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CNN Guest After Viral Clash: Scott Jennings ‘Mocks Trump During Commercial Breaks’

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CNN Guest After Viral Clash: Scott Jennings ‘Mocks Trump During Commercial Breaks’

On Monday evening, Miles Taylor appeared on CNN NewsNight alongside Scott Jennings. He says there’s a different side of Jennings behind the scenes.

Taylor, a former national security official who worked as the Department of Homeland Security Chief of Staff for the Trump administration, clashed with Jennings on the air over the war in Iran and the deployment of ICE in American cities.

The disagreement went viral on social media after Taylor said that he has spoken to high-level officials in foreign governments — who classifed as “our allies” — which Jennings pushed back on. His reaction to the statements drew millions of views on the X platform.

Following the clash on Monday evening, Miles Taylor took to social media to criticize the CNN contributor and Salem Radio Network host.

In the post, Taylor called Scott Jennings “the perfect metaphor for the GOP.”

“A pundit who mocks Trump with us during commercial breaks — but fawns over Trump when the camera is rolling,” said Taylor. “Brave enough to speak out… in the green room.”

Scott Jennings has not publicly addressed the accusation.

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John Kobylt: Independent Creators Like Nick Shirley Are Filling the Void Left by Failing Media Industry

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John Kobylt: Independent Creators Like Nick Shirley Are Filling the Void Left by Failing Media Industry

John Kobylt, afternoon drive host at KFI-AM 640 in Los Angeles, used his platform recently to make a pointed case for the growing class of independent digital journalists, arguing that the decline of legacy media has opened the door to something he believes is genuinely better.

“The traditional media is shrinking rapidly,” Kobylt said. “And in its place there is a vacuum — and what’s developing in its place is something better.”

John Kobylt described a new generation of content creators as those who can grab an iPhone, hit the streets, and deliver news coverage without seeking permissions from anyone.

“They can take their camera, their phone, their microphone and go wander around and bring you all the news stories that, for whatever reason, the regular old media doesn’t do anymore,” he said.

Rather than relitigating how legacy outlets lost their way, Kobylt said he’s simply moved on. “They failed. They’re not interested in recovering. They may never recover. They don’t have the money to.”

Among those he highlighted as a standout in the movement is Nick Shirley. Kobylt noted he has earned millions of views across YouTube and social media. Shirley is now monetizing that audience directly.

Kobylt went so far as to say that if he were starting his career today, he’d skip the audition tape circuit entirely.

“I wouldn’t be sending audition tapes to idiot program directors,” he said. “I’d get some equipment, go in my basement, start recording myself, and put it online.”

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Craig Carton: WFAN Has Never Been Healthier in Many Aspects

BSM Staff
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Craig Carton: WFAN Has Never Been Healthier in Many Aspects

Craig Carton offered a sweeping endorsement of WFAN’s current trajectory Monday while also weighing in on the highly publicized back-and-forth between Gregg Giannotti and former WFAN host Brandon Tierney. He framed both the station’s overall health and the dispute itself within the broader realities of sports radio.

Speaking on The Carton Show with Craig Carton & Chris McMonigle, Carton described WFAN as operating from a position of strength. Emphasizing both its internal chemistry and its standing within the industry. He said that while the station has evolved over time, those changes have not come at the expense of quality or cohesion.

“Radio is alive and well. WFAN is right there at the top of the heap of all radio stations,” Carton said. “It might not be your daddy’s radio station. That doesn’t mean it’s worse. In the 14 years I’ve been at WFAN, this radio station has never been healthier. From a standpoint of the relationship between the on-air shows and hosts here. There has never been a moment in this station’s history, where every show got along in the manner that we all get along.”

Carton said those disagreements are inevitable and can enhance the product when rooted in good-natured competition rather than personal animosity. He described the dynamic between hosts as playful and mutually aware, elements he believes resonate with listeners.

“A little having fun at each other’s expense, I think it’s good for business and good for the on-air product,” Carton said. “We listen to them, they listen to us, and we poke fun back and forth.”

