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Senator Calls for FCC Chair Brendan Carr to Resign Following License Threats

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Senator Calls for FCC Chair Brendan Carr to Resign Following License Threats

Reactions continue to pour in following FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatening the broadcast licenses of outlets that report what he labeled as fake news.

Following a visit to President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, Carr tweeted a warning to broadcasters.

“Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,” Carr wrote. “The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.”

In a letter sent to Brendan Carr, Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) shared his displeasure with the conduct of the FCC Chair.

“You are effectively demanding that broadcasters become state media and echo the Trump administration’s false talking points on this reckless, unconstitutional war,” wrote Markey. “This threat is just your latest authoritarian attempt to weaponize the FCC’s statutory authority to censor the media. It is a stain on the FCC’s storied history, and you should resign.”

Markey pointed to other instances, like an FCC investigation into Audacy’s KCBS in San Francisco for sharing reporting about immigration enforcement activity in the area, and his threats against ABC and Disney after Jimmy Kimmel’s comments following the assassination of Charlie Kirk in September as other activities that have been unbecoming of someone of Brendan Carr’s stature.

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81% of Americans Listen to Online Audio Monthly, Edison Research’s Infinite Dial Data Shows

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81% of Americans Listen to Online Audio Monthly, Edison Research’s Infinite Dial Data Shows

Edison Research has released new data from its Infinite Dial study, and it shows how prevalent streaming and online audio listening have become.

According to the data, 81% of respondents said they had listened to online audio in the past month. That figure rose from 79% in 2025. It also marked an increase in the past decade from 57% in 2016.

Edison Research defined online audio as AM/FM radio stations streaming content online or streamed audio content only made available on the internet.

Surprisingly, that uptick in listenership to online audio does not come from the younger demographic

Data from Edison Research shows that those aged 55+ helped drive the overall percentage increase in the level of online audio listenership. In 2024, only 52% of adults aged 55+ reported listening to online audio in the past month. In 2026, that figure has risen to 70%.

“55-plus has been radio’s core audience for a while,” said Podnews Editor James Cridland, who helped lead the Infinite Dial webinar. “They’re the people who listen longest and most often, but every year a new set of people move into the 55-plus age group.

“Your core audience is more comfortable with technology than it’s ever been before. You can see that as a threat or you can see that as an opportunity … People already trust your station. Radio is incredibly well-trusted. But your opportunity is to provide a human connection and a shared experience across all of the platforms that your audience uses.”

87% of those between the ages of 35-54 were monthly online audio users. That figure remained steady from 2025 and only grew two percentage points since 2024.

Those aged 12-34 actually reported a 2% decline in streaming audio usage, from 90% in both 2024 and 2025 to 88% in 2026.

Furthermore, 45% of Americans aged 12+ have consumed a podcast in the past week. That set a new all-time high for podcast consumption in the Infinite Dial study. Additionally, 58% of respondents said they had listened to a podcast in the past month, also reaching an all-time record.

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Chris Cuomo: Where’s the Proof the CIA Has Been Watching Tucker Carlson?

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Chris Cuomo: Where’s the Proof the CIA Has Been Watching Tucker Carlson?

Over the weekend, Tucker Carlson shared that the CIA has been preparing a criminal referral against him. NewsNation host Chris Cuomo would like to see some proof.

In a short video published on social media, Carlson argued that the organization has been reading his text messages to people in Iran and is preparing to charge him with a crime, alleging he violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

“They read my texts,” said Carlson. “So, the crime under consideration apparently would be the Foreign Agent Act or something like that, acting as an agent of a foreign power.”

He added that he doesn’t believe the referral will actually lead to charges. He also said he hadn’t broken the law and didn’t have much to worry about.

On social media, Chris Cuomo cast doubt on the statements from Carlson.

In one post, the NewsNation host noted that Tucker Carlson’s video detailing the situation had garnered 24 million views. “Any proof? Seems not to matter.”

In subsequent messages, Chris Cuomo told one commenter, “We have no idea if it happened. This is all about clicks.”

