As former President Donald Trump begins his defense in his third indictment, CNN Chief Legal Analyst Elie Honig believes major changes are needed in how cases like these should be covered.
During an appearance with Anderson Cooper Thursday night, Honig argued that it was imperative that cameras be allowed in the courtroom to show the latest Trump proceedings.
“I’m putting the pressure on. I don’t use this platform to get on the soapbox. But this has to be covered in a modern, transparent fashion,” said Honig. “It would be ludicrous. Trial of the century.”
After Cooper asked if Honig’s intentions were driven by his work in TV, or not, he responded that while that does play into his feeling, it’s important for the general public to be able to see what goes on in real-time.
“I am saying that, yes from a TV standpoint. But the American people have to see this. The American people cannot be–if we don’t have cameras in the courtroom, here’s what we’re gonna have. We’re gonna have young reporters running in and out of the courtroom texting us, trying to recount what happens,” he continued.
“Two or three hours after the end of every trial, they will get a 300-page transcript that some court reporter typed up, and we’ll get sketch drawings. It’s not 1918 here! It’s 2023. We need to get with it.”
OutKick’s Tomi Lahren claims the Biden administration collaborated with Facebook to modify their algorithms and censor her posts after expressing her decision not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Lahren alleged that White House Digital Director Rob Flaherty deliberately instructed Facebook to hinder her visibility on the platform because of a single tweet shared on Facebook.
“The Biden White House went to great lengths to censor me, personally, on social media, and turns out; it’s even more egregious than I initially thought,” she said.
Lahren asserted that Big Tech had deliberately made it difficult for her 4.7 million followers to access her content. She accused the algorithmic system of intentionally decreasing the visibility of her content while boosting that of The New York Times.
“If (Facebook) were to change the algorithm so that people were more likely to see New York Times, Wall Street Journal, any authoritative news source over Daily Wire, Tomi Lahren, polarizing people. You wouldn’t have a mechanism to check the material impact?”
“Yes, the Biden White House Digital Director requested that Facebook – a platform that I have 4.7 million followers on – change the FRICKEN ALGORITHM so people would see less of me and more New York Times,” she added.
I was directly censored on Facebook, and I’m still being shadow banned on both Facebook and Instagram. My heartfelt question to @Meta is, do you not understand how many conservatives use your platform? Why am I any less valuable as a creator with my nearly 7 million combined…
According to Lahren, the Biden administration made a special effort to censor her. She also stated that the White House thinks it has the authority to silence, censor, and diminish people with whom they disagree.
“They are so scared of the truth getting out they will do anything to kill it,” she said. “This is not only un-American, a violation of the First Amendment, and a threat that strikes to the core of our very nation.”
“I will not shut up. I will not sit down. I will not even lower my voice. In fact, I’m about to get louder, and you know what, I might even take legal action myself,” Lahren added.
When Craig Carton began hosting his morning show on FOX Sports 1 last September, it opened the door to the possibility of his departure from WFAN. Carton had served a federal prison sentence for wire and securities fraud, and upon being released from imprisonment, returned to his former radio station, teaming up with Evan Roberts in afternoons. The duo quickly propelled their show to the top of the ratings, retaining a strong position throughout the lifespan of the Carton & Roberts show.
Carton, however, was not working under a contract for nine months as he ruminated on his broadcast future. On one hand, he had to worry about making restitution to those he previously afflicted, but he also wanted to make amends with his family, friends and colleagues.
Although the ratings for his television show were low out of the gate, FOX Sports 1 ostensibly sees potential for growth – especially as Undisputed continues its two-month hiatus. Because of these factors, the network reportedly made Carton a more lucrative contract offer in exchange for media exclusivity. Outside of his podcast on gambling addiction titled Hello, My Name is Craig, Carton no longer works with Audacy and is now dedicated to his FOX Sports 1 show on a full-time basis.
“‘I was always a loyal watcher of his show, but now that we’re not doing the radio show anymore, do I still have to watch the show?,’” Roberts remembers asking Carton. “I find myself watching it less, but I still check in with him. What I love about him is that I think he knows so much about radio [and he] taught me not just working together, but even when he was doing mornings.”