Carton’s comments come a day after Giannotti and Tierney have traded pointed remarks across platforms, with the dispute tracing back in part to a prank call involving Giannotti that Tierney recently revisited publicly.

While the exchange has grown increasingly personal, Carton indicated he had not been aware of the original prank when it occurred. Though he offered a candid reaction upon learning of it.

“I had no idea that Gio pranked that show,” Carton said. “I thought it was a pretty good prank. Matter of fact, I thought it was the funniest thing Gio has ever done.”

Despite the attention, Carton said he has remained on the sidelines, approaching the controversy as an observer rather than a participant. He added levity by comparing his role to that of a spectator enjoying the unfolding drama.

“I’m not involved at all, which is the best part of it,” Carton said. “Other people are fighting, and it’s got nothing to do with me. This is awesome. I was like Terrell Owens, made popcorn, put my feet up. I was like, who’s next?”

Ultimately, Carton’s remarks reflected a dual perspective, combining confidence in WFAN’s current position with an understanding that personality-driven conflict remains an inherent part of the format.

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Jason Benetti Explains Decision To Leave FOX Sports for NBC Sports MLB Play by Play Role

BSM Staff
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Jason Benetti Explains Decision To Leave FOX Sports for NBC Sports MLB Play by Play Role

Jason Benetti didn’t hesitate when the opportunity to call Major League Baseball on a national stage re-emerged for NBC Sports. As he recently explained, the decision to leave FOX Sports came down to timing, relationships and the rare chance to be part of something distinct.

Speaking about his transition, Benetti made clear that cooperation from his previous employer played a pivotal role in making the move possible. Especially given the contractual hurdles that often complicate on-air talent movement across major networks.

“I had to get out of my contract at FOX [Sports] a couple of months early. All credit to Brad Zager over there for being willing to let me pursue this opportunity,” Benetti said. “Had they not done that, it would have been very difficult to make this happen. So I thank Brad for doing that.”

However, beyond logistics, the appeal of the role itself stood out as a driving force behind his decision. Particularly the format NBC Sports plans to deploy with a rotating mix of local analysts throughout the season.

Benetti emphasized that the variety of voices and perspectives aligns with what makes baseball unique among major sports. Especially when storytelling and personality play such an integral role in broadcasts.

“All of the conversation you can have with different people about the teams. There’s so many personality types who love baseball,” Benetti explained. “To have all those different personality types representative over the course of the season in the booth, I think, is phenomenally interesting.”

That approach signals a departure from more traditional national broadcast structures, instead leaning into a hybrid model that blends national reach with local insight. Something that could resonate strongly with fans accustomed to regional coverage. Additionally, Benetti revealed that his connection with NBC Sports leadership dates back several years, long before the network officially secured MLB rights again, with conversations that planted the seed for what would eventually become a career-defining opportunity.

“Sam [Flood] and I always joked after 2022 — and he was serious, and it turned out I was, too. That if NBC ever got baseball back in this sort of state, that I would be on the list of people that he would call,” Benetti said. “I firmly appreciate that.”

That relationship with Sam Flood, combined with Benetti’s reputation as one of the most versatile and engaging play-by-play voices in sports, positioned him as a natural fit once NBC Sports finalized its plans.

Benetti currently serves as the television voice of the Detroit Tigers and previously held the same role with the Chicago White Sox, gaining widespread praise for blending storytelling, analytics and personality into modern baseball broadcasts.

Benetti had been rumored for months as a top contender to join the network’s roster for MLB play by play. When FOX Sports recently announced their World Baseball Classic announcer pairings, Benetti’s name was a glaring omission. According to sources, the regular season MLB schedule for FOX’s coverage had yet to be finalized but Benetti had been working for the network calling college basketball.

The move also reunites Benetti with NBC programming. He previously contributed to the company’s baseball coverage during the sport’s streaming era. In 2022, he called games for Peacock’s MLB Sunday Leadoff package. The broadcasts were an early attempt to experiment with exclusive streaming coverage. One year earlier, Benetti also served as a play-by-play announcer during coverage of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

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Kara Swisher: I’m Leaving CNN When Paramount Skydance Completes Purchase

BNM Staff
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Kara Swisher: I’m Leaving CNN When Paramount Skydance Completes Purchase

Paramount Skydance is working on completing its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. That purchase includes CNN. And when it does, Kara Swisher says her time with the network will be over.