He later said, “What proof is there (that the goverment) is reading texts? Start there.”

A report from Axios White House correspondent Marc Caputo said members of the Trump administration had labeled the comments from Tucker Carlson as “bull(expletive).”

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Dan “Big Cat” Katz: “I’m So Sick of Ken Rosenthal” on FOX Sports

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Dan “Big Cat” Katz: “I’m So Sick of Ken Rosenthal” on FOX Sports

Barstool Sports personality Dan “Big Cat” Katz did not mince words when discussing Ken Rosenthal during Monday’s episode of the Pardon My Take, delivering a blunt critique of the veteran reporter’s role on World Baseball Classic broadcasts airing on FOX Sports.

During the show, Katz voiced frustration with Rosenthal’s presence on the tournament coverage while referencing lingering irritation tied to an incident involving the Milwaukee Brewers last season, a situation that appeared to shape his opinion of the longtime baseball insider.

“Ken Rosenthal, get the f**k out of here, dude,” Katz said during the conversation. “I’m so sick of this guy. Ever since that Brewers thing last year, he’s such a loser. Get him out. I don’t want him anywhere near me anymore.”

Rosenthal was at the center for a viral mishap last summer where he knocked over a photographer in an attempt to dodge a postgame Gatorade celebration. Following the viral moment, Rosenthal apologized for the ordeal.

“I felt awful about what happened. And afterward, I went up to Scott [Paulus], who I’ve worked with in pits before over the years, and I apologized,” said Rosenthal last year. “I apologized profusely because let’s face it, I don’t think you ever expect knocking someone down is going to happen in any particular situation.”

The moment was never forgotten by Katz. He continued his criticism moments later while discussing Rosenthal’s on-air personality. Katz also referenced Rosenthal’s reaction to the situation. He suggested the episode left a lasting impression on him. It also shaped how he now views the reporter’s presence on national broadcasts.

“I’m so sick of Ken Rosenthal,” Katz added. “That should have been like a career ender the way he reacted. He’s just a jerk. I’m all for second chances, but you could tell he’s just a jerk.”

Rosenthal, who has spent decades covering baseball across multiple national outlets, serves as one of the prominent reporters on FOX’s coverage of the World Baseball Classic. The tournament, which brings together many of the sport’s top international stars and major league talent, has become a centerpiece of this year’s early spring baseball programming.

Although Katz’s remarks were pointed, the discussion unfolded within the comedic and conversational style typical of the podcast, where hosts frequently deliver exaggerated opinions about sports figures, teams and media personalities.

Rosenthal has not publicly responded to the comments.

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Dan Le Batard: ‘Inside the NBA’ Is “Super Negative”

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Dan Le Batard: ‘Inside the NBA’ Is “Super Negative”

Sports media personality Dan Le Batard offered a pointed critique of Inside the NBA during Monday’s episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, arguing that the long-running studio program often frames professional basketball in a way that does not reflect positively on the league.

While discussing the show’s transition to ESPN as part of the NBA’s upcoming media-rights cycle, Le Batard suggested that the tone used by the show’s analysts increasingly focuses on criticism rather than appreciation for the modern game. According to Le Batard, the program once carried a more celebratory tone toward the sport, while recent discussions tend to highlight frustration with how today’s NBA looks compared to previous eras.

“This is super negative,” said Le Batard. “What they have been doing for a while, as they’ve aged, has been negative. It’s not a celebration of sports. They have fun, but they don’t love what they’re watching the way that they used to.”

He argued that the commentary sometimes reflects a disconnect between former players and the style of basketball currently played across the league, which in turn can shape how audiences perceive the sport.

Two of the program’s most prominent analysts, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, became a focal point of Le Batard’s comments as he examined how their playing backgrounds influence their critiques of the modern NBA. Both Hall of Fame big men built their reputations dominating opponents near the basket, a style that contrasts sharply with today’s perimeter-oriented offenses built around spacing, pace and three-point shooting.

