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Michael Smerconish: AM Radio Proponents ‘Fear the Loss of the Clubhouse’ Rush Limbaugh Built

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The potential demise of AM Radio has been a hot-button issue for many in conservative media circles. Some have gone as far to raise the theory that its removal from future car models is a plot to silence conservative voices. Michael Smerconish understands why the feeling exists, but believes it might be misguided.

During his weekend television program on CNN, Smerconish — who hosted a talk show on AM Radio from 1997 until he departed to join SiriusXM in 2013 — said the influence of former radio titan Rush Limbaugh is still felt by AM Radio listeners.

“They fear the loss of the clubhouse that Limbaugh built them,” Smerconish said. “At his peak, Limbaugh aired on approximately 650 stations…the most listened-to show in the country. If AM is jettisoned from cars, it would hasten the end of an era that began in the early 1900s. It’s where Americans heard FDR’s fireside chats, the Hindenburg crash, and Ronald Reagan’s baseball broadcasts…I get the nostalgic feelings for AM radio. I have them, too.”

Smerconish then noted that AM radio has been passed in technology by other forms of media, similarly to how vinyl records gave way to cassettes, then CDs, and .mp3s.

“The time has marched on for AM…many of the radio companies have hastened the demise of AM radio by moving popular programming — including live sports — to the FM band,” argued Smerconish. “So even if AM disappears, the political programming won’t just fade away, it’ll just be found on different platforms.”

Pablo Torre Explains Goals of Future Meadowlark Media Project

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Pablo Torre Explains Goals of Future Meadowlark Media Project

While we know that Pablo Torre is going to have a new show with Meadowlark Media in the future, he hasn’t exactly been specific as to what it will be. We continue to look for bits and pieces from Torre about his show that will begin sometime before the NFL season begins. 

Torre was a guest on The Rights To Ricky Sanchez: The Sixers Podcast with Spike Eskin and Michael Levin (around the 22 minute mark) and he said that he is at Meadowlark to follow his curiosities and he thinks back to the story he wrote for ESPN The Magazine in 2015 about the 76ers and trust the process serves as a guide to him.

“I have things I am obsessed with that I want to explain to people, and I believe there are stories in sports and in the national cultural conversation that either could use a little more smarts or a little more humor and I want to figure out how I can be the place where you find smart and funny when it comes to storytelling in sports in a narratively informed way. I’m being very vague about it, but the magazine sensibility of that process story is something that serves as a North Star in my brain.

“How do I tell a story that people from afar are maybe somewhat familiar with, but can get under the hood of to articulate and reveal and report some things that serve as something close to a definitive treatment to it?”

One thing that Torre thinks is a big opportunity in the media landscape is that there is an open lane to tell sports stories in the audio format. 

“There’s a lot of narrative series, some of which are excellent, but in terms of an always-on show where someone’s job is to follow a curiosity down the rabbit hole and/or tell a story/interviewing a person as a way of explaining something larger. I want to bring a viewpoint that because sports is so much about living or dying with these games as we have been, I want to take the position of also being able to zoom way in and way out and engage with the news cycle, but not be beholden to it.”

Torre isn’t going to be able to cover everything in sports, but he said that he wants to take a complicated story and make it simpler for the listeners.

“My goal is not that I’m going to cover everything, but I’m going to give you stories of a different genre, stories that explain and go deeper. I want to make this fun, but also premised on contextualizing complicated stories in a simpler way.”

Boomer Esiason on Yankees’ TV Deals: ‘Talk About a Money Grab’

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Boomer Esiason on Yankees’ TV Deals: ‘Talk About a Money Grab’

In today’s era of digital media and streaming services slowly assimilating into the norm, New York Yankees fans have endured a variety of different journeys in finding the game. The team entered a partnership with Amazon Prime Video to exclusively stream a handful of its games (largely on Wednesday nights), requiring fans purchase a membership to watch the action. The challenge for fans is knowing when and where to look, and it is something that has particularly agitated WFAN morning host Boomer Esiason.

“It’s not that I feel bad for the Yankees fans, but I do feel kind of like their frustration,” Esiason shared. “You’ve got to find them on Peacock. You’ve got to find them on Apple TV+. You’ve got to find them on Prime. And then you’ve got to find them on YES. When are they, where are they, and how do we find them? It’s ridiculous. This is as bad as the NFL. You talk about a money grab.”