Upon coming to the decision to leave WFAN last month, Carton made sure to thank everyone involved in helping to restore his career. The person, however, that he credits most for his comeback was Audacy New York Market President Chris Oliviero. A fixture at WFAN since the early 2000s, Oliviero visited Carton while he was incarcerated and promised that he would be there for him if he got everything back in order. The visit did not guarantee a job offer, but rather represented an assurance that his congeniality would always be there.
“To me, when people you know who become friends have problems or issues, you don’t abandon them; you don’t run from them,” Oliviero said. “It’s well-documented what he did, [and] it’s well-documented that he did his penance. Just like hopefully any good friend would do, you stay in touch with people, even when they’re down.”
Changes had to be made to maintain the quality of programming without Carton, widely considered an elite-level talent. Audacy’s Vice President of Programming at WFAN and CBS Sports Radio, Spike Eskin, knows these changes, which he instituted without advice from others, are something he will need to stand behind and justify to listeners if necessary. While dividing former midday tandem Brandon Tierney and Tiki Barber in different dayparts did not represent the station’s first choice, management ultimately came to a conclusion that it was the best path forward.
“I didn’t want to break up any shows, but ultimately we have to have the best shows,” Eskin said, admitting he was hesitant to separate Tierney and Barber, who were having success in middays. “If that means some uncomfortable moments now for us to win long term, that’s what we’ll do.”
Both Oliviero and Eskin affirm that the goal was not to replace Carton. Doing so is impossible. Instead, the station recognized that Roberts had significantly grown as a host to lead a new program and cultivate an organic, local sound.
“The good news about FAN is the brand is so strong. It has proven that it can survive any loss,” Oliviero said. “There’s been a lot of losses at this station over its history… but the station has always continued to succeed.”
Roberts’s new partner is Tiki Barber, giving WFAN the traditional broadcaster and ex-jock dynamic in afternoons. Evan & Tiki continues to be simulcast on SNY for its final two hours, an aspect of the day that Roberts says changes nothing except the branded microphone windscreens.
“The biggest adjustment I had – more so than even working with Tiki because I think it’s easy [since] we’re talking [and] we’re having fun – was [that] I switched seats,” Roberts said. “I went from a seat where I never saw the TV, never saw the camera [and] forgot we were on TV.
“Now, I’m going to sit where I can kind of see it in the corner of my eye, and I always try not to look because we’re not doing a TV show – we’re doing a radio show – and I think that’s what the people want.”
“I look at the camera,” Barber said, leading the show’s cast to erupt in laughter.
Barber, along with on-air contributor Shaun Morash and executive producer Tommy Lugauer gather in Roberts’ office before each show to review the rundown and determine the best approach. Adorned on the walls of the room, which was formerly Carton’s office, are photos of the Brooklyn Nets former “Big Three” of Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Kevin Durant, along with a blown-up X profile photo of New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. Surrounded by sports memorabilia, familiar mementos and a massage chair, the afternoon crew holds a daily pre-show meeting as the clock inches closer to 2 p.m.
“It was an opportunity that was presented to me,” Barber said of moving to afternoon drive. “I know that opportunities aren’t always perfect because I’ve been with [Brandon Tierney] for a decade-plus, but you better take them because they don’t come around often. It was a no-brainer for me.”
Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber form WFAN’s new weekday afternoon drive duo
The Major League Baseball trade deadline dominated the local sports discussion on the day of my visit to WFAN’s studios. The Mets and Yankees were under the microscope for what they would or wouldn’t do. Before Tuesday, the most notable move of the deadline was the Mets opting to trade three-time Cy Young Award-winner Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers.
When the trade of Mets pitcher Justin Verlander was reported, the sound of glass breaking disrupted the conversation and effectively tore the show rundown to shreds. All eyes were on Roberts, an avid Mets fan known for his impassioned reactions and shrewd intellect, to see how he would feel about an inconspicuous shift in the direction of the organization. Upon finding out that the Mets were sending the Houston Astros $54.5 million in the deal, and in turn expediting the growth of its minor league system, it became obvious what the Mets had decided to do.
