Former CNN analyst turned Washington Bureau Chief for The Grio, April Ryan, joined former CNN host turned MSNBC anchor Ana Cabrera on Thursday to discuss the news that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan are being released from Russian prison as part of a multi-nation prisoner swap. For Ryan, the news provided an opportunity to hail President Joe Biden’s economy and Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.

Cabrera asked, “April, as we await more details, just talk about the moment this is for President Biden given everything else that's been happening here at home, and as he is looking at the final months of his presidency.”

Ryan began by trying to tie the news to Democrats’ idea that democracy is on the ballot in November, “As President Biden wants to save the democracy by handing over the torch to the next generation, Kamala Harris, this is a big win for him. President Biden, personally, and for the Biden-Harris Administration. People have been very much pushing for the release of these Russian hostages, especially since the Brittney Griner release. They were like, ‘These people have been in longer,’ et cetera, et cetera, and now potentially this is happening.”

Ignoring inflation, she also insisted, “This is a big deal. The president is going to leave in the next six months with a huge win. I mean, the economy is growing. He's releasing hostages that the American people have been so concerned about, and he's now passed the torch. So, he has got a very big win in this moment, when we are waiting for great news.”

Donald Trump likes to view himself as a great hostage releaser as well, but for the media, the rules of how to react to prisoner swaps change based on what party controls the White House.

Here is a transcript for the August 1 show:

MSNBC Ana Cabrera Reports

8/1/2024

10:44 AM ET

ANA CABRERA: April, as we await more details, just talk about the moment this is for President Biden given everything else that's been happening here at home, and as he is looking at the final months of his presidency.

APRIL RYAN: As President Biden wants to save the democracy by handing over the torch to the next generation, Kamala Harris, this is a big win for him. President Biden, personally, and for the Biden-Harris Administration. People have been very much pushing for the release of these Russian hostages, especially since the Brittney Griner release. 

They were like, “These people have been in longer,” et cetera, et cetera, and now potentially this is happening. We are waiting for confirmation on everything. Senatorial leaders as well as those on The Hill, national security, everyone is waiting for full confirmation on this, but that's what's in play. This is a big deal. The president is going to leave in the next six months with a huge win. I mean, the economy is growing. He's releasing hostages that the American people have been so concerned about, and he's now passed the torch. So, he has got a very big win in this moment, when we are waiting for great news.