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Early details on what's in the Joe Biden tapes that were just released after legal battle
By Extra Extra Editorial
Cross-spectrum analysis, synthesized with AI from 12 sources · Updated
Audio recordings of President Biden speaking with a ghostwriter about his memoir have been released following a legal dispute. The tapes emerged from an ongoing investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents, with recordings capturing conversations where Biden reportedly references classified material and expresses confusion about various matters. The release occurred after Biden's legal efforts to keep the recordings sealed were unsuccessful. The content of these recordings has become a focal point in discussions about the classified documents case and Biden's cognitive state during the period when the alleged mishandling occurred.
Left-leaning outlets frame the story primarily through the lens of legal process and procedural developments. CBS News emphasizes the legal battle that preceded the release and notes the references to classified material within the recordings themselves, treating the story as one about transparency and court-ordered disclosure rather than as evidence of wrongdoing. The framing centers on what the tapes contain factually rather than on interpretations about Biden's fitness or culpability.
Right-leaning sources treat the recordings as damaging evidence that undermines Biden's credibility and legal position. They emphasize audio of Biden appearing confused or uncertain, use language suggesting the tapes were deliberately hidden, and connect the recordings directly to arguments about criminal liability and asset forfeiture. The framing positions the release as vindication of those who questioned the classified documents handling, with particular focus on Biden's apparent cognitive state during the recorded conversations.
Key Differences
- Left outlets focus on the legal process and procedural aspects of the release, while right outlets emphasize the content as evidence of misconduct and cognitive concerns.
- Right-leaning sources use the recordings to argue for legal consequences including financial penalties and property forfeiture, a framing absent from left-leaning coverage.
- Left coverage treats the tapes as one factual element in an ongoing investigation, while right coverage presents them as a turning point that validates pre-existing critiques of Biden.
How this story is being covered
Extra Extra has grouped 12 reports on this story from 8 news outlets across the political spectrum. By political lean, that breaks down as 3 left-leaning and 9 right-leaning sources.
Its coverage-diversity score of 51 out of 100 means the story is being reported across multiple parts of the spectrum, though the volume leans toward one side. Interestingly, the story is being covered on the left and the right but not by the centrist outlets we track — a sign it may be more polarizing than consensus-driven.
On reliability, 1 of the 8 rated outlets carry a high or mostly-factual reliability rating (A or B) and 7 outlets fall into our mixed or lower-reliability tier (C or D). Ratings are drawn from independent assessments and are meant to help you weigh each report, not to tell you which to trust.
Coverage of this story has developed over roughly 26 hours, so the perspectives below capture how the framing shifted as the story matured.
Below, the same story is laid out side by side as left, center, and right outlets reported it. Read across the columns and watch what changes: the headline emphasis, which facts lead, the adjectives, and what each side leaves out. The story itself rarely changes — the framing almost always does.
Outlets covering this story: CBS News, The Blaze, Washington Examiner, PJ Media, Daily Mail, The Gateway Pundit, Fox News, Just the News.
Left(3)
CBS NewsBJul 28, 12:56 AM
Early details on what's in the Joe Biden tapes that were just released after legal battle
Audio recordings of former President Joe Biden's interviews with his ghostwriter, which Biden fought to keep sealed, were released Monday. CBS News investigative reporter Josh Boswell reports on what
CBS NewsBJul 28, 12:58 AM
Biden tapes released after legal battle, with references to classified material
Audio recordings that former President Joe Biden fought for years to keep private have now been released.
CBS NewsBJul 28, 12:12 AM
Biden recordings with ghostwriter released over his objections
Roughly 70 hours of recordings of an interview former President Joe Biden did with a ghostwriter in 2017, before he was president, were released Monday over Biden's objections. Weijia Jiang reports.
Center(0)
Right(9)
The BlazeCJul 27, 11:04 PM
Biden audio tapes have just been released — and it's not good for Joe
Former President Joe Biden appeared to admit that he was releasing classified information while speaking to a ghostwriter for his memoir published in 2017, CBS News reported. About 70 hours of audio r
Washington ExaminerCJul 27, 11:21 PM
Biden ghostwriter tapes released after former president forfeits legal battle
Audio recordings that former President Joe Biden fought in court for years to keep private were released Thursday evening after he decided not to appeal multiple court orders that allowed for their re
PJ MediaDJul 27, 11:10 PM
The Biden Tapes Have FINALLY Been Released. What Do They Say?
Daily MailDJul 28, 2:02 AM
New released Joe Biden audio tapes show ex-president muttering aimlessly during classified docs probe: 'It's confusing me'
A trove of secretive audio tapes showcasing former President Joe Biden's 'poor memory' and 'diminished faculties' have been released.
The Gateway PunditDJul 28, 12:40 AM
After Biden Tapes Released, Former Asst. AG for Environment Jeff Clark Argues – By Law – Joe Biden Must Forfeit $8 Million for Book Advance and His Delaware Home Where He Illegally Kept Classified Information
Last Friday, Joe Biden gave up the fight and declined to seek further review of an appeals court ruling on the release of 70 hours of conversations with his ghostwriter in 2017. The post After Biden T
PJ MediaDJul 27, 11:20 PM
Former Trump Lawyer Says Biden Tapes Were Hidden Because of Illegal Classified Docs Scandal
Fox NewsCJul 27, 11:00 PM
Biden's classified docs narrative crumbles amid release of ghostwriter tapes: 'Be careful'
Over 2.5 hours of recordings between Joe Biden and memoir ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer reveal halting speech and memory struggles during the 2017 sessions.
The Gateway PunditDJul 27, 10:00 PM
BREAKING: Oversight Project Releases Recordings of Biden Interviews with Ghostwriter…”Some of This May Be Classified… So Be Careful” (AUDIO)
Last Friday, Joe Biden gave up the fight and declined to seek further review of an appeals court ruling on the release of 70 hours of conversations with his ghostwriter. The post BREAKING: Oversight P
Just the NewsCJul 27, 12:00 AM
Audio recordings of Biden interview with 2017 biographer are released
The recordings cover approximately 70 hours of interviews between Zwonitzer and Biden, which were related to his 2017 memoir "Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose."
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