The Biden team has been trying to blunt the criticism of Joe Biden not doing interviews and not being accessible to the press by having him do some things in very controlled or friendly settings We saw him do a very friendly softball session with Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show.” Then he made a few remarks to CBS’s Rita Braver who was doing a longer interview with his wife — and that was about as fawning of an interview as you can get.

Yesterday, he did a virtual interview with a WHIOTV 7 reporter John Bedell. Now remotely, you can’t see any teleprompters or any other help that he might be offered in the interview, so it’s a much more controlled situation than a live briefing or an in-person interview.

Unfortunately, Biden once again told some bald-faced lies — something he has a habit of doing.

Biden was asked about inflation and how much that was hurting the American people, being at a 39-year high. As we reported yesterday, the producer price index also hit a record surge at almost 10 percent in November, indicating that inflation is going to continue still higher. So, Bedell asked a couple of logical questions on the part of his Ohio audience. What are you doing about it and is your proposed spending bill — the Build Back Better bill — going to make things worse?

Biden’s stock response to that question is now that he’s released 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Which covers what? About three days’ worth of average use? When he gives that as a response, it’s troubling because if that’s the best he can come up with, we’re in pretty deep doo. That’s not an answer to the issues causing the problem — that’s a badly stuck-on Band-Aid on a gushing major wound.

But then, Biden repeated another stock answer that’s just an out-and-out lie.

Asked about Ohioans “who have expressed concerns about whether trillions more in federal spending will help” when inflation is at a 39-year high, Biden lies to them.

“It’s not gonna cost a single, solitary penny.” pic.twitter.com/sTslF7uZQc

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 14, 2021

He claimed the Build Back Better bill “isn’t going to cost a single solitary penny.” “We’re not going to increase the deficit by one cent,” Biden continued to falsely state.

As the CBO pointed out it’s going to cost even more than the $1.75 trillion price tag they are throwing out there. If you factored the real costs of the social programs out over the 10 years, it would cost nearly $5 trillion and add $3 trillion to the nation’s debt, if it remains in effect through 2031. So this concept that it doesn’t cost anything and is completely paid for is just fantasy.

If they dispute that, then which of the social programs are they proposing to cut in the future when we get past the limited way in which they are assessing the numbers to trick people? If they can’t say, then they’re not being honest and intend to continue them, and just not being honest about that now.

Bedell also brought up that Biden had suffered losses in the courts on the vaccine mandates that he had been trying to impose. “Your vaccine mandates have suffered some setbacks in court recently. Federal judges have halted three of those COVID vaccine mandates,” Bedell asked. “Are you going to back down or are you going to continue to fight those in court?”

Biden lied and played the division card once again, attacking and blaming the unvaccinated.

Joe Biden to Americans concerned about vaccine mandates encroaching on their freedom: “What’s the big deal?” pic.twitter.com/GJTZr6RmFX

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 15, 2021

“This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Not the vaccinated, the unvaccinated. That’s the problem,” Biden claimed. “Everybody talks about freedom about not to have a shot or have a test. Well, guess what? How about patriotism? How about you make sure you’re vaccinated, so you do not spread the disease to anyone else? What about that? What’s the big deal?”

The big deal is the government is forcing it on people with lies like this. As is indisputable, you can spread the virus even if you are vaccinated, Biden doesn’t even seem to understand that and keeps spreading this lie that if you’re vaccinated “you do not spread the disease to anyone else.” That’s straight-up misinformation from the occupant of the White House. The vaccinated can get it and can spread it. Plus demonizing the unvaccinated isn’t exactly making them rush out to get vaccinated, so it’s just supremely dumb policy — in addition to being divisive and harmful.

In separate remarks, Biden was asked about Christmas presents being a problem for Santa.

Biden laughs that Christmas gifts will "cost you money" this year, as prices surge at the highest pace in 39 years.

What's funny about that? pic.twitter.com/cQ8wg4a2n3

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 15, 2021

In response, Biden laughed and said it was “going to cost Santa some money.” What’s with the inappropriate laughter that he and Kamala Harris both have? What’s funny about this costing Americans more?

He also was just asked about his responsibility for the COVID dead and what he’s done to press China for accountability. Biden smiled and completely blew off the question.

REPORTER: “800,000 coronavirus deaths — do you have a statement on your responsibility? And why haven’t you asked China to do more, to be transparent on the origins?”

BIDEN: *smiles, walks away* pic.twitter.com/SGWNuJfdLB

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 15, 2021

Again, why is he smiling and refusing to follow up on what should be one of his most important jobs — pursuing China over what they did regarding COVID? He’s done nothing to hold them to account.

So, if we’re asking whether Biden was successful in his attempts to blunt criticism with these new remarks, I’d have to give him a failing grade — if he doesn’t appreciate the problems and can’t stop lying his head off.