During a three-minute monologue, MSNBC host Joy Reid called out conservative television networks, and podcaster Joe Rogan whom she said showed little concern for getting other people sick.
“The ReidOut” host slammed “white, so-called Christian conservatives” as a group of “special people.”
“I don’t want to wear a mask, and if you try to make me, I’ll attack the low-waged clerks at the store or at the Burger King,” she said.
Reid also pointed out the importance of the upcoming midterm elections as somewhat of a turning point for democracy.
“We are going to find out what brand of citizenship is stronger. And the answer will tell us whether our democracy is strong enough.”
The jab at Joe Rogan comes days after he hosted Dr. Robert Malone, who was banned from Twitter over his statements related to COVID-19.
According to the Daily Wire, Rogan’s episode was later removed from YouTube.
CNN reporter Oliver Darcy is sharing new details about the network’s plan to return employees to work.
On Wednesday, Darcy tweeted that CNN President Jeff Zucker emailed employees to invite them back to the offices on Jan.18.
“Zucker says masks will be required and KF94/KN95 masks must be worn in control rooms,” Darcy said. “Zucker says he expects a booster “at some point” required for entry.”
Citing Zucker’s email, Darcy said that the Jan. 24 full office opening is “no longer realistic.”
“My hope is that we will not need to push that date too much further into the future. We will continue to keep you posted,” the email read.
CNN correspondent Brian Stelter tweeted the shift to remote working for most employees on Dec. 18.
Like most television and radio networks, CNN is facing major challenges trying to keep its essential personnel healthy amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases related to the highly contagious Omicron variant.
In December, Zucker stated that CNN was taking precautions “out of an abundance of caution.”
Newsmax aired a special documentary Wednesday called “Day of Outrage” based on the riots that took place at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
The one-year anniversary of the actual event will be recognized Thursday as the world reacts to the shocking events that led to unprecedented political division in the United States.
The documentary features Newsmax host Greg Kelly, syndicated radio host Sebastian Gorka, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, retired Marine gunnery Sgt. Jessie Jane Duff, and many more.
“Jan. 6 started as a peaceful protest that became unruly and at times violent,” said award-winning filmmaker Jack Thomas Smith.
Smith said what we witnessed at the U.S. Capitol was violent at times, but it was not an insurrection.
“The protesters didn’t seek to overthrow the government and did not bring firearms into the Capitol,” he said.
Smith told Newsmax that acts of violence did occur and says the film makes clear that the people who committed crimes that day “should be held accountable for their actions.”
Some people just can’t take the heat and instead turn to throwing people out of the kitchen. They aren’t capable of rolling with the punches, even when the criticism coming their way is warranted and documented.
In the case of Rob Manfred v. Ken Rosenthal, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball acted rashly in the face of a not-so vicious attack. Instead of just turning the other cheek, or looking in the mirror, Manfred decided the league-owned MLB Network needed to fire a long-time, credible and respected journalist. Rosenthal confirmed the news via his Twitter account. He also indicated that he is still employed by Fox Sports and will continue to report on the sport for that network.
Can confirm MLB Network has decided not to bring me back. I’m grateful for the more than 12 years I spent there, and my enduring friendships with on-air personalities, producers and staff. I always strove to maintain my journalistic integrity, and my work reflects that. 1/2
Commissioners of the “Big 4 Sports Leagues” are supposed to have thick skin. Criticism, skepticism, and whatever other ism’s you can think of, come with the job. Generally speaking, these commissioners make big bucks and in the eyes of fans, never have their collective backs.
Nobody said these jobs were supposed to be easy. You aren’t going to please everyone, but why make matters worse?
Rosenthal was relieved of his ‘insider’ duties at MLB Network Monday. It was revealed by the New York Post that Rosenthal’s article posted to the The Athletic led to a double secret probation of a few months and ultimately his termination. The article, posted June 16, 2020, was critical of Manfred and his handling of the start of the pandemic plagued 2020 baseball season. On the surface, the so-called attack was mild in nature and was filled with truths. Manfred waffled back and forth about the length of a season and then having no season. It led Rosenthal to lines like these from his posted column.
“As if the perception that Manfred is beholden to owners and out of touch with players was not bad enough, he was trending on Twitter on Monday after performing a massive flip-flop.”
“Granted, the commissioner is forever in a tricky spot, empowered to act in the best interests of the game, but employed by the owners. Still, how does Manfred in a span of five days go from telling ESPN the season “unequivocally” would take place to saying on the same network he was “not confident” it would happen?”
