NewsNation will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a new special featuring Bill O’Reilly. The network plans to air the one-hour program on July 2nd during primetime.
What We Know: NewsNation announced it will air Patriots and Plotters: Bill O’Reilly’s Unsung Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution on Thursday, July 2, at 9 PM ET. The special will replace that evening’s edition of On Balance. Hosted by Chief Washington Correspondent Leland Vittert, the documentary follows Bill O’Reilly as he explores lesser-known figures from the American Revolution. The program includes visits to historic sites in Boston and examines both celebrated patriots and individuals who opposed or undermined the revolutionary cause. Additionally, the special serves as part of the network’s broader America 250 coverage.
What They Said: “As America commemorates the 250th anniversary of its founding, there is no better time to revisit the extraordinary figures whose courage and sacrifice helped shape our nation’s history. The special offers a compelling look at the people and events that defined our nation, bringing history to life for a new generation. We are proud to feature it as part of our ongoing America 250 coverage.” –NewsNation President of Programming & Specials Michael Corn
What Remains Unclear: NewsNation hasn’t disclosed whether the special will be available on demand after its television debut. The network also hasn’t shared any encore plans beyond the initial broadcast.
What It Means: The special gives NewsNation another high-profile historical program tied to the nationwide America 250 celebration. Meanwhile, O’Reilly’s involvement brings a recognizable television and publishing figure to the project. As networks compete for attention around the semiquincentennial, original historical programming could help attract viewers interested in the nation’s founding story.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
KXNO host Trent Condon broke his silence Wednesday. The KXNO host addressed devastating layoffs that gutted the station’s morning and afternoon drive programs following Tuesday’s programming day on the station.
What We Know: iHeartMedia began executing a company-wide reduction in force, eliminating KXNO’s entire morning and afternoon drive teams in the process. Moreover, the cuts removed the voices responsible for localizing content for Iowa’s passionate sports fans. Additionally, Wednesday marked what was supposed to be longtime host Ken Miller’s final show — coinciding with the 30th anniversary of sports talk radio in Des Moines. In addition, Miller chose not to appear on his final program on KXNO. Condon is an independent contractor who purchases the two-hour block from 12pm-2pm cst on KXNO, and is not an iHeartMedia employee.
KXNO Host Trent Condon shares his emotions of the KXNO layoffs yesterday: “My heart aches for the people, my friends, and for my colleagues. For the people that made the station what it is. The people that lost their jobs yesterday as corporate came down with a mandate of the layoffs. People that worked incredibly hard to give you listeners a product. To localize what we’re doing, and give you a voice. Regardless if you’re a Hawkeyes, Cyclones, Bulldog, or a Panther fan. Your voice to keep things local, and that was taken away.”
KXNO Host Trent Condon doesn’t feel a return is possible this time around at KXNO: “If you remember when this happened the last time, five years ago. The coming back, bringing things back. The hope that possibly could this happen again, I don’t think that’s going to happen at that level.”
KXNO Host Trent Condon on why Ken Miller decided not to attend his final show on KXNO celebrating the 30 year anniversary of sports talk in Des Moines: “Today was supposed to be Ken’s [Miller] final day. Ken decided not to come in. Standing up for his friends and colleagues, doing it in a way that he said he just didn’t feel comfortable. He talked to everybody. People tried to talk him into coming on here today to do his final show. On the anniversary of 30 years of sports talk radio starting in Des Moines. A place where people said it could never work, and it worked for 30 years. Ken said no.”
KXNO Host Trent Condon says the layoffs are just part of the industry: “They all deserve better. This was a station that was bringing in revenue. This is not a station that is hemorrhaging money. I know the financials, because I work in the financials. From the corporate, it’s not about Des Moines or Sioux City. It’s not about the little places. As acquisitions, changes, and mergers happen, all the big things. All the things that all of us, regardless of your line of work. It doesn’t matter where you work, or what you do for a living. We know what happens in these kind of spots. That’s where we are.”
What Remains Unclear: The full scope of iHeartMedia’s nationwide cuts remains uncertain. Furthermore, Condon suggested a rebound is unlikely for the laid off talent. In 2020, KXNO re-hired Travis Justice, Heather Burnside, and Sean Roberts of The Morning Rush, and Chris Williams and Ross Peterson of The Sports Fanatics, along with program director Andrew Downs. The re-hires followed a round of layoffs by iHeartMedia that faced backlash from station listeners and partners. Whether KXNO can restore any local programming in the vacated under current corporate priorities is an open question.
