where you have people who, you know, how many -- even those families that are really poor who don't have any books in the house, the kids don't hear a whole lot of conversation."
17
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:04:21-00:04:44 (23 sec)
"Well, we learn. I'm just going to fight like hell to get passed again the proposal I put forward to say that we should have preschool for every single kid starting at age 3, 4, and 5. You know, studies show when we do that, it increases the graduation rate by 50%. And they -- these kids go all the way through because no matter what the background is, no matter what the background is."
18
Joe Biden
Positive
00:04:44-00:05:02 (18 sec)
"So, you know, the idea -- the thing that bothers me most, coming from a community with the largest Black population in America, is the idea that Black kids can't do white kids can do. They don't have the opportunity. And what I'm doing is making sure they get the opportunity. You know, for example, we're in town -- in downtown."
19
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:05:02-00:05:30 (27 sec)
"I'm here at the headquarters now. And, you know, we -- we're making sure that we -- the -- well, you know, there used to be thousands of -- 17,000 homes there back in the 6th Street project and thousand small businesses. They all got wiped out. They all got wiped out with highways and changing -- and what we're doing is -- they're coming in with $3.3 billion nationally."
20
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
00:05:30-00:05:52 (22 sec)
"But here, here, right here, in this city, 36 million for the 6th Street project. We're connecting communities up with families and businesses. So, I -- look, you know, the guy I'm running against hurts Black people every chance he gets, the way he talks about the Black community, the way he drove up around insurance -- uninsured rates, you know."
21
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:05:52-00:06:12 (20 sec)
"So, I guess what I'm saying is, there's not a single thing that a white kid, a Hispanic kid, Asian kid, a Black kid can do that they all can't do. It's about getting an opportunity. It's getting a chance. This is all about creating chances, creating opportunities. And that's what's happening. And that's what I'm proud of."
22
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:06:12-00:06:31 (19 sec)
"Well, you know -- and I'm glad that you had an opportunity to mention that. We, consistently at this station, talk about what that record looks like for the Biden-Harris administration in relationship to the African American community. And even I, when I think about what's been done around the Child Tax Credit, what was done for --"
23
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:31-00:06:31 ( sec)
"Yup."
24
Michelle Bryant
Very Negative
00:06:31-00:06:45 (14 sec)
"Black farmers? I mean, these are historic programs that have been -- when people talk about a game changer, you literally have been able to pull people out of poverty because of some of the work that's been done."
25
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:06:45-00:07:02 (18 sec)
"Well, I'm really proud of it. Look, like I said, I got involved in politics as a kid. I didn't sign on. I love reading these biographies. I knew I was going to run. But, you know, I got out of law school. I got there on a partial scholarship to get through, I couldn't afford it. And I got to law school."
26
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:07:02-00:07:25 (22 sec)
"And what happened was I came back, and my city was the only city in America that's been occupied by the military for 10 months with a military person on every single corner with a drawn bayonet after Dr. King was assassinated. And I'd gotten a job with a fancy law firm and a big-time law firm, and I quit and became a public defender."
27
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:07:25-00:07:44 (19 sec)
"And what I realized was, it's all about organizing. It's all about getting people to know what's going on. It's all about talking about how we're going to change things. And we have changed it. We change things a lot, but there's a lot more to do. Imagine what we can do. Imagine what we can do if we, in fact, invest the money in our schools."
28
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:07:44-00:08:23 (39 sec)
"Imagine what we can do in terms of continuing to give that. By the way, African Americans end up borrowing more to go to school and colleges by, I think, about 60% more than -- than everybody else does. Well, they get this enormous debt, they graduate, they can't make it. Well, I've forgiven billions, over billion dollars in debt for not just -- you know, I forget the exact number, but it's $13 billion -- or $138 billion in student loans that we forgave; 9.3 million borrowers, including, as I said, Black borrowers who keep fighting for more relief."
29
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:08:23-00:08:49 (26 sec)
"And I guess the -- look, the thing I've learned, and I have -- and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, there's not a damn thing that a Black kid can't do that a white kid, a Hispanic kid, an Asian American kid can do. They can all give it a shot, give it a shot. My dad used to have an expression, and I mean it sincerely, he'd say, "Joey, a job is about a lot more than a paycheck."