On Sunday, the Yankees’ matchup against the Cincinnati Reds was featured on MLB Sunday Leadoff exclusively streaming on Peacock, part of the final year of a two-year contract reportedly worth approximately $30 million a year. It marked the third time in the last seven days the Yankees had not been televised on YES Network.

“I think most Yankee fans know how to find [YES Network],” co-host Gregg Giannotti said.

“It’s just insane,” Esiason replied.

While the New York Mets have not experienced any semblance of the Yankees’ sustained success over the years, they are in the midst of a five-game winning streak. Both Esiason and Giannotti spoke about the team’s resurgence after a slow start extensively on Monday morning and how they have been an entertaining and compelling product.

“So maybe some of these Yankees fans will turn to over to SNY to see the Mets hump one another instead?,” Giannotti asked. “You can’t find the Yankees game? Well, there’s Pete Alonso!”

WIP’s Glen Macnow & Ray Didinger Host Sold Out Sports Movie Night Stage Show

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WIP’s Glen Macnow & Ray Didinger Host Sold Out Sports Movie Night Stage Show

In 2009, two voices familiar to WIP listeners partnered on The Ultimate Voice of Sports Movies. Fourteen years later, Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger used that book as the basis for a live show that sold out very quickly.

The two men hosted an event at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute called “Sports Movie Night.” The event saw Macnow and Didinger run through eight of the best-known scenes in the history of sports cinema. They also took questions from the audience and offered their thoughts.

All of the tickets for the event were sold well before the two took the stage, much to their surprise.

“I was surprised that this event sold out three weeks in advance, which I think proves that this subject is still popular,” Didinger told the Main Line Times & Suburban. “The year our book came out (2009), we held about 4-5 of these Sports Movie Nights in auditoriums, following the same format with the eight clips, and the shows were popular. When we got this invitation from (Bryn Mawr Film Institute’s) Jacob Mazer 3-4 months ago, we were happy to do it again.”

The show consisted of clips from eight movies: Miracle, Rocky, Hoosiers, The Natural, Caddyshack, The Hustler, Field of Dreams and Invincible. Each clip was followed by a question and answer session.

Macnow, who has been busy with multiple creative projects outside of radio, said he was impressed with the questions they fielded from the audience. He noted that he was impressed with just how much people still respond to the subject of sports movies.

“It was a lot of fun, and we’ll explore doing it again.”

While the two men have deep Philadelphia connections and their association with WIP make them sports authorities in the city, this is a show concept that could easily travel. It will be interesting to see just how big their future plans are.

Brian Stelter: Tucker Carlson Behind Leak of Fox News Trans Employee Policy

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A report from The Daily Signal Monday claimed that Fox News has policies in place that allows transgender employees to use the restroom of their gender identity and not their biological sex, while also requiring employees to refer to their trans colleagues by their preferred name and pronouns. It didn’t take former CNN media reporter Brian Stelter long to connect former Fox News host Tucker Carlson with the leak.

In a thread on Twitter, Stelter alleged that “it’s not a coincidence” that the leak happened a month after Carlson’s departure from the network.

“Tucker Carlson’s camp continues to exert pressure on Fox (sending a legal warning, alleging breach of contract, announcing a Twitter show, perhaps leaking unflattering info) while Carlson seeks an exit deal that would free him up to compete with Fox directly,” Stelter wrote.

Stelter continued by noting that if the story “picks up enough steam across the rest of the right-wing media, it could drive a wedge between Fox and its base”. Stelter pointed to the encapsulation from The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh — who claimed Fox News “needs to get the full Bud Light treatment” — as a case-in-point to the potential divide from the cable channel and staunch conservative supporters.

In response, Walsh said he isn’t driving a wedge between Fox and their base. “They did that entirely on their own,” The Daily Wire host said.

The report of the policy at the cable giant was widely panned by conservative commentators, arguing that the news is further proof the network has “gone woke”.

“Fox’s viewers think that Fox shares their values,” Walsh told The Daily Signal. “And it’s very clear that that’s just not the case. Gender ideology is as far radical Left as you can possibly go. They have embraced radical leftism in its most extreme form.

“There’s no daylight at all between Fox News and MSNBC when it comes to gender,” Walsh concluded. “And I think that’s something that Fox’s viewers need to know.”

However, Fox News has defended itself by saying it “is compliant with all Human Rights laws mandated by the cities and states in which we operate, including New York and California.”