What It Means: As iHeartMedia continues with its latest round of layoffs, Des Moines is losing its lone local sports station. This is the second wave of layoffs to hit the brand in mass in less than six years. Moreover, timing of layoffs is never easy. However, the timing couldn’t have been worse for longtime listeners of the brand and sports radio in Des Moines. Miller’s decision to stay away from his final day shows the respect he had for those that unfortunately will no longer be heard on KXNO.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Cumulus Media has named Mike Fabian as Vice President and Market Manager of its Boise cluster. Fabian joins Cumulus from Townsquare Media and will oversee a five-station operation in Idaho’s capital city.
What We Know: Mike Fabian most recently served as Chief Revenue Officer and Market President for Townsquare Media in Sierra Vista, AZ, a role he held since 2022. Before that, Fabian spent more than 12 years with Cherry Creek Media, where he helped drive sales, digital, and operational growth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and an MBA from Western Governors University. Cumulus operates five stations in Boise, including KBOI (news/talk), Kissin 92.3 (country), 96.9 The Eagle (classic rock), Magic 97.9, and 95.3 The Ticket (sports).
What They Said: “I am honored to join the Boise team and look forward to becoming part of both the organization and this remarkable community. Throughout my career, I have always believed that great teams and strong relationships are the foundation of success. I am excited to work alongside this talented group, serve the Boise community, and help build on the strong tradition these stations have established.” -Mike Fabian
What Remains Unclear: Cumulus didn’t outline specific priorities or initiatives Fabian will pursue in Boise. The company also didn’t disclose whether the appointment will lead to broader operational or strategic changes.
What It Means: The move brings an experienced market leader to one of Cumulus’ key regional clusters. Additionally, Fabian’s background in revenue generation and digital growth aligns with the industry’s ongoing focus on expanding beyond traditional radio advertising.
Lady Vee is back. Kixie 107/WKXI in Jackson, Mississippi has announced the return of one of the Mid-South’s most beloved radio personalities.
What We Know: Lady Vee rejoins the Kixie 107 lineup following a brief retirement, returning to weekday mornings starting at 9 a.m. She is known throughout Mississippi for her engaging on-air presence and decades of broadcasting experience. Her return reinforces the station’s focus on trusted local talent. Listeners can also tune in online at WKXI.com.
What They Said:Stan Brandson, Operations Manager for Connoisseur Mississippi, made clear the excitement surrounding her comeback. “We are absolutely ecstatic to welcome Lady Vee back home to Kixie 107,” he said. “Our listeners have missed her incredible energy and vibrant voice. Kixie 107 just wasn’t the same without her.”
What Remains Unclear: The station has not yet detailed the full scope of her role beyond the weekday morning shift. Additionally, specifics around any welcome-back programming or special events remain forthcoming. Further updates are expected through Kixie 107’s social media channels.
What It Means: Lady Vee’s return signals a broader recommitment to local identity at Kixie 107. Her accolades speak for themselves — including a 2026 induction into the Black Music Awards Hall of Fame. She has also earned recognition from the Mississippi State Capitol Legislature and the City of Jackson.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
The knock on the car window changed everything for Dianna Russini’s career at The Athletic. According to a new New York Times report, a New York Post reporter appeared at Dianna Russini’s home on Easter Sunday. Her reported $800,000-a-year career began unraveling in real time.
What We Know: According to theNY Times, Russini told The Post she had been at the Sedona hotel on a girls’ trip. However, over two days following she provided no photos or receipts to support that account. Russini and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel reportedly worked together to coordinate their responses to The Post. Rather than calling her direct bosses first, The Times states she reached out to New York Times Company CEO Meredith Kopit Levien. She then redirected Russini to The Athletic executive editor Steven Ginsberg and publisher David Perpich. Critically, The Athletic executives were unaware The Post had first contacted Russini two days earlier. Instead, they learned of the story only hours before publication. Ginsberg had seen only some of the photos before issuing his statement of support. However, more images than he originally reviewed ultimately ran in the piece.
What They Said: Dianna Russini (via resignation letter): “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,”
Steven Ginsberg, executive editor of The Athletic (following the initial publication of the photos by the New York Post): “These photos are misleading and lack essential context. These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic.”
