Hunter Biden spoke on the “Wide Awake Podcast” and pushed Democrats to get louder. The host, Joshua Rubin, asked about extremism and whether both sides should turn down the heat. Biden said that is not going to happen.

Hunter Biden said, “I’m going to get myself in trouble for saying this. No, we need to turn the temperature up. We need to turn the temperature up, and we need people to see it for what it is. And what I mean by that is this: I do not believe that we are going to get to the bottom until we get to the bottom. And I want to get to the bottom faster rather than through this slow kind of process of just being picked apart — a death by a thousand cuts here.”

He added that he was not talking about violence. He said his push is about speaking plainly and directly. He said this is about pressure, not harm.

Hunter Biden said he “100%” did not mean violence, and added, “what I mean by turning the temperature up is we need to speak truth to power.”

He called on Democrats in office and in media to change how they talk. He criticized TV voices who, in his view, speak in vague terms. He said they should address issues as they are.

Hunter Biden said, “We need more people in my party, in the Democratic Party, more people in elected positions or in positions of power, or the talking heads that get paid to go on MSNBC [now MS NOW], they need to start talking about this as it is, not as a conjecture about whether or not the Supreme Court [sic] and this debate.”

He then named specific media figures. He focused first on CNN’s Jake Tapper. He blasted what he described as a “text interview” with President Donald Trump.

Hunter Biden said, “You have people like Jake Tapper who are having hardball discussions with Donald Trump over text. Like, what the f— are you talking about, man? That’s not journalism. That’s a complete and utter abdication of responsibility as a journalist.”

Another cable host also criticized the Tapper exchange at the time. The critique was about standards and proof. It questioned treating texts as an “exclusive.”

Lawrence O’Donnell said, “CNN presented a so-called interview… that they can’t even prove was Donald Trump. They called it ‘breaking news,’ they called it ‘an exclusive, new interview with President Trump.’ That’s what they called it, before the interviewer said this.”

CNN stood behind Tapper. The network framed it as routine for journalists to ask questions of leaders by any available channel. They said sharing what they learn is core to the job.

A CNN spokesperson said, “Jake Tapper is a journalist — CNN journalists will always take any opportunity to ask questions of those in power and share what we learn with our audience.”

Biden also mentioned Abby Phillip and commentator Scott Jennings. He accused Jennings of repeating talking points. He quoted Phillip’s pushback on air.

Abby Phillips said, “Well, that’s just not true, Scott.”

Biden argued that the media space is being squeezed by powerful owners. He said that affects coverage and tone. He said it keeps people from hearing full debates.

The interview’s shock line was simple. He wants the party to talk louder and push harder. He said the slow path is not working.

The setting mattered. A podcast offers space to expand ideas and challenge hosts. Biden used it to set a message for elected Democrats and TV personalities.

For conservatives, the remarks show where activists want to go. Higher volume. Sharper language. Direct hits on rival networks and named anchors.

The reaction from media figures will keep this story alive. One network defended its star. Another host mocked the segment. The split shows how the press covered the same moment in very different ways.

What comes next depends on whether Democrats follow his advice. If they do, expect harder lines on TV and online. If they do not, expect more pressure from voices like this.