“Two of the experts you have loved playing in the post. They were better playing in the post than most human beings are in the post,” said Le Batard. “They’re watching a distorted version of basketball. They don’t like what they’re watching. It’s not what made them great.”

Le Batard suggested that this stylistic shift contributes to the skepticism expressed on the show, because the current game differs so dramatically from the environment in which Barkley and O’Neal thrived during their playing careers.

Another element of Le Batard’s argument focused on how discussions around individual regular-season games are framed, particularly within a league that plays an 82-game schedule. During the segment, he contended that the show’s tone mirrors a broader perception across the basketball world that the regular season carries diminished weight compared with the postseason.

“The way these guys are talking about even a great regular season game, is absolutely infected by the fact that nobody seems to care about the regular season anymore,” said Le Batard. “There’s nothing that can happen in a regular season game. Unless it’s controversial, that’s going to get anybody talking about the single result. e all know now more than ever, that any single result doesn’t matter. It doesn’t if you’re playing 82 of them or 81 of them, it’s too many.”

Le Batard is not the only critic of how Inside the NBA has performed since moving to ESPN this season. Colin Cowherd speculated earlier this year that ESPN or the NBA is limiting Inside the NBA’s appearances because of its outspoken commentary.

“There were people upstairs in the NBA office that didn’t like how they lampooned the league, and some of the players,” said Cowherd in January although not specifying any names. “NFL shows don’t make fun of the players. Why are we making fun of the players? I heard that before.”

The debate over how the NBA should be covered has become increasingly prominent as the league prepares for its next media era, and Le Batard’s remarks highlight an ongoing tension between nostalgia for past styles of play and the evolution of the modern game.

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Terry Clifford Comes Out of Retirement to Take Middays at CJ Country

BMM Staff
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Terry Clifford Comes Out of Retirement to Take Middays at CJ Country

Terry Clifford retired in 2023 following a 37-year run as part of the morning and midday shows at WBEE in Rochester. Now, she’s returning to the airwaves with CJ Country.

Clifford will helm middays for CJ Country, which recently closed on its purchase of an AM signal and several translators that will cover the areas between Buffalo and Rochester in upstate New York.

“Terry has spent decades entertaining listeners across Rochester and beyond with her warmth, personality, and unmistakable voice,” the station said in a statement announcing her return. “Now she’s bringing that same energy to CJ Country, keeping you company through the middle of the day with the mix of old and new country you love. Whether you’ve listened to Terry for years or you’re meeting her for the first time, we’re excited to have her on board.”

Terry Clifford will begin her tenure with CJ Country beginning on Wednesday, April 1st. In a post on social media, she joked that it was not an April Fool’s joke, no matter how much she loves to play them.

She replaces Kelli Carson, who exited the daypart last year.

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93.5 The Bubble Comes to Connoisseur Media Columbia

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93.5 The Bubble Comes to Connoisseur Media Columbia

Connoisseur Media Columbia has announced that it is flipping Live 93.5 to 93.5 The Bubble in the South Carolina market.

The name is a nod to the Soda City moniker applied to Columbia, South Carolina. The company says the station will be less focused on “format” and more focused on “a ‘feel good’ vibe, highlighting the big hits of the last 30 years.”

“One of our goals at Connoisseur Media is to create radio stations that sound and feel like the markets they are in,” said Connoisseur Media Senior Vice President of Programming Keith Dakin. “Columbia was missing a radio station that appeals to the thirty-something female and the music she grew up with, along with the big artists of today. And we liked the opportunity to create a name that felt fun and local.”

93.5 The Bubble will feature Anna & Raven in morning drive, Kenzie in Middays, Croghan in afternoons, and XYZ with Erik Zachary in evenings.

“We wanted to build something that feels as refreshing and fun as the name itself,” said Program Director Brendan Croghan. “93.5 The Bubble is packed with the hits people grew up with and the favorites they love today. It’s the kind of station you pop on and suddenly your whole day feels a little lighter.”

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Townsquare Media Reports 5% Revenue Decline During 2025

BNM Staff
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Townsquare Media Reports 5% Revenue Decline During 2025

Townsquare Media has unveiled its 2025 financial results, and the company reported an overall revenue decline during the year.