“It’s exciting to get young players – there is something exciting about that – but it’s depressing,” Roberts said, seconds after details of the trade were made public. “You don’t get the immediate satisfaction.”
Shaun Morash and Tommy Lugauer are situated in the control room during the show
After about three minutes passed, Roberts signaled to the control room to cut the commercials and return live on the air. He had just discovered that the Mets were receiving the Houston Astros’ top prospect, outfielder Drew Gilbert, as a part of the deal and wanted to divulge the news to the listeners. Several minutes later after conflicting reports, it was confirmed that another prized young prospect, outfielder Ryan Clifford, was also heading to Queens, something Roberts learned and reacted to in the moment.
“You never want to be gone too long,” Roberts said. “I know we have commercials, and I respect that, but then there’s also the trade just went down; we need to get back.”
The already-strong chemistry of the brand new show was evident, looking like a well-oiled machine that had worked together for years rather than mere weeks.
“It’s hard to plan for a day like this because you simply don’t know what’s going to happen,” Barber added, “but it leads to organic reaction, which is, I think, the fun part about it.”
Even though the new afternoon show was facing its first genuine test of adapting to a fluid situation on the air, it did not phase anyone involved. Roberts and Barber are both engrossed in the New York sports scene and are adept to keenly ascertain the future implications these transactions may have. Morash and Lugauer also adequately pick their spots, providing their voices to the program and balancing it with their production responsibilities.
“I really believe that this is the first show that WFAN has had, and correct me if I’m wrong, where essentially every single fanbase is going to have a voice,” Morash said.
“….There is a voice in this room for every single fanbase, which is so unique and different, and you would think should be so common – but hasn’t been in the history of WFAN.”
Lugauer has also been involved in radio for over a decade, and is now hosting the “Bridge” program on nights where the station is not broadcasting a sporting event. When Carton returned to WFAN, it was Lugauer who was tabbed as the afternoon show’s producer. He gained extensive repetitions in overseeing a program with an effervescent, unpredictable talent.
“Working with Craig is like riding Space Mountain for the first time – you never know what’s coming next – so there’s a little bit more structure and I have a little more feel,” Lugauer expressed. “I always say [that] you can tell right away if a show has chemistry, and I knew from our first hour I was like, ‘We had that chemistry.’”
As Evan & Tiki prepared to take the air, Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata were in the final hour of their new midday show which, for now, is going by The Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata Show. The title, Tierney feels, is especially long-winded for a radio program and will, at some point, likely be shortened to BT & Sal.
“I get it [with] name recognition and I understand why we’re doing this from a management point of view,” Tierney said. “When you think BT & Sal, to me those are guys you want to hang out with.”
The volume of the midday show may, perhaps, be the greatest on the station and is a deviation from the sound of Tierney’s old program with Barber. Both hosts bring a joy and passion for more than New York sports to the air every weekday, cognizant of the honor it is to be featured hosts on a broadcast outlet with the cache and reputation of WFAN.
“Any spot on the FAN, to me, is a dream; to have your own show, but to be on in the middays in particular during the day – honestly, I can’t even describe it,” Licata said. “It’s something that I’ve always dreamt of, but I can’t even believe it’s actually become a reality.”
Licata enters middays after a stint hosting overnights on the station, a role he balanced with his on-air obligations at SNY. He could be seen regularly on Baseball Night in New York and frequently made contributions on Honda SportsNite. From there, he would traverse to WFAN and return home to go to bed between 5:30 or 6 a.m. Today, those hours are when he wakes up. Now his workday starts with radio and concludes with television.
“I’m still doing SNY, but most nights I’m home with my wife and I get to see my daughter before she goes to sleep,” Licata said. “It’s totally different – opposite hours – but I love it so far.”