Currently, Swisher is preparing to debut a weekend show — Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever — with the network that investigates the rise in anti-aging products and services. It’s release is set for Saturday, April 11th. She also serves as a contributor, appearing several times on the network’s political and election night coverage.

While speaking at the Toner Journalism Awards in Washington, D.C. on Monday evening, Kara Swisher was asked about her thoughts on the purchase of CNN by Paramount Skydance. She said that she’s “spent a lot of time with Larry Ellison” and that “he’s a terrible person.” Swisher said that no matter the outreach from the incoming company, she won’t be staying when Paramount takes over.

“They’ve been calling me,” Swisher began. “They’ve been very nice. They say ‘Kara, good show with Matt Bellamy.’ They’re doing a lot of friendly, friendly with me right now. Too bad, it’s not gonna work. It’s not gonna happen for you, as I say.

“I don’t think they’ll be good owners, I don’t,” continued Swisher. “I think they’ve already shown several times, including editorial choices, which Scott (MacFarlane) knows more about than I. They have no interest in journalism. And I refuse to work for an organization that doesn’t respect journalists.”

Swisher added that her point of contention doesn’t come from the layoffs enacted by the organization. She shared that she completely understands that the “costs were too high” and that they needed to slash spending.

But she disagrees with the way the Ellisons plan to operate the brand. Additionally, she said that due to the success of her independent media endeavor, she’s now in a place where she isn’t forced to work for anyone she doesn’t want to work for.

“I make a lot of money, so I don’t have to,” Swisher said. “And so for me to stand up and say, ‘I’m not working for you hacks. I’m just not doing it, it’s not worth it to me,’ it doesn’t hurt me. I can wander over to MS (NOW) if I feel like having a television show. I can wander anywhere else. It doesn’t matter to me because Pivot has a bigger demo in the 25 to 54 range than all the cable networks in primetime. Their median age is 69. Ours is 42. Which, if theirs is 69, it means there’s a lot of 92-year-olds hanging out over there.

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Stephen A. Smith Responds to Jason Whitlock: “You Lost, Bro”

BSM Staff
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Stephen A. Smith Responds to Jason Whitlock: “You Lost, Bro”

Stephen A. Smith is not backing down from his latest public feud, and his response to recent comments from Jason Whitlock made that abundantly clear during a pointed and highly personal rebuttal that underscored just how far the divide between the two media personalities has grown in recent years.

The ESPN commentator took direct aim at Whitlock following the former FOX Sports and ESPN host’s appearance on Cam Newton’s 4th and 1 podcast. Whitlock revisited long-standing criticism of Smith’s career, influence and approach to sports media, prompting Smith to respond with a fiery, unfiltered message that blended personal insults with a broader defense of his professional resume.

“In this profession, I have whipped your a**. You can’t touch me, bro. There’s levels to this, and you ain’t on it,” Smith said. “I got up and walked around studio. Not just to show off my suit and the relatively decent shape that I’m in, but because you never move from your seat. You don’t want people to see you with your walrus looking a** self.”

Smith framed the disagreement as one rooted in professional accomplishment. He argued that his sustained success across television, radio and digital platforms places him in a different tier within the industry. While also asserting that Whitlock has failed to match that level of impact. Despite receiving multiple high-profile opportunities throughout his career.

“It’s the jealousy. You can’t take the fact that I’m better than you, and can’t take the fact that I’m more successful than you,” Smith said. “ You had your chance in 2015 and you blew it.”

Beyond the insults, Smith repeatedly suggested that Whitlock’s criticism stems from frustration over his own career trajectory. Emphasizing what he described as missed opportunities during Whitlock’s previous stints with major media companies. These included a heavily resourced digital venture at ESPN that ultimately failed to gain traction.

“You’re completely irrelevant. You’re not owning up to the fact that you had your chance in 2015 and you blew it. A year and a half, you had to take the website [The Undefeated] off the ground, get black people to work for you, and build an organization. You blew it, and it was completely financed by ESPN, and you didn’t get it done,” explained Smith.