Joe Rose: You Can’t Script What They Do on TNT

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The Miami Heat sit one win away from a chance to play for an NBA championship after demolishing the Boston Celtics 125-102 on Sunday night. After the game, the Inside the NBA interviewed Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent and asked him about the mindset of the team entering a game that could send them to the NBA Finals. After Vincent gave an answer about how the Celtics are well-coached and will require a sense of focus and determination from the Heat, Charles Barkley responded in a way that makes the show unique compared to many others.

“Yeah, clearly you didn’t watch the game tonight,” Barkley told Vincent. “[You’re] talking about [being] well-coached and ‘don’t lay down.’ Hey, go look at the tape again.”

On Monday morning, WQAM 560 Sports host Joe Rose reacted to the viral sound bite, and gave his thoughts on TNT’s coverage of the Eastern Conference Finals ahead of what could be the final game on the network this season.

“They’re the best,” Rose said of Inside the NBA. “You can’t script that. They’re just themselves. Unbelievable.”

Being a sports talk radio host, Rose needs to stay cognizant of what teams in South Florida and beyond are doing; therefore, he watches a preponderance of the games to guide and engender conversation. Although national broadcasts draw the ire of viewers accustomed to local coverage, Rose but complimentary of the TNT crew’s work.

“The broadcast last night was really good,” Rose said. “Stan Van Gundy and Reggie [Miller] and Kevin Harlan, who we have come on here a lot during football and sometimes during basketball season as well. Those guys together and having Stan back.”

Aside from Warner Bros. Discovery-owned TNT, The Walt Disney Company is presenting the NBA Playoffs – specifically the Western Conference Finals – on its linear channels (ABC/ESPN) and on its streaming service (ESPN+). Rose mentioned how he enjoys listening to that broadcast, including color commentator Jeff Van Gundy; however, show producer Zach Krantz expressed a dissenting point of view about the network’s presentation of basketball games.

“We’ve got a few weeks until The Finals,” Krantz said. “Maybe Mark Jackson gets a coaching job so we don’t have to listen to him during those games?”

“He’s alright,” Rose responded in defense of Jackson. “Everybody’s got their own deal man, come on.”

The Walt Disney Company will present the NBA Finals starting on Thursday, June 1 featuring the longtime commentary team of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. Rumors have surfaced that Jackson is being considered for head coaching openings in the NBA, raising the possibility of his availability to broadcast if a potential hire is made. Although it is purely speculation, it is being regarded as something to watch as the culmination of the NBA season nears.

Toucher & Rich: Celtics Fan Catharsis Drove Sunday Ratings

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The Boston Celtics are on the brink of elimination down 3-0 to the Miami Heat in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals, and Boston fans are less than optimistic about making history. No team in the 76 years of the Association has come back in a playoff series when down 3-0, and the Celtics gave their fans the impression that they had given up Sunday nightwith a 125-102 loss.

“When a game gets that out of hand and you have to get up in the morning, the conversation goes on internally [of] ‘Should I be going to bed now?,’” said 98.5 The Sports Hub morning co-host Fred Toucher on Monday. “I could go to bed and nothing’s going to change, but for some reason, I was fascinated. I couldn’t stop. After the game, I couldn’t turn it off. I just kept watching and watching and watching. I was fascinated by it.”

There is a plethora of Boston sports fans and personalities calling for the Celtics to relieve head coach Joe Mazzulla of his duties once the season ends. After all, there are a variety of proven and established NBA coaches on the open market. Most Celtics fans seem to expect the season to come to a crashing conclusion Tuesday night, moribund towards the state of the franchise and ready for seismic changes.

“After the game, the whole Mazzulla press conference and Jayson Tatum wearing that shocking white outfit that he had specifically picked out for his trip to Miami like he was out of Miami Vice that really didn’t ring all that true after you got pantsed like that,” Jon Wallach said. “I don’t know how you could turn it off. It was really fascinating to watch.”

The Miami Heat outscored the Boston Celtics 32-17 in the third quarter, and it led to co-host Rich Shertenlieb sending a plethora of text messages to his friends about the state of the game. In fact, his thumb was sore Monday morning from the action, and he was shocked at the lack of adjustments made by the team. It kept him watching though, almost in a state of shock regarding the downfall of the team.

“It’s one thing to lose a game – we know that – or to lose a series; but sometimes the way in which you lose it just makes you reevaluate everything,” Shertenlieb said. “To be quite honest, if you’re going to lose, I’m glad it’s kind of in that fashion that way there’s no hesitation hopefully in changing and fixing what’s wrong.”