Neither host is focused on individual accolades, instead collaborating and ensuring that the show finishes at the top of the ratings and has a legacy as the No. 1 program in the history of New York sports radio. While many people would say these goals are lofty, Tierney and Licata believe they have the rapport and the chemistry to realize their desired sublimity.
“I offer no concessions and I put no boundaries and parameters on what we can be,” Tierney said. “I want people to, when they talk about us – when they talk about me and Sal and our union and our dynamic – I want them to say, ‘That is the show that I can’t miss. That is the show that I need to listen to.’”
While Tierney and Licata were not the ones on the air when Verlander was dealt from the Mets back to the Astros, there was plenty of conversation of rumblings beforehand – and a surfeit of people looking to chime in. Staffers were screening various audience members looking to make their voices heard about the topics at hand. In fact, the phones were illuminating behind the glass as the duo interacted with both first-time and frequent callers.
“Even if we do yell at them or disagree, I would treat them the same way that I would want to be treated as a caller too,” Licata said. “We talk about sports, no different.”
Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata bring fireworks to WFAN in middays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The first episode of the midday show commenced with a roaring start despite the shortcomings of the local baseball teams, and the on-air chemistry of the duo was immediately palpable. Tierney and Licata trust one another and share the same goal of ascending the summit and setting the bar higher each day. They never take time on the air for granted or eschew the truth, even if it means they need to refine a previous opinion.
“I think Sal is that way where he’s not afraid to be wrong,” Tierney said. “It took me a while to learn, ‘Don’t be afraid to be wrong.’ What you say on Monday could change on Thursday – that’s the way of the world; it’s evolving, certainly as it pertains to sports.”
While the lineup has received positive feedback from listeners and management, having an established morning program before new midday and afternoon shows alleviates some of the pressure to immediately succeed. Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti provide a sense of stability at the start of the day and continue to dominate in the ratings books, a combination the station expects to permeate among the other programming.
“If people build habits and they continue those habits, it leads to success,” Oliviero said. “Having that known quantity with Boomer & Gio to start the day is an advantage.”
“From a leadership standpoint, it’s an opportunity for them as the big show; the successful show to help elevate everyone else, which they’ve done a good job of, and help shine a light on our new shows,” Eskin added. “They’ve been great – Boomer; Gio; Al; Jerry; Eddie have [all] been awesome.”
The entrance to WFAN features a collage of iconic figures in New York sports history.
WFAN first launched in 1987 under the leadership of Emmis Communications founder and chief executive officer Jeff Smulyan. There are odes to the past throughout the outlet’s broadcast facility in lower Manhattan – including the notorious afternoon program Mike and the Mad Dog – and everyone in the building recognizes how fortunate they are to be working at such a venerated outlet. The station was previously located in the sub-basement of the Kaufman Astoria Studios before moving to the Hudson Square neighborhood in late 2009. Its location is a prime destination within a sprawling metropolis featuring fans of nearly every sports team.
When Eskin walked in for the first time, he tried not to think about the magnitude of the outlet. Growing up, he knew of WFAN but did not have much of an impression of it, instead remaining focused on sports in the Philadelphia area. As he opened the glass doors to enter the station for the first time in July of 2021, Eskin was implicitly marking the start of a new era of WFAN. Two years later, marking the start of a new era at WFAN is becoming a habit for him.
As Oliviero and Eskin oversee the revamped programming lineup, they are judging success based on a litany of quantitative and qualitative key performance indicators. They span beyond traditional measurements radio stations look at, including listenership, advertising volume and overall reach. Instead, these objectives are amalgamated with other factors and are all within a greater barometer of success.
“You’ve probably heard the two ‘Rs’ – it’s ratings and revenue – I try to add a third ‘R,’ which is ‘relevancy,’” Oliviero said. “For me, FAN’s success is those three ‘Rs’… and I would challenge anyone to name a sports media platform in market No. 1 in New York City that is more relevant than FAN. You won’t find one.”
“As long as we are proud of what is coming out of the speakers and we said that we worked as hard as we could and as smart as we could to make it good, then that’s all that matters to me,” Eskin added. “I am proud of that regardless of the result otherwise.”