“Yet for a guy who suddenly is looking for peace, Manfred sure has a funny way of showing it.”
“He and the owners, supposed stewards of the game, are turning the national pastime into a national punch line, effectively threatening to take their ball and go home while the country struggles with medical, economic and societal concerns.”
“If he blows this, it will define him. That should be enough incentive for him to strike a deal, period.”
I guess the truth hurts. Especially the last line. Was the commentary out of line? Nope. Was the commentary a personal attack on the man? Nope.
MLB Network wasn’t set up to be “state run” television. Yes, you have to be careful not to cross that invisible line in the sand. To me, the comments written by Rosenthal don’t really cross any lines. I don’t have inside knowledge about how the other league-operated networks do their business, but they’ve never been in the headlines for something like this.
I’ve written before about the precarious situation some play-by-play and color analysts are in when they are working for the team they’re calling games for. That’s an entirely different situation than this one. Broadcasters who are on the air every day understand going in that being overly critical could have repercussions. At the same time, there is an issue of credibility. If a team is bad and the announcers are talking about how great things are, well that’s a recipe for disaster. The fans will call you a shill and really call into question a lot of things that you’ll say. We as broadcasters need the support of the stations and teams we work for, to be able to call into question things that need to be questioned.
In this case Rosenthal, who is about as respected a journalist as there is in the sport of baseball, was suspended and fired for telling the truth. The commissioner, who represents the owners and ultimately the ownership of the network, couldn’t handle it and flew off the handle instead.
It’s sad really, because Manfred is doing the viewers of the network a major disservice. Rosenthal is one of the kings of breaking news in my mind. I often can’t wait to hear his reports because they are filled with valuable information. This information isn’t opinion, its fact based as it’s gathered from credible sources and delivered by an equally credible source.
The game of baseball is in enough trouble already. It has an image problem. Manfred has an image problem. Things that seem petty like this unwarranted dismissal play right into that narrative. Why would you try to make things worse with something like this? It’s not like Rosenthal is one of those people that continually stirs up controversy. He is above that. His reporting is not sensationalist.
Manfred’s job is not an easy one, I’ll give him that. He has to deal with the egos of some owners that don’t want to give an inch. As the lockout continues, without an ending in sight, the chasm between the fans and baseball continues to widen. I would never tell the man how to do his job, but I will say, if you alienate the fans enough, your sport is finished.
Conservative radio host Sebastian Gorka is gearing up for a legal fight. The former aide to former President Donald Trump is looking to take on the House select committee investigating the January 6th Capital riot. The story was first reported by Politico.
Gorka filed his suit on Tuesday in Washington, DC, federal district court, attempting to block the panel from gaining access to his phone records. He’s alleging that the committee is looking to abuse its power, labeling it a “partisan fishing expedition.”
In the suit, Gorka’s attorneys stated “Dr. Gorka was not a member or leader of any organization that sponsored any events on January 6, and he was not present at the Capitol on that day.”
Examining the suit further, it goes on to add, “Under the cover of its investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, the Select Committee abused its power by unlawfully subpoenaing a cell phone service provider to produce the call records of Dr. Gorka, the host of a political radio show. Although invited to speak at an event at the Supreme Court that day, his speech was cancelled, and therefore, he only observed the speeches at the Ellipse as one spectator among many and left. He has committed no crime, and he has done nothing, and has no information, that could provide the basis for new laws.”
Legal battles are nothing new for the Jan. 6 select committee. During the past few weeks, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, attorney John Eastman, Stop the Steal founder Ali Alexander, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and additional witnesses have filed lawsuits against them. Former President Donald Trump has also sued the committee, and the National Archives, attempting to stop investigators from accessing his White House records.
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As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Jan 6 U.S. Capitol riots, ABC News contributor Sarah Isgur is discussing violence tied to questioning election results.
During Sunday’s edition of ABC News’ “This Week” Isgur pushed back against an assertion by George Stephanopoulos that political violence is unique to the Republican party.
“When I look forward to 2024, I’m deeply concerned by these numbers because what it says to me is that people on both sides are not ready to accept the results of the next election,” Isgur said.
Stephanopoulos said 40% of Republicans approved of violence against the government but failed to explain that the same poll found that 41% of independent voters agreed, as did 23% of Democratic voters.