The commentary marked one of Smith’s most direct and aggressive responses to Whitlock to date, as he moved beyond industry critique and into a broader dismissal of Whitlock’s current relevance in the sports media landscape. Suggesting that the gap between the two is no longer debatable but firmly established.

“You lost, bro. Whitlock, I know it hurts, but accept it,” Smith said. “All this you’re talking is because I have whipped your a** in this industry. You are nothing.”

Jason Whitlock has yet to respond to Smith’s commentary.

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VSiN Adds Detroit Affiliate With Sports Rap Network

BSM Staff
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VSiN Adds Detroit Affiliate With Sports Rap Network

VSiN continues to expand its national radio footprint, announcing a new partnership that brings its sports betting programming to Detroit, one of the country’s top 15 media markets, as the network deepens its reach at a time when demand for wagering content and analysis continues to surge across both traditional and digital platforms.

Through the agreement, VSiN programming now airs on Sports Rap Network via WGPR-FM 107.5 HD2. Programming is also being made available to listeners through the network’s digital stream.

Sports Rap Network President Rhashad Hicks said the addition of VSiN aligns with the brand’s mission to deliver authentic perspectives and informed discussion. While also elevating the level of expertise available to Detroit sports fans.

“Sports Rap Network was built to give passionate sports fans authentic voices and real insight,” said Hicks. “Partnering with VSiN brings elite sports betting analysis and high-level conversation directly to our audience. It’s the perfect blend of culture, competition, and smart sports talk.” 

The station will carry nearly 40 hours of live VSiN programming each week, underscoring demand for betting-focused content. It also highlights Detroit’s importance as a market where sports passion and gaming interest intersect for broadcasters and advertisers alike.

Among the shows now available to listeners are A Numbers Game, which airs weekday mornings, and Follow the Money, a program that blends real-time analysis with market movement discussion during the evening drive window, while overnight and weekend blocks such as Cashing Out, Ready, Set, Bet! and the Live Bet series provide continuous coverage that mirrors the around-the-clock nature of the sports betting cycle.

These additions complement existing Sports Rap Network programming, including The 2 Live Stews, hosted by Doug and Ryan Stewart, which blends humor, cultural relevance, and strong opinions. The lineup combines entertainment-driven sports talk with data-informed wagering insight.

VSiN President and Chief Business Officer Brian Musburger said the move into Detroit represents another step in the company’s broader distribution strategy.

“We’re excited to add Detroit to VSiN’s growing radio network and partner with Sports Rap Network to bring our programming to one of the country’s most passionate sports markets,” said Musburger. “Expanding into Detroit continues to strengthen VSiN’s national distribution and allows us to connect with more fans seeking credible, actionable sports betting analysis and insights.”

VSiN has positioned itself as a leader in sports betting media and differentiates its programming with experienced analysts, fantasy experts, and veteran bookmakers. They provide context beyond surface-level predictions, offering deeper insight into line movement, market trends, and matchup-specific variables across sports.

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Alisyn Camerota Joins Scripps News for ‘Connected’ Interview Show

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Alisyn Camerota Joins Scripps News for ‘Connected’ Interview Show

Former CNN and Fox News anchor Alisyn Camerota is launching a new show with Scripps News, focused on interviewing high-profile figures.

Connected with Alisyn Camerota will launch on Friday, March 27th at 8 PM ET. The program will air on the Scripps News FAST channel.

The 30-minute show is set for a limited, six-episode run. Included on the guest list are the likes of Don Lemon, former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ), and musician Art Alexakis, best known as the frontman of the band Everclear.

“People are hungry to peel back the curtain to see somebody’s true self. And so the people that we’ve booked, the guests for this first season, are all people who you certainly are familiar with, but you don’t necessarily know the breadth of their backstory,” Camerota told Variety about the project. “I get to conduct kind of an unfiltered, uninterrupted, 30-minute conversation where we go there. These are, I think, the deepest, the deepest conversations I’ve ever had on TV.”