WFAN is the broadcast home of the New York Yankees, New York Giants and Brooklyn Nets
While Eskin is positioning the station for sustained success, he vows not to lose sight of the station’s storied past. From Pete Franklin to Mike Francesa and Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo; Suzyn Waldman to Ed Coleman; Don Imus to Steve Somers and many more, the call letters carry weight.
“WFAN has had a very successful 35 years, and my goal is to set it up for the next 35,” Eskin said. “I likely won’t be here as long as Mark [Chernoff] was – I’ve never seen anybody put in more hours than Chernoff…. The goal is to respect our heritage [and] respect what the radio station means to people, but evolve it in a way that makes it successful moving forward.”
NFL Network’s Good Morning Football (GMFB) is less a TV show and more a daily football party. With guests from inside and outside the game, inventive segments, and upbeat commentary, it has become the football show that everyone watches – and wants to be on as well.
But beyond the content, the strength of the program is its latest batch of co-hosts. Lead host Jamie Erdahl, Kyle Brandt, Peter Schrager, and newcomer Jason McCourty have taken pigskin repartee to new heights of fun. So, let’s check the roster and rundown on each player.
Jamie Erdahl has the All-American look and personality of the ultimate girl next door, as long as you live next door to an NFL stadium. With her packed resume, she is proficient in debating all sports, but her singular enthusiasm for football is palpable.
Erdahl’s willingness to put herself out there with vigor and attitude are outstanding. When former GMFB host Kay Adams decided to leave the show for a more lucrative deal with FanDuel, I felt it would be beyond difficult to replace her. Erdahl has made the transition seamless.
She brings knowledge and exuberance and is brave enough to either tell the joke or be the punch line. Her versatility plays well against the strong personality of Brandt, the subtle style of McCourty, and the button-down subtlety of Schrager.
Kyle Brandt is simply TNT in a football jersey and sneakers. His love for football and pop-culture references detonate on the air every morning. GMFB usually opens with a wide shot of all the hosts, and you can already see Brandt going into the slow boil – his head nodding and his leg twitching ready to pounce on any subject.
Brandt is wild, loud, humorous, and magnetic taking on all subjects and preaching the gridiron gospel. In five years, he could be hosting NBC’s Tonight Show or blanketing the country as a roving preacher healing the sick, discouraged, and people who despise Thursday Night Football.
Brandt’s “Angry Runs” feature during the NFL season has become must-see television, and the repartee between him and Schrager is fascinating. Brandt knows how to get the best out of his more subdued co-host. He often tweaks Schrager just to bring the energy up and tap into Schrager’s vast knowledge and passion.
Brandt is like the lead singer of an ‘80s metal band – part David Lee Roth, part Jon Bon Jovi, part Ronnie James Dio, and part Kip Winger. He’s got the sound, the look, the bombast, the knowledge, and the belief that you absolutely have to hear what he is about to say.
GMFB newcomer Jason McCourty has been an absolute revelation. Other than Tony Romo‘s debut as a CBS game analyst in 2017, I’m not sure any former football player has made a smoother transition to broadcasting.
McCourty provides real, raw, and truthful analysis from someone who was inside NFL locker rooms for 13 seasons. Howard Cosell used to bemoan the Jockocracy of former players on television, but let’s face it, players know things that reporters and broadcasters simply do not.
McCourty’s NFL career was spent mostly with non-playoff teams until he won a Super Bowl with New England. His experience on losing teams is as valuable as that 2018 championship season.
McCourty also brings viewpoints on social justice, charitable, and community outreach issues from his many such endeavors with his brother Devin McCourty. He can also dissect any defensive or offensive scheme because he has pretty much seen them all.
Of all the Good Morning Football hosts, Peter Schrager is the most inscrutable and intriguing. He can play the whimsical, wide-eyed fan, and then immediately pivot to a hardscrabble, experienced NFL working media perspective.
These reporter’s chops are what separates Schrager from the other GMFB hosts. It is his strength. Schrager seems staid amid the fervor of Erdahl, Brandt, and McCourty, but the show needs that.