Isgur reminded Stephanopoulos that former Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton openly questioned the legitimacy of former President Donald Trump. Trump’s inauguration was plagued with riots that culminated in nearly 200 people being arrested and dozens of police officers injured.
“You think Democrats, if Donald Trump runs again, if Donald Trump wins in 2024, you think Democrats are going to think he was legitimately elected? You got to be kidding me.” She concluded.
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Counting Crows are one of those bands that has occupied a pretty enviable spot in the landscape of American pop music. I don’t know anyone that would say the band is their favorite, yet I don’t know anyone that claims to outright hate them either.
Courtesy: Mezgarth
That is a position that can sustain you for years. Even if you never write another new song, you can tour of the strength of “Mr. Jones” and “Long December” for decades.
The band also does something very well that every sports talk host should take note of. So many of their songs start with strong opening lines. They paint a vivid picture. They use words that evoke emotion that the band intends to sustain throughout the song.
In short, Counting Crows aren’t dicking around. You know the mood instantly. You can picture the character we are following.
“A long December and there’s reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last.” (“A Long December)
“Step out the front door like a ghost into a fog where no one notices the contrast of white on white.” (“Round Here”)
“I wanted so badly, somebody other than me staring back at me.” (“Time and Time Again”)
“She sat right down on the sofa. Says “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you.” (“Hanginaround”)
Every song has a theme and a purpose and they are going to make that clear to you from the second Adam Duritz opens his mouth. Can you say the same about the way you approach every segment of your show? Are you getting right to the heart of what you want your audience to think about or react to the second you open your mouth?
We all have bad habits. We learned them from bosses that were stuck in bygone eras of radio or we picked them up from the people we listened to when we were younger. Maybe there was a time when these bad habits were best practices, but now we can more accurately track audience behavior.
Listeners have so many options for sports information. They have even more options for being entertained. Attention spans are short and you cannot count on someone waiting through you talking about the donuts in the break room for you to meet their needs.
Scott Masteller, program director of 1090 WBAL in Baltimore, agrees.
“Never assume and never make the audience wait,” he said in an email. “As soon as the segment starts go right to the topic with content that matters. Do not waste time talking about elements the audience is not interested in or you may lose the listener!”
Duritz is a hell of a songwriter. I find myself going back to Counting Crows’ first three albums, particularly Recovering the Satelites and This Desert Life, pretty regularly. One of the most attractive things about the songs on those records is that they just hit you in the face.
That’s not to say that every song rocks. In fact, most of them don’t. They instantly strike the emotional chord the band is going for.
I have often wondered if that is a result of producing music during the CD era. It was suddenly so much easier to be impatient with a song that wasn’t doing it for you.
Whatever the case, it is the way I wish more hosts operated. I don’t just mean that I want to eliminate the chit chat no one cares about. I also want to eliminate the formatic stuff that we only think we have to do.
There are so many opportunities to say your name. Your listeners likely aren’t going to be with you more than 10-15 minutes, so there is no need to tell them you have a great show. They likely own a phone, or better yet a window, so they aren’t waiting for you to relay traffic and weather information. All of that stuff is a waste of time. When a show opens, I want to hear the host come out with his or her best angle on the biggest story of the day.
Dave Tepper, program director of Altitude Sports Radio in Denver, agrees that there is plenty that can be eliminated. That doesn’t mean you have to eliminate everything that showcases your personality away from sports.
“Don’t repeat what the voice guy said, save your station promo reads for end of segment, save the funny story from the break for later in segment,” he told me. “Open fast with high percentage hit material and work in the rest as the segment progresses.”
If you’re in a PPM market, this is advice you really need to heed when it comes to teasing. How often have we been told that the goal of PPM is to carry people to the next quarter hour? That is what makes teasing so valuable. And if you are going to tease a thought or a topic before going to break, Tepper says you need to reward the people listening.
“Assume listeners sat through multiple minutes of commercials to hear you. Pay them back with urgency by paying off a tease right away, to jump into a topic right away.”
Terry Ford is the new program director of 107.5 The Game in Columbia, SC. That isn’t a PPM market, but he says teasing is ubiquitous in sports radio. There are rules we all need to learn and follow in order for our teases to be effective.
He agrees with Tepper. In fact, Ford told me that he feels sympathy for his station’s listeners when he hears hosts dicking around at the top of a segment instead of launching into the content they promised before the break.
“I’m thinking about the listener who is sitting in their car, not going into the store, because they want to hear the pay-off of the tease,” he told me in a text message.