Matt Walsh: I’ve Been Blacklisted By Fox News For Trans Views

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Matt Walsh: I’ve Been Blacklisted By Fox News For Trans Views

A report from The Daily Signal claims that a policy from Fox News allows employees to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity and not their biological sex, as well as a requirement that employees refer to trans colleagues by their preferred names and pronouns. Conservative commentator Matt Walsh says it’s the latest in a string of evidence that Fox News isn’t the conservative bastion people think it is.

In a thread on Twitter, Walsh alleged he’s been “blacklisted” by Fox News for his outspoken views on transgender issues.

“I’ve been personally blacklisted from appearing on the network because of my stance on the issue…I’ve heard it off the record from Fox producers. It gets worse,” wrote Walsh. “Tucker (Carlson) fought behind the scenes against my blacklisting, and even managed to have me on a few times over the past year.

“But now that he’s gone, there’s no stopping Fox’s march leftward. And now there is zero daylight between Fox and MSNBC on the trans issue. Fox needs to get the full Bud Light treatment. They are actively working to suppress conservative voices while promoting leftism in its most radical form. Enough is enough.”

Fox News has defended itself from accusations of being “woke”, by saying it “is compliant with all Human Rights laws mandated by the cities and states in which we operate, including New York and California.”

Walsh has been an outspoken opponent of the transgender community. He produced a documentary entitled What Is a Woman? and has been described as transphobic. Magazine The New Republic labeled him the “Transphobe of the Year” in 2022. He has repeatedly called media professionals “pedophiles” for providing gender reassignment surgeries to adolescents.

A host for The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show is also syndicated by Westwood One as part of a distribution deal with The Daily Wire that includes The Ben Shapiro Show and The Michael Knowles Show.

Rich Zeoli: Definition of ‘Media Bias’ Has Changed

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Rich Zeoli: Definition of ‘Media Bias’ Has Changed

None of the over-the-air nightly network news programs covered the House Select Committee press conference that claimed the FBI retaliated against whistleblowers for claiming there were strong abuses of power. 1210 WPHT host Rich Zeoli argued that it shows a media bias, but the definition of that phrase has changed.

During The Rich Zeoli Show Friday, the Philadelphia host took issue with the lack of coverage around the news, but said it is just another case of what he’s come to expect from large media outlets.

“It’s a damn shame that this happens, but this is what they do,” Zeoli said. “They do this all the time, obviously, because what you don’t hear is part of the story. In the old days, media bias was about how they would report on a story, but the new way is they just don’t report on the story at all. They just don’t talk about it. And if they don’t talk about it? Well…

“One would think that the big three networks would at least briefly cover the hearing and read the FBI’s denials and the denigration of the whistleblowers,” continued Zeoli. “That would at least be expected by ABC, CBS, and NBC, but instead, they decided to ignore it completely in hopes that the story would just go away.”

Zeoli then took issue with an encapsulation from MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace saying those whistleblowers were guilty of “insubordination” during an interview with former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harry Litman.

Jesse Watters: Pete Buttigieg Gets Favorable Coverage Because He ‘Checks Many Boxes’

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During Friday’s latest episode of The Five, the panelists discussed the media’s depiction of Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. Transportation Secretary. Buttigieg, who formerly served as the mayor of South Indiana, has faced backlash for managing critical issues such as supply chain disruptions and train accidents.

“It looks like the media is praising Pete [Buttigieg] because the alternative is much worse,” said Jeanine Pirro. “The White House has been trying to elevate Kamala Harris, and we know they are trying to repair her image.”

According to Jesse Watters, the media intentionally evades challenging inquiries about Buttigieg because they anticipate his future presidential candidacy.

“Look at how many boxes this guy checks for a Democratic nominee,” said Watters. “He’s smart, a veteran, he lifts weights, he’s in a gay relationship, he plays the piano, yet he also splits wood. He loves God, but he loves Blacks, gays, women, and the poor. You can’t check this many boxes. It’s like a consultant came up with something and overdid it.”

In a recent article titled “Pete Buttigieg Loves God, Beer, and His Electric Mustang,” published in Wired, Pirro highlighted the absence of depth and objectivity in the author’s approach.

“Many the reporter himself was this enamored,” said Dana Perino. “You only agree to do a glowing profile piece if you’ve done something significant. You don’t do it on the back of East Palestine. The media keeps trying to make Pete Buttigieg a thing, and the Democrat voters themselves don’t want him as their thing. The media keep trying to shove it down their throats.”

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