He provides insight, information, and a wealth of knowledge due to his multi-media experience. Erdahl is a terrific personality able to blend and connect with the audience. Brandt is an unpredictable phenom. McCourty brings a players perspective with articulation and knowledge, but it is Schrager who brings a high media IQ, deep commentary, and a knowledge of what storylines will hit home with viewers.
When you strip it down, GMFB is really all about fun with regular segments and activities on the streets of New York and welcoming actors, musicians, and entertainers as guests.
These days, the opening “Lead Block” segment takes us to training camp for highlights, injury reports, and roster cuts. On the August 1 edition, former NFL superstar Dante Hall did a “3 on 3” segment with McCourty, dissecting the top secondary and wide receiver corps in the NFL.
One of the more underrated aspects of GMFB are the news updates with anchor/reporter Will Selva. His dry sense of humor and droll repartee with all of the hosts are highlights for sure. On the same show, Brandt offered a sentimental tribute to departed actor Paul Reubens and his Pee-Wee Herman character. He called Reubens “brilliant, creative, completely fearless.”
The same can be said for some of the inventive GMFB segments. In one recent sketch called “Role Call,” Brandt humorously compared Tom Cruise to Tyreek Hill and Larry David to Aaron Rodgers.
Another entertaining segment on a recent show was “We In or We Out” where the hosts say whether they believe an NFL news story. One question asked if Anthony Richardson would be starting for the Colts in Week 1. Whiteboard questions are also typical GMFB fare. One recent question asked which ‘80s or ‘90s classic production you’d like to see done as a Broadway musical.
The August 2 edition of Good Morning Football gave Schrager the lead talking about his much ballyhooed interview with Aaron Rodgers where the Jets’ quarterback fired back at Broncos’ head coach Sean Payton for criticizing former Denver head coach and current Jets’ offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Schrager goaded Rodgers into channeling his inner Will Smith saying that Payton should keep his coach’s name out of his mouth. Schrager also talked about the personal aspect of this controversy focusing on Hackett‘s family and how they’ve had to deal with public criticism both last year and this past week.
Unlike many other shows, GMFB included excerpts from Payton’s entire diatribe which also included criticism of Broncos’ staffers still with the team. This was sensitive ground for Schrager who worked side by side with Payton on FOX. McCourty asked Schrager if he thought an apology from Payton was imminent. Schrager’s response was an emphatic “No.”
Good Morning Football is a fast-paced and effervescent look at all things football. Better have that second cup of coffee because you might miss one or more of the hosts jumping around the set, reporters from cities across the NFL landscape, analysis of the Steelers and Bears’ offenses, and even a visit from pro wrestler Seth Rollins, all in a 20 minute span.
Whether you are a serious fan or just looking for some serious fun, GMFB provides a rollicking, riveting, and ribald look at America’s favorite sport.
If you want to guarantee that you will never be seen as old or outdated in your job, be a change agent for yourself. Lead your career down the path of change. Stay ahead of the game if you never want to go into a client meeting where they know more about what you are selling than you do. By keeping up to date with the latest digital, streaming, or podcasting sales, you will maintain the consultant role you have enjoyed during your over-the-air sales career.
Look at what Jeff Smulyan is doing with Emmis at 76. He is trying to go from owning and operating KPWR, WFAN, and hundreds of stations over the years to 100% out of radio. Many challenges can impact your career significantly if you don’t roll with the punches. Here are but a few below.
YOU WILL AGE OUT
We all know that media, advertising, technology, and consumer preferences change rapidly. If you don’t update your selling skills, you risk becoming outdated and less competitive in the job market. By stagnating, your career growth and management opportunities will diminish. Employers will look for media salespeople who can adapt, bring a fresh perspective, and offer innovation.
YOU COULD BECOME THE AE ASSIGNED TO “THE OLDS”
With everything changing around you, your knowledge and approach may no longer align with demand. So, your boss and clients could see you as less relevant than before. This viewpoint can lead to fewer opportunities to secure valuable deals and partnerships. Your station may be less inclined to put you in front of significant cutting-edge prospects.
