Democratic candidate Dean Phillips has accused the Biden campaign of blackballing him, alleging that they are pressuring networks to prevent him from appearing on their air. When questioned about the accusations, a spokesperson from the Biden campaign responded with a simple 'LOL'. Phillips claims that this is a strategy employed by incumbents to de-platform their competition. Despite being a member of Congress and ranking member of the Middle East Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, Phillips says he has not received any invitations to appear on networks since declaring his candidacy. He believes this is a deliberate effort to limit his visibility and is disappointed with the media environment.
Phillips also criticizes the unequal media attention given to other candidates, pointing out that several Republican candidates polling in single digits have been given full hour town hall events, while no Democratic candidates, including himself, have been given the same opportunity. He acknowledges the generosity of News Nation for including him in the first Democratic debate, which the Democratic National Committee did not want shown.
Regarding his low turnout event where zero voters showed up, Phillips clarifies that it was not a campaign event. He was sitting in his coffee truck in front of a hotel during a college convention, offering coffee to students who were all inside the hotel. He expresses disappointment with reporters focusing on clickbait stories rather than doing real journalistic work.
On the topic of ballot access, Phillips mentions a federal judge rejecting a bid to place him on Florida's primary ballot. He acknowledges that he is not an attorney but mentions that the judge himself intends to take the case to the Supreme Court. Phillips expresses sadness over the Democratic Party allegedly keeping candidates off ballots, referencing a cease and desist letter sent by the New Hampshire Secretary of State or the Department of Justice to the Democratic National Committee for the alleged unlawful suppression of voters.
Shifting the conversation to the tensions in the Middle East, Phillips supports President Biden's decision to carry out additional strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis, referring to them as an Iranian proxy group that has been provoking the United States. He believes the strikes were necessary to send a message and restore respect for the United States.
When asked if he blames President Biden for the loss of confidence in the U.S., Phillips mentions incidents during Biden's time as vice president, such as the Syrian red line, the annexation of Crimea by Russia, and the Afghanistan withdrawal. He argues that new leadership is needed and expresses his support for a matchup between Nikki Haley and himself in the November elections.
Phillips concludes by stating that Joe Biden will lose to Donald Trump, asserting that a coronation of an 81-year-old man who cannot defeat Trump is not in the best interest of the country. He believes it is time to pass the torch and hopes for a Nikki Haley-Dean Phillips matchup as a safer option than Trump winning the presidency.
