#Joe Biden talks health care, racial equality in candid Cardi B interview

Joe Biden told Cardi B there’s “no reason” the United States can’t have “Medicare for all” and free college, after the “Bodak Yellow” singer laid out what she wants from the next president of the United States “seven days a week.”

In an Elle Magazine interview released Monday, the rap superstar spoke candidly to the presumptive Democratic nominee about what changes she wanted to see happen in the country, where Biden revealed his childhood nickname was “Joey B.”

“I have a whole list of things that I want our next president to do for us. But first, I just want [President] Trump out,” she told the former vice president.

Cardi went on to get more specific, touting her wish for Medicare-for-all to be passed through Congress as well as her support for tuition-free colleges and universities and police reform.

“What I want is free Medicare. It’s important to have free [health care] because look what is happening right now. Of course, I think we need free college,” the “WAP” artist told the presumptive Democratic nominee. “And I want black people to stop getting killed and no justice for it. I’m tired of it. I’m sick of it. I just want laws that are fair to black citizens and that are fair for cops, too.”

Without getting into specifics, Biden argued that there was “no reason why we can’t have all of that,” before referencing Cardi’s favorite president, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

“Presidents have to take responsibility. I understand one of your favorite presidents is Franklin Roosevelt. Roosevelt said the American people can take anything if you tell them the truth. Sometimes the truth is hard. But right now, we’re in a position where we have an opportunity to make so much progress. The American public has had the blinders taken off,” Biden responded.

Cardi was a longtime supporter of Biden’s 2020 primary rival Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), with whom she campaigned last year.

The former vice president has been reaching out to Sanders’ wing of the Democratic Party as he tries to unify the groups ahead of November’s general election against Trump.

Biden has not included Medicare for all on his policy platform for his 2020 run.

Biden asked Cardi during their conversation what her fans are saying they are most concerned about.

“A lot of fans are concerned about free college and Medicare, especially now that people are getting sick left and right. Sometimes people have problems in their community. For example, a lot of after-school programs that I [had] growing up, [are] no more in my hood. Why is that?” she asked in response.

The two went on to discuss after-school programs, which Biden discussed championing funding for, and child care costs before turning to racial inequality.

“I feel like black people, we’re not asking for sympathy, we’re not asking for charity — we are just asking for equality. We are asking for fairness, and we are asking for justice. That is all. I feel like everything people are asking for is getting interpreted in a very different way. No, it’s simple: We just want justice. We want to feel like Americans,” she told the presumptive Democratic nominee during their 15-minute conversation.

Biden responded by telling the rapper that it was her generation, millennials, who made him optimistic for the future of the country.

“You’re the smartest, the best-educated, the least prejudiced, and the most engaged generation in history. And you’re going to change things. I really mean it! I’m not trying to be nice. And by the way, the rest of the world has always looked to us. Why? Not because we’re so powerful. But [because of] the power of our example,” he said.

Biden’s interview with Cardi appears to be the only line of questioning he faced on the weekend leading up to the Democratic National Convention.

The former vice president took part in no Sunday show interviews, something that was noted by “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace just before the weekend began.

Speaking on “The Guy Benson Show” on Fox News Radio on Friday, Wallace expressed shock that the Biden campaign was not making the candidate, or any campaign surrogates, available for Sunday press.

“At first I thought, well, maybe it’s because it’s Fox News and they’re boycotting us. No! They’re not putting anybody out on any of the Sunday shows,” he said.

“I don’t understand what’s going on here. This is the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen … the Biden campaign isn’t putting anybody out,” the legendary newsman said.