PERFORMANCE DECLINE
With streaming and digital sales pressure, failure to adapt can result in reduced earnings. Your sales figures and overall job effectiveness will decline, and that pressure will only increase.
FOMO
With change comes new and exciting career opportunities. You might miss out on growth prospects that require current skills and perspectives by resisting change. You can explore different avenues and expand your horizons by staying open to new challenges.
INDUSTRY SHIFTS AND PREPAREDNESS
If radio moves exclusively to digital and pods and you fail to adapt, you will be on an island. Facing change head-on will make you more resilient in the face of industry challenges and uncertainty.
TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT?
Refusing to change can lead to job dissatisfaction and frustration. As the radio industry evolves, you may feel stuck or unfulfilled in your role. Staying up-to-date can help reignite your passion and enthusiasm for your work and keep Johnny Paycheck away.
It would be best to embrace change and adaptation to thrive in sports and news radio sales. To remain relevant, competitive, and fulfilled in your career, take it upon yourself to seek growth opportunities, be open to new challenges, and invest in ongoing learning and professional development. By doing so, you position yourself for long-term success.
One isn’t running for President. The other is trailing by 30-40 points in the polls. But the best political television of the year is going to be on Fox News as the expected debate between Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) against Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA).
After plenty of speculation, DeSantis accepted an offer to debate Newsom on Fox News with Sean Hannity serving as moderator. Newsom originally told Hannity in an interview that he would be willing to debate DeSantis, which resulted in the two governors sparring on social media. During a Wednesday appearance with Hannity, DeSantis said “Absolutely, I’m game. Just tell me when and where,” when the topic of a debate with Newsom was broached.
While DeSantis finds himself behind in the polls to Donald Trump by a wide margin and Newsom chose not to primary Joe Biden (for now), this is going to be must-watch TV between two Governors who represent two vastly different Americas. DeSantis has overseen the state with the highest population inflow in the country with a booming economy and turned a purple state solid red.
Meanwhile, Newsom has led a state that has experienced enormous population outflow, grown government, and raised taxes. However, both remain popular in their respective parties.
Given the divisive nature of the country, DeSantis and Newsom will lay out two incredibly different blueprints for what America has, does, and should look like moving forward. It will not only be incredibly compelling television, it is what millions of Americans need to consume.
We’re long overdue for this type of discourse because, unfortunately, real political debate is mostly dead in this country. Nearly all TV and radio shows, along with digital media outlets, don’t welcome on, or can’t get on, guests from the “other side” of the aisle to talk about the top issues of the day.
And even when some shows try to have a semblance of balance, it’s rarely 50-50. It’s typically more of a gang up session (think Fox News’ The Five or ABC’s The View), where one commentator serves as the punching bag for the rest of the panel to cater to the base of the audience.
However, Americans have additionally been deprived of important, concise, clear political debate for nearly a decade, not just because of the media fragmentation, but also because the Presidential elections have mostly been driven by personality over substantive policy discussions. What do you remember from the 2016 debates? My mind thinks of two things: “Lock Her Up” and “Build the Wall”.
Then in 2020, the presence of COVID, along with two candidates who wouldn’t be considered the deepest of thinkers, battled it out, but rarely dug deep into so many of the issues permeating America’s future from a financial, cultural, societal, and overseas perspective.
But with Newsom and DeSantis expected to take the stage against each other later this year, it hopefully brings those important debates and conversations back to the forefront of the American conversation.
Or at least it will for one night. Then, it will be back to the mind-numbingly predictable chaos we find ourselves having to endure on a daily basis. And that’s a shame.
Speculation continues to swirl regarding the future of the Pac-12 as the conference continues to forge ahead without a TV rights package.
On 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit on Thursday, Karsch and Anderson host Doug Karsch said it was interesting how given ESPN’s cost-cutting measures, the Pac-12 has been the odd man out.
“The Worldwide Leader no longer has like an oil tanker full of excess cash to be out there bidding on conference broadcast rights,” Karsch said. “So suddenly a power five conference that doesn’t have a TV deal – one of the major players – is likely not bidding on that conference’s TV rights.”
