There’s a fiery clash brewing among former Biden insiders that’s exposing some serious cracks in the Democratic machine.
The Daily Caller reported that this latest dust-up pits Michael LaRosa, once the spokesperson for former First Lady Jill Biden, against Andrew Bates, a key figure in the Biden White House as Senior Deputy Press Secretary, over credibility and media relations.
Back in June 2024, tensions were already simmering as The Wall Street Journal dug deep into concerns about then-President Joe Biden’s fitness for office, conducting over 45 interviews with lawmakers and officials across the political spectrum.
The White House kept a tight watch on that reporting, with some Democrats even tipping off administration officials about their discussions with the outlet.
Bates didn’t hold back, slamming the Journal’s piece on June 5, 2024, as a “hit piece” and zeroing in on former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the only named critic, whose comments clashed with prior praise for Biden’s sharpness in private settings.
Fast forward to the weeks before Biden exited the presidential race, and Bates was again on the offensive, disputing a New York Times report claiming Biden had confided to an ally about reconsidering his candidacy.
Just days before Biden’s eventual withdrawal, Bates doubled down, rejecting stories that the Biden family and advisors were even discussing such a move.
But the real fireworks came on October 12, 2025, when LaRosa took to social media to call out Bates after the latter shared a post contrasting New York Attorney General Letitia James with Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
In his tweet, Bates leaned on reporting from the Times and The Associated Press to paint James in a positive light for aiding family in tough times, while accusing Pulte of attacking his own kin and now targeting James with corrupt intent.
LaRosa wasn’t buying it, accusing Bates of hypocrisy for suddenly embracing outlets he had trashed for years. “Remember when this guy SMEARED and SAVAGED the journalists, editors, and the reporting of NYT, the AP, and the WSJ for four years, even a little less than a year ago?!” LaRosa tweeted, pointing out the stark shift in tone.
He didn’t stop there, arguing that Bates and other Democratic operatives from the Biden years had eroded trust with both the public and the press through relentless spin.
“These are the type of Dem press flacks from the Biden era who lost all credibility with the public and the media,” LaRosa charged.
From a conservative lens, this spat highlights a deeper issue: the left’s selective dance with the press, cozying up when it suits their narrative but crying foul when the spotlight turns unflattering. It’s a double standard that grates on anyone who values consistent principles over convenient talking points.
This internal Democratic feud isn’t just gossip; it’s a window into why so many Americans, especially those skeptical of progressive agendas, feel fed up with establishment tactics.
If even insiders like LaRosa are calling out the spin, perhaps it’s time for a hard reset on how political messaging meets reality—less gaslighting, more candor.