Camerota added that no one will be “confused about what this show is.” She said that the conversations will go deeper than audiences have expected similar shows to go.

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Magellan AI Announces Broadcast Radio Cross Channel Measurement

BNM Staff
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Magellan AI Announces Broadcast Radio Cross Channel Measurement

Magellan AI is expanding how advertisers evaluate audio performance, introducing a new tool designed to bring broadcast radio into the same measurement conversation as digital media.

The company announced the launch of Broadcast Radio Attribution. A solution helping advertisers understand radio’s impact alongside podcasts, streaming audio, and connected TV. As a result, marketers can assess radio’s role in driving actions. Including website form fills, lead generation, and purchases, within a unified reporting framework.

For years, advertisers have leaned heavily on digital platforms for granular attribution. While broadcast radio remained more difficult to quantify with the same level of precision. However, Magellan AI is positioning its latest offering as a way to close that gap. Giving brands a clearer and more complete picture of how their media investments perform across multiple touchpoints.

Consequently, the addition of broadcast radio marks a significant step in what the company views as a more holistic measurement strategy. By integrating radio into its existing attribution capabilities, Magellan AI aims to help advertisers move beyond siloed analysis and toward a more comprehensive understanding of campaign effectiveness.

“Measurement needs to reflect how media actually works today. Across channels, not in silos,” said Cameron Hendrix, CEO and co-founder of Magellan AI. “Broadcast Radio Attribution brings radio into that unified view, helping advertisers understand performance and make better decisions across their campaigns.”

In many ways, the launch reflects a broader industry push toward cross-platform accountability, as brands seek to justify spending across both traditional and digital channels. While radio has long been considered an effective medium for reach and frequency, the lack of consistent attribution has often limited its ability to compete directly with digital platforms in data-driven environments.

That dynamic, however, could begin to shift as more sophisticated tools become available. With enhanced visibility into performance, advertisers may feel more confident allocating budgets to radio. Particularly when it can be evaluated alongside other audio and video channels within the same ecosystem.

“Radio has always delivered meaningful impact. But it hasn’t been measured with the same precision as digital channels,” said Christine Hess, director of account strategy at Mynt Agency. “If you’re only measuring one channel, you’re seeing a distorted view of performance. With broadcast now included in Magellan AI’s multi-channel measurement, we have the visibility we need to understand and optimize holistically.”

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Dave Russell Named PD For Saga Stations In Clarksville, Tennessee

BMM Staff
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Dave Russell Named PD For Saga Stations In Clarksville, Tennessee

Saga Communications has made a notable addition to its Kentucky-Tennessee cluster, naming longtime programmer and on-air personality Dave Russell as program director and morning host for Country Beaver 100.3 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, serving the Clarksville, Tennessee market, as the company continues to invest in experienced leadership to guide its brands in competitive regional environments.

The move brings Russell back to a format and role that have defined much of his decades-long career. He most recently served as afternoon host at News/Talk 830 WEEU in Reading, Pennsylvania. He remained active in daily content execution while building a reputation for consistency, and audience connection.

Before that stop, Russell spent much of his career in Central Pennsylvania, including an 11-year run at 910 WSBA in York from 1988 to 1999. There, he advanced into leadership roles such as assistant program director and promotions director. Laying the foundation for a career blending programming strategy with a strong on-air presence.

His path later included programming roles in multiple markets, including Bangor, Maine, and Allentown, Pennsylvania. He returned to York in 2007 to lead 103.3 WARM-FM as program director and contributed on-air in afternoons and mornings. He later served as program director and afternoon host from 2015 through 2024. He also programmed Forever Media’s Oldies outlets The Pickle in suburban Pittsburgh, expanding his experience across formats and audiences.

In his new role, Russell will team with Monica Reed in mornings on Beaver 100.3, filling a vacancy left by Chad Heritage’s departure earlier this year. He will also handle programming duties for Classic Country 100.7 The Outlaw, giving him influence across multiple brands within the cluster.

Russell said the opportunity to join Saga’s 5 Star Media group stood out immediately. He cited the strength of the stations and the appeal of the market as key factors in his decision.

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