30
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:08:49-00:09:07 (18 sec)
"It's about your dignity. It's about respect. It's about being able to look at your kid in the eyes and say, 'Honey, it's going to be OK.'" Give people a chance, and they step up. America has never -- only country that I'm aware of come -- I'm a student of history, the only country in the world that comes out of every crisis stronger than it went in."
31
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:09:07-00:09:42 (34 sec)
"That's America. And this guy calls us losers. This guy calls America a failing nation. This guy talks about things that just even hard to believe anybody really says that kind of language. So, I -- look, I'm truly optimistic, I'm truly optimistic because we've changed the dynamic here. Instead of building this trickled-down theory about what we do very well that everybody will trickle down our -- not a whole lot trickle down to my dad's kitchen table."
32
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:09:42-00:10:02 (20 sec)
"He had four kids in a two-, three-bedroom split-level home with our grandpop living with us. We weren't poor, but we weren't -- we were -- we had to borrow money to go to school and all that. No hardship story, but it just, you know -- and what we did is just -- is to give middle-class people a shot, the poor have a way up, and the wealthy still doing well."
33
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:10:02-00:10:13 (10 sec)
"But we got to start making sure the wealthy pay their taxes. You know, we have 1,000 billionaires in there. You know what their average tax rate is? 8.2%."
34
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:10:13-00:10:14 (1 sec)
"Wow."
35
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
00:10:14-00:10:29 (15 sec)
"8.2%. And you have -- you know, you have a president saying down at Mar-a-Lago. And this is a quote, it goes, "I know plenty of you, and you're rich as hell. We're going to give you more tax breaks." So --"
36
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:10:29-00:10:52 (23 sec)
"As we already come off one of the largest tax breaks that, you know, some of the wealthiest folks in this country had seen during his administration, during his presidency, so that in and of itself is scary. But I got to ask you, because like I said, we are predominantly African American station, but we have folks that listen from all over the state and, quite frankly, around the country and the world, I'm real proud to say."
37
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:10:52-00:11:12 (21 sec)
"As you are out on the campaign trail, President Biden, what are you hearing from folks? I mean, we were fortunate to have you over at the Hillside Boys & Girls Club today. You've met with local community leaders, state leaders. What are you hearing when you are moving around right now? What's the sentiment, the mood from folks as you are making your way around the country?"
38
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:11:12-00:11:33 (20 sec)
"Well, the empirical evidence is, for example, the consumer confidence is up 25%, that people are more confident about the future than they were before. That's just in the last couple of months. And, you know, it's the most increase in -- in 35 years. Here's what I knew. All of these, everybody told me, I couldn't get past."
39
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:11:33-00:11:52 (20 sec)
"They told me I couldn't get the infrastructure bill that's provided for roads, bridges, highways, making sure we eliminate all the lead pipes in America so people could drink water without lead in it, and making sure we have affordable high-speed internet, which cost billions of dollars nationally. They told me I couldn't get that done, we got to pass."
40
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:11:52-00:12:19 (27 sec)
"And then the Affordable Care Act came and then -- excuse me, then we had the situation where we took care of our veterans, making sure that they -- they got compensated. You know, these burn pits all over the country, all over the world where we're fighting -- people coming down with multiple cancers. And now, because of the law we passed, with very little Republican support, we ended up making sure that we can get things done."
41
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:12:19-00:12:41 (21 sec)
"You know, one of the things I was -- I've been confident of, where the hell is it written that we can't be the manufacturing capital of the world? We have created over 800,000 manufacturing jobs. We passed a gun safety law, bipartisan, first major law in nearly 30 years. Second, extending background checks more."
42
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:12:41-00:12:59 (19 sec)
"Did you ever think you'd have a program where you had to talk about children having to duck and cover in classrooms where they're getting shot, more kids killed by guns than any other thing? I mean, it's just amazing. And then, you have the CHIPS Act. Semiconductor, we invented those chips. And guess what?"
43
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:12:59-00:13:30 (31 sec)
"We ended up -- we used to produce 40% of them. We got down to virtually zero. I was able to convince a billions of dollars in investment in chips for these factories, these -- and by the way, they pay really well. The average rate is close to $100,000. You don't need a college degree. Restoring American leadership in the world stage -- I mean, the bottom line is I know that I'm talking too much, but we -- it strengthens our background, these gun safety laws, these red flag laws."