I never intended to write a series of columns on what various bands and rappers could teach sports radio. Really, this isn’t an idea that has been brewing in me, but here we are. Two years ago I wrote about Weezer. Last year I wrote about Run the Jewels. It’s turned into a comemorative plate series and I guess this is the entry for 2022.
The members of Counting Crows are all pretty dedicated sports fans. In fact, front man Adam Duritz once told me that in 2015, most of the iteneraries on the band’s European tour were built around being awake at 3 and 4 in the morning to watch streams of the Golden State Warriors’ run to a world championship. He and I have also argued over whether Matthew Delavadova is actuallty good, and as I understand it, he once wrote ESPN’s Bomani Jones a fan letter.
These are the kind of conversations you have with guests on rock radio.
Even with that kind of fandom, there isn’t a book’s worth of sports radio lessons I can write based on this band. I just happened to be listening to a podcast called 60 Songs That Explain the 90s and hear host Rob Harivlla point out how good the band’s opening lines usually are and it sent me down a rabbit hole.
The bar for a great opening line is so much lower for us in sports radio. They don’t have to paint a picture. They don’t even have to evoke an emotional response. That can come later.
Your opening line just has to be relevant to the listener. They are coming to you to be intellectually stimulated in some way. Meet that need and meet it quickly. It is the best way to insure they come back over and over.
A journalist who dove into the world of conservative talk show host Dan Bongino recently joined National Public Radio (NPR) host Mary Louise Kelly to share his experience.
Evan Osnos of The New Yorkerrecently penned an article titled“Dan Bongino And the Big Business of Returning Trump to Power.”
Osnos claims that no one in American media has profited more from the Trump era and its aftermath than Bongino.
“He (Bongino) talks about the 2020 election as, to use his words, rigged,” Osnos said. “And he doesn’t go so far as to say that he thinks it was stolen, but he reminds his listeners or encourages them to see ways in which the system is not to be trusted.”
Kelly asserted that Bongino “stokes fear towards the left and drums up support for Trump” by pushing narratives about vaccine and mask mandates.”
“He has tremendous reach in his world, which is to say the people who listen to him are very devoted to him,” Osnos said.
“And then people who don’t know much about him know almost nothing about him, which is really a reflection of this period in our media culture when we do live in these very separate spaces, but even more so than it was, for instance, 25 years ago and the rise of Rush Limbaugh, who had a slightly larger footprint.”
Read Osnos’ article in The New Yorker by clicking this link.
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A surge in COVID-19 cases has forced “The View” to film the show remotely. Co-host Joy Behar announced the developments to her audience, divulging that co-host Whoopi Goldberg had contracted the virus.
Behar said Goldberg’s case was mild, citing that she’s boosted and double-vaccinated.
“Well, Whoopi, unfortunately, tested positive over the break, but she’ll be back probably next week,” Behar said. “But since she’s vaxxed and boosted, her symptoms have been very, very mild.”
In October, the show fired Health and Safety Manager Nurse Wendy Livingston after a live incident that forced co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro off the set minutes before Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to appear.
Hostin and Navarro recorded false-positive tests leaving some to speculate about the true nature of their immediate removals.
Joy Behar also revealed that her mother had passed away during the show’s brief holiday break.
“I’m not sure any of us are ever ready to lose a parent. I’m sad, Joy,” said Navarro. I’m heartbroken. I wish my mom had been in good health a little longer and able to enjoy her family, which is what she loved the most.”
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Fox News hopes to gain more traction with its streaming platform by offering the service to non-subscribers as the network attempts to grow the outlet further.
The cable news channel’s streaming service, Fox Nation, provides viewers with a chance to relive the 1980s with special shows and features with a series called, ‘Who Can Forget?’
Stand-up comedian Tom Shillue appeared on “Fox & Friends” Monday to discuss the decade-focused content that viewers can expect.
“We’re doing stuff from 1981, 1984, 1988, and 1989 — so there’s so much to talk about, and it’s such a fun show to do,” he said.
The preview includes satirical commentary from comedians Michael Loftus, Jimmy Failla, and more.
“1981 was the year when people went gaga over a car, a new kind of shuttle went out really far, and video killed the radio star,” Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade said.
The free preview, which runs through this week, is presented by supplement company Prevagen.
According to Fox News, viewers can visit Foxnation.com/freepreview today to check out the ten most entertaining, romantic, sublime, perplexing, innovative, tuneful, touching, intense, outrageous stories of 1981.
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