What Remains Unclear: The Athletic’s internal review of Russini’s reporting work continues, even months after her departure. The New York Times has not completed its investigation, with top editors telling staff a report remains weeks away. Whether Russini’s reporting on Vrabel or the Patriots reflected any undisclosed conflict of interest remains the central unresolved question. According to the new reporting, a friend of Russini’s said she resigned to reimagine her career and spend more time with her children. Whether or not Russini will make any additional comments on the matter is unknown.
What It Means: Wednesday’s reporting by The New York Times provides some added layers to the timeline of when Russini was made aware of the photos to her decision to resign. What isn’t clear is why this information was released before the official results of the internal investigation into her work. The reporting leaves many questions due to several Times/Athletic staff not being allowed to go on record as of yet. However, it does paint the picture that Russini went to Vrabel first about the photos before her own employer. Whether or not Russini will comment on the reporting remains to be seen.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
The Daily Wire is taking on investors. That could lead to the company going public in the not-so-distant future.
What We Know: A report from Semafor‘s Max Tani says the company is seeking $100 million in investment to take it public. That round of investment would value the company at $750 million.
What the Numbers Show: Data acquired by Semafor show that the company had an Adjusted EBITDA of $48 million last year. However, its subscription business has decreased in each of the past two years. After reaching as high as 1.25 million in 2024, it is now down to 771,000, according to the estimates. Its advertising revenue, however, is up 14% in 2026, after falling in each of the previous three years.
What Remains Unclear: When The Daily Wire could actually go public. The report from Tani states that the company could go public in the next 18 months. However, it noted that it would “prefer to take a minority, aligned investment to grow the business,” before going public.
What It Means: The Daily Wire has been in the headlines for almost all the wrong reasons over the past 18 months or so. Between the infighting of Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro, the exit of co-CEOs Jeremy Boreing and Caleb Robinson, and layoffs at the company, the news hasn’t been positive. But the internal data shows that things are looking up for the organization, despite those moves.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is pushing back. He’s defending the World Cup’s new hydration breaks as a competitive necessity, not a revenue play.
What We Know: The hydration breaks occur at the 22nd and 67th minutes of every match at this summer’s tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico. They’ve drawn sharp criticism from players, coaches and pundits throughout the competition’s early stages. Broadcasters, however, have capitalized on the stoppages, inserting additional commercials during the pauses. Networks have cashed in with a reported additional $500 million earned by FOX Sports.
What They Said: FIFA President Gianni Infantino (via The Atheltic): “There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. So, this is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter.”
What Remains Unclear: Exactly how much broadcasters are earning from the additional ad inventory remains unknown. During the tournament, FOX Sports has run ads during the breaks. However, Telemundo for the greater majority has not instead punting coverage to studio talent for analysis.
What It Means: The hydration breaks are here to stay. Because of the complaints during and following the World Cup in Qatar, these were implemented with the World Cup beginning this year. With networks paying high rights fees to carry the tournament, they need these type of stoppages to earn more revenue to afford the games on their network. Infantino and FIFA are reportedly earning upwards of $6 billion off this year’s tournament.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
77 WABC morning host Sid Rosenberg hosts one of the top shows in America. He’s now being honored by the New York State Broadcasters Association by joining its Hall of Fame.
What We Know: Sid Rosenberg has spent the past 10 years at 77 WABC. He also spent time at WFAN during his career in the state. Rosenberg posted a photo of a letter he received from the NYSBA sharing that he’d be a member of the Hall of Fame class of 2026.
What They Said: “This radio journey of mine, which is now 28 years in, has been a roller coaster of emotion combined with rewarding success and disappointing failures. But after seeing this letter tonight, it has been all worth it. To be recognized as one of my industry’s all-time greats is nothing short of surreal. When 77 WABC brought me back to New York City radio in the winter of 2016, it would have been hard to predict a Hall of Fame induction would come 10 years later. But here we are! I did it, Dad! I did it!” -Sid Rosenberg
What Remains Unclear: Who will join Rosenberg in the Hall of Fame class. Other inductees from the 2026 class have yet to be announced.