44
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:13:30-00:13:46 (16 sec)
"My son was the attorney general. He passed one of the first red flag laws in the -- in -- in the country. But here what's not happening. Think about how our [Inaudible] are being affected. Did you ever think you'd have to worry about if you had a pregnancy that was -- that you're in trouble, that you, you know --"
45
Michelle Bryant
Neutral
00:13:46-00:13:47 ( sec)
"Right."
46
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:13:47-00:14:07 (20 sec)
"You wouldn't be allowed to have your life saved, or be able to -- be able to make sure your -- be able to have children again? I mean, there's just so many things. And, you know, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, I mean, my God, this guy's flat out trying to prevent people from voting, prevent people from voting, cut back on voting."
47
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
00:14:07-00:14:11 (4 sec)
"So, I don't know, I guess I'm getting carried away here. But, no, it's --"
48
Michelle Bryant
Slightly Negative
00:14:11-00:14:20 (9 sec)
"No, it's necessary and so needed because the thing that -- I'll just say this, and I want to be conscientious of your time and your schedule, so I just have one other question for you --"
49
Joe Biden
Slightly Positive
00:14:20-00:14:20 ( sec)
"OK."
50
Michelle Bryant
Somewhat Positive
00:14:20-00:14:44 (24 sec)
"But it ties perfectly into your last comments. I've had some tough conversations with both my listeners on this show and in my own family about the significance of the fall '24 election, frustration with partisan gridlock, in some cases even with candidates, has a number of people questioning whether or not they plan to show up at all in November."
51
Michelle Bryant
Neutral
00:14:44-00:14:56 (11 sec)
"So, what would you say, President Biden, given all of the things that you've outlined to someone who was thinking about staying home instead of coming out to vote this November election?"
52
Joe Biden
Positive
00:14:56-00:15:23 (27 sec)
"Well, I'd say this. Remember when I got elected in 2020? Folks said I couldn't get anything done because it was such a close election, because the country was so divided. Look at what we're able to get passed. We passed that significant act in terms of infrastructure, including everything from the lead pipes to having internet established everywhere in the country."
53
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:15:23-00:15:55 (33 sec)
"They told us we couldn't get it done. We got it done. We got the -- we got the CHIPS act, the semiconductors. We have billions of dollars being invested from abroad, creating tens of -- that we've created 14 million new jobs, 14 million new jobs. I passed the veterans bill, the PACT Act, restoring American leadership in the world stage; CHIPS in semiconductors, providing thousands of thousands of jobs and investing literally several billions of dollars building factories here in the United States."
54
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
00:15:55-00:16:12 (17 sec)
"And the list goes on. They said we couldn't do it. But guess what? We had -- we only had a slight majority in the first two years and no majority in the second year -- the second two, and look how much we got done. Look how much we've gotten done. Look --"
55
Michelle Bryant
Neutral
00:16:12-00:16:13 (1 sec)
"So --"
56
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:16:13-00:16:27 (14 sec)
"[Inaudible] I know how to get things done. I really mean it. That's a presumptuous thing to say, but we got a hell of a lot done growing the economy, and there's so much more we can do in the cusp of doing. And I think we can -- I think we're going to be able to do it."
57
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:16:27-00:16:45 (18 sec)
"Well, I just got to tell you, as somebody -- and, you know, for full transparency, I am a Democrat. I am involved with the administrative committee here for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. And I'm somebody that's planning to do the work. Your reelection is important to me. I think it's important to our community."
58
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:16:45-00:17:06 (21 sec)
"And I got to say this, I want to thank you and your team so much for seeing the value in speaking directly to our listeners here at the WMOV 860 AM family. There are folks that when you think about local talk radio, they pass us by. You know, we have to filter information from other sources, surrogates even."
59
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:17:06-00:17:18 (12 sec)
"This is a huge deal for our community. And the fact that you all made this happen is not lost on me, how much you value and respect this -- this particular demographic."
60
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:17:18-00:17:38 (20 sec)
"Well, by the way, like I said, that's the reason I got involved in politics is my state is what I did for 36 years as U.S. Senator. I, you know -- and I said, by the way, that I was going to I kept my promise. I was going to have an administration that looked like America. I appointed the first woman, Black woman to the Supreme Court."