Karsch went on to point out that he feels like there is a connection between the network shedding salaries and its unwillingness to secure Pac-12 rights.
“I don’t think they’re uncorrelated,” he said. “There’s no bidding war between ESPN and FOX for Pac-12 TV rights. In fact, FOX, CBS, NBC, they’re now all in with the Big Ten, ESPN is affiliated with the Southeastern Conference. And the two conferences that are left with terrible TV deals, the Pac-12 and the ACC, seem to be vulnerable.”
“The TV networks don’t want to pay more right now,” he added.
Rumblings abound now that Washington and Oregon are being eyed by the Big Ten should the Pac-12 go under. But the Big Ten would like its media partners to fork over more money in rights fees should the conference take on more member schools. Karsch said it’s a major roadblock in how everything plays out.
“If they don’t want to pay more, adding Washington and Oregon only takes the same pie and makes two more pieces,” he said. “If the TV networks don’t want to pay for them, and the evidence is kind of there that that’s the fact, because their TV rights are available now as part of the Pac-12 pact. So the Big Ten if they add them, it doesn’t make everybody’s slice of the pie bigger at least initially. It makes everybody’s slice of the pie smaller if the networks aren’t going to pay for them.”
While a permanent replacement for Shannon Sharpe on Undisputed hasn’t been formally announced, host Skip Bayless did have some news this week about a new face fans will soon see on the show.
On his Skip Bayless Show podcast this week, the FS1 star announced that rapper Lil’ Wayne would be a featured debater for one segment on Fridays.
“He might not always be in the studio depending on his schedule, but he will join me every Friday for a segment,” Bayless said. “I don’t know, 12, 15 minutes. If he’s hot, if he’s rolling, maybe we’ll keep him a couple segments if he has the time. That, you can look forward to.”
Wayne is a big sports fan and has appeared on the show previously. He and Skip Bayless also happen to be close friends. Skip said his presence will be a different change of pace viewers are accustomed to.
“He is so deep when it comes to sports,” Bayless said. “He doesn’t yell or scream, but he does get emotional, and you hang on his every word because trust me, he has thought through every single word. I like to say I see things and say things that others don’t, Wayne is my match.”
As the future of the Pac-12 remains uncertain, conferences like the Big Ten are already getting the ball rolling on how to react should the Pac-12 go extinct.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is having the conference explore options of potentially adding Oregon and Washington if the Pac-12 doesn’t survive, and the Big Ten is also looking at how it could maximize earnings from its media rights should the Ducks and Huskies join the fray.
While networks have been willing to shell out record amounts to schools for broadcast rights, and will plan to do as the Big Ten’s massive $7 billion contract, it’s unclear whether networks would be willing to shell out more if Washington and Oregon join.
What is it about sports radio that draws in listeners and eventually makes them P1’s? For 92.9 The Game hosts Steak Shapiro and Sandra Golden, it’s conversation that goes beyond the scope of sports.
Shapiro said one listener pointed out on Twitter that interpersonal banter and watercooler talk mixed with a healthy dose of sports makes it super relatable from a human standpoint. He went on to add that trying to incorporate politics or religion isn’t the way to go draw more listeners in.
“Folks are dealing with enough stress, anxiety, vitriol in their lives, right?” Shapiro said Thursday. “The last thing you want when you turn on a radio station like ours is to get more stressed out. Radio around political talk is just stressful. So to me, the number one thing is, are you laughing, are you entertained and are you having fun?”
“Did you learn a little something along the way?” Golden responded. “And it might be about IPAs or bagels, but it also might be, ‘Gosh I didn’t know Dansby (Swanson) was just barely at .200 until recently.’ Those kind of little nuggets.”
From a broader perspective in Shapiro’s eyes, hyper-local has always been the rule of thumb in radio and on TV. He said sports talk doesn’t get more local than that.
“The sports is the most hyper-local,” he said. “That’s just what sports does. It galvanizes a community.”
