Biden urges media to 'rise up to the seriousness of the moment' following softball interview with Howard Stern

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President Biden had a stark message for the media to meet the "seriousness of the moment" on the heels of his own strained relationship with the press.

At the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Biden pleaded with the journalists in the room to take former President Trump's "attack on democracy" seriously and not dismiss his rhetoric as "just Trump talk."

"I’m sincerely not asking you to take sides. I’m asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment," Biden said Saturday. "Move past the horse race numbers and the gotcha moments, and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensationalize our politics, and focus on what’s actually at stake. I think in your hearts, you know what’s at stake. The stakes couldn’t be higher."

"Every single one of us has roles to play, a serious role to play in making sure democracy endures — American democracy. I know my role but, all due respect, so do you. In the age of disinformation, credible information that people can trust is more important than ever. And that makes you — and I mean this from the bottom of my heart — that makes you more important than ever," Biden added.

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That message was received loud and clear, at least by ABC News'