61
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:17:38-00:18:13 (35 sec)
"I've appointed more circuit court of appeals judges who are African American than every other president in the history of the nation combined. I moved in a direction where we found out that I have a, you know, first Black vice president of the United States of America. My cabinet is made up of significant number of African Americans because there's not a -- and look, it matters because I want -- there's not a single thing that a Caucasian American can do that a Black American can't. It's about getting a chance, it's about getting a chance."
62
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:18:13-00:18:34 (21 sec)
"And it's really beginning to change. And, you know -- and again, the things that Trump is arguing about, like I said, he's at Mar-A-Lago. He tells an audience, "I know plenty of you. You're rich as hell. We're going to get you more tax breaks." You know, he invites Russian attacks to do whatever they want and the hell they want."
63
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:18:34-00:19:04 (30 sec)
"You know, treaty ally, if they don't spend [Inaudible] the thing that's bothered me the most having lost a son because of his service in Iraq to glioblastoma in burn pits, he actually said, "Cemeteries of U.S. soldiers killed in action were filled with suckers and losers." Suckers and losers, he didn't want photographs of veterans or amputees because it didn't look -- "because it doesn't look good for me.""
64
Michelle Bryant
Neutral
00:19:04-00:19:04 ( sec)
"Right."
65
Joe Biden
Positive
00:19:04-00:19:08 (3 sec)
"God almighty. God almighty."
66
Michelle Bryant
Very Negative
00:19:08-00:19:32 (24 sec)
"Yeah. It's beyond belief the -- you know, and I -- and I -- when Nikki Haley was finally offended after he had said something about her husband who is serving, you know, abroad right now, and, you know, she finally stepped up and said something, I said, "Where was the outrage? All along the way, we've heard disrespect of veterans, POWs, those that have been, you know, injured in war."
67
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:19:32-00:19:58 (26 sec)
"Where was the outrage?" So, I certainly share your -- your frustration. And, you know, given that I have family members that have served as well, just the insult that -- that this causes. And I -- and I'm so glad that we have somebody like you that are championing, you know, these veterans, their families, the service, and respect the commitment and sacrifice that people have made right up into and includes your son, Beau, as well."
68
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:19:58-00:20:21 (23 sec)
"So, President Biden, I'm going to get out of your way because I know you got a long day still ahead of you. And I know you're off to Michigan tomorrow. But, sir, I just want to, again, thank you so much for your time today and wish you continued luck and success as you go for this second term. And hopefully, in November, we throw a big party to celebrate your victory."
69
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:20:21-00:20:24 (3 sec)
"Well, I hope you'll invite me back in your program, all right?"
70
Michelle Bryant
Positive
00:20:24-00:20:24 ( sec)
"Definitely."
71
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:20:24-00:20:38 (14 sec)
"Because, as I said, the. reason I got involved in the first place in public life is because of the African American community. That's not hyperbole. That's a fact. And I -- like I said, I just think it's time we -- we straighten things out."
72
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:20:38-00:21:07 (29 sec)
"And, you know -- and I'm going to tell you, for folks that are listening before you get out of here who say, "Oh, yeah, that sounds like political speak, you know, getting involved with the African American community." But I remember reading in your memoir when you talked about being in college -- I mean, yeah, being in college and working as a lifeguard and working with students from -- predominantly from HBCUs and what that interaction and those experiences meant to be around other folks and other communities."
73
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:21:07-00:21:28 (21 sec)
"And I looked at your work as a public defender. And so, you have a long, varied history with trying to figure out ways to make life better for everybody in this country. And African Americans have been front and center in that journey. So, again, I just want to tell you how much I appreciate you taking time to speak with us this morning -- or to speak with us today."
74
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:21:28-00:21:30 (2 sec)
"Thank you. I look forward to speaking again. Thank you very much."
75
Michelle Bryant
Very Positive
00:21:30-00:21:32 (1 sec)
"All right. Yes, sir. Good luck to you."
76
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:21:32-00:21:33 (1 sec)
"Thank you. Bye-bye."
77
Michelle Bryant
Neutral
00:21:33-00:21:38 (4 sec)
"All right. All right, family. That was an interview with President Joe Biden. As folks know -- [End of Interview]"
78