To say Candace Owens has courted controversy over her career would be an understatement. Owens has never been one to shy away from controversial topics or sharing a controversial opinion. She’s been comfortable in that realm.
In recent months, however, especially following the death of Charlie Kirk, Owens has turned as conspiratorial as she has controversial. She’s been sued by French President Emmanuel Macron after continually asserting that his wife was born a man. She’s shared statements about the assassination of her longtime friend Charlie Kirk. And she’s asserted that the Turning Point USA founder was “betrayed” by the organization in his final days.
The accusations have raised Owens’ already high profile to even greater heights. She has more than 5.6 million subscribers on YouTube, with her live streams routinely receiving more than 2 million views.
But those accusations have also come at a cost. Many on the right have attempted to distance themselves from Candace Owens, especially after her accusations about Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA have continued to come out.
That led to some questions: How would news/talk radio hosts — who have a history in dealing with controversial and sometimes conspiratorial topics — handle the situation, and what would they do next if their opinions alienated them from others on the right side of the political aisle? Barrett Media spoke to two news/talk radio hosts — one nationally syndicated host and one medium market morning host — about the topic. These hosts were granted anonymity to speak more freely on the subject.
The nationally syndicated news/talk radio host said there’s a distinct difference from those who have made a career on the airwaves talking about controversial topics, and what Owens has done in recent months.
“Here’s the thing that separates (radio hosts) from someone like Candace Owens: a seasoned host knows the difference between stirring the pot and burning the whole kitchen down,” they said. “They frame the issue, they challenge the premise, and then keep the conversation tethered to reality — even if they have to drag it there. They’ll say, ‘Candace is playing to her audience, just like everyone with a microphone does. The question is why it resonates.’
“And when the heat turns on them? They don’t apologize unless they mean it, and they definitely don’t retreat. They double-check their facts, clarify their point, and walk listeners through their reasoning step by step. Talk show hosts live in controversy, but they don’t let it own them. They use it to push the conversation somewhere useful.”
That host added that the job doesn’t always allow for everyone in the space to play nice with one another.
“Look, if you’re in this business and you’re worried about losing friends or allies on the conservative side because of your opinions, you’re in the wrong line of work,” they said. “This isn’t summer camp. You don’t get a badge for fitting in. You get a platform because you’re willing to say what you believe, even when it doesn’t make the group chat happy.
Sure, you’ll lose some allies, but if the price of keeping them is saying things you don’t believe, that’s not friendship, and it’s definitely not conservatism,” they concluded. A great host understands that credibility isn’t built by always agreeing. It comes from standing your ground when the tribe disagrees. The movement doesn’t get stronger when everyone thinks the same. It gets stronger when people are willing to challenge it from the inside.”
The morning show host said that the line between controversy and conspiracies isn’t all that fine.
“Talking about controversial topics is part of the job,” they shared. “They’re real issues affecting real people. Somebody has to walk listeners through them honestly. But conspiracy theories? That’s a whole different universe. Controversy is talking about facts people disagree on. Conspiracies are rooted in guesses people want to believe. A responsible host knows the line.
“My credibility is the only real currency I have. If I trade it for clicks or cheap gains, I’m done. I’ll talk about the messy stuff, but I’m not going to torch my reputation by promoting something that falls apart the moment you ask for evidence. Controversy helps create the conversation but conspiracy theories just poison it.”
That host continued by noting that with the rise of digital media and social media, it’s now much more difficult to lob out conspiracy theories because the information is so readily available and able to be shared, rather than just spoken about on talk radio.
“People are so skeptical today,” they shared. “I used to think the audience could see through the bull(expletive). But now I’m not so sure. You can make anything say anything you want it to, and it isn’t going to get any easier with AI. With all the world’s information at your fingertips, it’s never been harder to find out what’s true and what isn’t.
“You really have to know your stuff — and most importantly be right — before you talk about it on the air,” they said. “Because you don’t want to be sued. You can’t say someone called for an assassination of your friend, or that a billion-dollar deal went up in smoke, and then the person who axed it was murdered unless you’re certain you’ve got it right. Saying it is controversial. Saying you’ve got evidence of it that you can’t share yet? That’s a conspiracy theory. And if you’re sharing conspiracy theories about Area 51, aliens, or the moon landing, that’s different than a widow.”
The morning show host concluded by noting that they often are upfront with their superiors when they’re about to delve into topics that could be viewed as controversial or draw heat for the show and brand. They believed it was important to be upfront and honest with their bosses, adding that the trust built by sharing what they’re about to do has usually garnered goodwill.
“Anytime I tell my bosses I’m diving into a controversial topic, it’s not because I’m trying to give them heartburn. I don’t show up every day to talk about gas prices,” they said with a chuckle. “I’m here to take the stories people are arguing about at the table and bring them onto the air.
“I tell management ahead of time for one reason: transparency,” they continued, noting that they’re informing their bosses, rather than asking for permission to talk about certain subjects. “They deserve to know what’s coming, both because they need to understand why I think it matters and so they’re not blindsided should pushback come. If they trust that I’ve done the homework, that I’m not just lighting the match for the spectacle, then I know they’ll stand behind me. It’s why I’m behind a microphone. If you want safe, predictable radio, there are plenty of playlists for that.”
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