What It Means: Rosenberg has seen his star rise greatly since returning to the New York airwaves a decade ago. After moving to mornings, Rosenberg has become a major player in the radio world. Clearly, this honor means a lot to him. He noted that he was “crying with joy” after finding out.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Polymarket is entering podcasting. The prediction-market platform has teamed with Dear Media on a weekly show featuring celebrity news, viral internet moments, entertainment headlines and cultural trends with real-time forecasting data from Polymarket.
What We Know: Polymarket is launching What Are the Odds?, its first podcast partnership. The show pairs rotating Dear Media hosts — Claudia and Jackie Oshry, Amanda Hirsch and Heather McMahan — with real-time forecasting data. Across 15-minute episodes, they blend celebrity news and viral moments with what traders expect next. Notably, Polymarket tested the format first through a live trading activation that drove more than 1,600 trades.
What They Said: Dear Media CEO Michael Bosstick: “Our hosts don’t just cover pop culture — they help shape it. Pop culture moves fast, and partnering with Polymarket gives our hosts a new way to engage with the stories and conversations capturing people’s attention.”
Josh Tucker, Polymarket’s head of creative marketing (via Variety): “As the world’s largest information market, Polymarket reveals what the world thinks will happen next. What Are the Odds? turns that real-time read into conversations led by some of the most beloved voices in podcasting. Our partnership with Dear Media marks a new chapter in how prediction markets capture the pulse of culture around the world.”
What Remains Unclear: The companies didn’t set an episode count beyond weekly. Nor did they disclose any revenue terms of the partrnership. It’s also uncertain how on-air hosts will surface live market data without slowing a tight 15-minute show.
What It Means: Increasingly, prediction markets are becoming content rather than just trading destinations. Kalshi made a parallel move, partnering with Men in Blazers around the World Cup. However, from a content standpoint, live markets offer a fresh editorial tool. Instead of leaning on polls or punditry, hosts can cite a market that updates in real time. However, whether a mass amount of people flock to actual trades does remain to be seen.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
The Baltimore Ravens have a new radio voice. Kyle Youmans takes over the booth following the retirement of Gerry Sandusky.
What We Know: Youmans becomes just the third play-by-play announcer in franchise history. Before this, he spent seven seasons on the Dallas Cowboys’ media team. There, he hosted over 1,000 episodes and won four Lone Star EMMY Awards. Additionally, he has called more than 750 radio and TV broadcasts across college football, basketball and the G League. In addition, Youmans will now partner with Pro Football Hall of Famer and Ravens Legend Rod Woodson. He’ll be in the booth for all Ravens gameday radio broadcasts. All broadcasts air on WBAL NewsRadio, 98 Rock and 14 radio affiliates. Also, all preseason TV telecasts, which air on WBAL-TV 11 and seven regional TV affiliates.
What They Said: Kyle Youmans: “I’m excited to get to work, providing the soundtrack to an exciting new era of Ravens football. From Gerry Sandusky to Scott Garceau to Chuck Thompson, Baltimore has been blessed with some incredibly talented and loyal play-by-play voices over its football history. My mission will be to continue that tradition with an entertaining and informative brand of content.”
Baltimore Ravens President Sashi Brown: “We are excited to welcome Kyle Youmans to our organization and the Baltimore community. Kyle will not only bring to life the excitement of Ravens football on radio. He’ll serve as a dynamic, year-round presence across our media platforms. He possesses an extraordinary combination of play-by-play expertise, storytelling ability and genuine passion that will resonate with Ravens fans. . We are confident that Kyle – with his own style and personality – is the right person to build upon the tradition and excellence Gerry Sandusky established over many years.”
Hearst Baltimore President & General Manager Dan Joerres: “As the official broadcast partners of the Baltimore Ravens, WBAL-TV 11, 98 Rock and WBAL NewsRadio are thrilled to welcome Kyle Youmans as the next ‘Voice of the Ravens.’ Kyle brings energy, passion and excitement to the broadcast booth while continuing the tradition of excellence established by his predecessor, Gerry Sandusky. We are confident our listeners and viewers will enthusiastically embrace Kyle, and we look forward to his voice becoming an integral part of the Ravens’ experience for years to come.”
What Remains Unclear: Outside of game broadcasts, any additional roles within the organization are unknown.
What It Means: Youmans has big shoes to fill in being the successor to Gerry Sandusky. He guided Ravens fans for the last 19 seasons. Moreover, his roles working with the Dallas Cowboys among other credentials prove he’s up for the task.
We’re excited to introduce the new Voice of the Ravens.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