For the year, the company reported $427.4 million in net revenue. That figure represents a 5.2% year-over-year decrease compared to the $451 million it saw in 2024. However, with political advertising from the “unprecedented” levels seen in 2024 excluded, net revenue declined 2.8%.

Digital revenue for the organization grew by just under 1%, with digital advertising rising 1.6%. Broadcast advertising net revenue decreased by 12.6% and 8% with political advertising excluded.

Townsquare Media’s Adjusted EBITDA dropped 12.2% overall during the year.

“Importantly, due to our strong expense management, Adjusted EBITDA margins excluding political were constant year-over-year, despite revenue declines,” Townsquare Media CEO Bill Wilson said. “In addition, our full year net loss improved by $1.2 million year-over-year, to a net loss of $9.8 million.

“In 2025, Townsquare’s Digital business, which now represents 55% of the Company’s total net revenue and 56% of our total Segment Profit, was buoyed by the consistent strength of our differentiated programmatic digital advertising offering, including the success of our Media Partnership division (which we’re proud to announce has expanded from six to eleven partners in 2026), and the direct sales of our local owned and operated digital properties,” continued Wilson.

Wilson added that the company remains “confident in our ability to build shareholder value for our investors through long-term net revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow growth, net leverage reduction, and future dividend payments.”

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Jamie Erdahl Returns To Good Morning Football Following Personal Tragedy

BSM Staff
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Jamie Erdahl Returns To Good Morning Football Following Personal Tragedy

After a brief but emotional absence from the program, Jamie Erdahl returned to the set of Good Morning Football on Monday morning, drawing a warm reception from colleagues and viewers following time away to deal with a serious family health situation.

Kyle Brandt opened the show by acknowledging Erdahl’s return, greeting the longtime host with a mix of humor and sincerity that has long defined the program’s tone.

Although Brandt began with a lighthearted remark suggesting that nothing noteworthy had occurred in the NFL during her absence, the moment quickly shifted toward appreciation for Erdahl’s presence and the energy she brings to the daily broadcast.

Brandt told his colleague that everyone associated with the show missed her and felt happy to see her back on set, while joking that the league had actually delivered plenty of news during the time she stepped away.

Erdahl responded with gratitude, smiling as she thanked Brandt along with fellow co-host Manti Teʻo and guest analyst Willie Colon, who joined the program during Monday’s broadcast.

Erdahl first revealed details surrounding her absence last week, explaining through social media that she stepped away from the show to address a deeply personal health situation involving a member of her immediate family.

While she chose not to disclose specific details about the circumstances, she acknowledged that curiosity among viewers had grown as the days passed without her appearing on the program.

In that message, Erdahl thanked leadership within the NFL for granting her the flexibility to remain home during the difficult stretch, adding that she planned to return to the broadcast the following Monday. Her message offered a brief but heartfelt explanation that resonated with many viewers who have followed her career across multiple football broadcasts.

Over the weekend, Erdahl also shared a brief glimpse into her emotional state through an Instagram story featuring a photograph of a flower arrangement accompanied by a message reflecting on difficult moments surrounded by support and compassion.

Since joining NFL Network’s flagship morning program, Erdahl has played a central role in shaping the tone of the broadcast, balancing analysis with personality-driven storytelling that helps the show stand apart within the network’s lineup.

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Megyn Kelly, Mark Levin Trade Lewd Remarks on X with President Donald Trump Weighing In

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Megyn Kelly, Mark Levin Trade Lewd Remarks on X with President Donald Trump Weighing In

Megyn Kelly and Mark Levin reignited their feud over the weekend, with the pair trading lewd remarks at each other. President Donald Trump weighed in, too.

The two have traded insults in recent months. The issue between the two stems from Kelly’s support of Tucker Carlson, who Levin has clashed with over his stances on Israel and Iran, and her speaking glowingly of Nick Fuentes.

Levin and Kelly have lobbed shots at one another on social media, with the feud moving to a new level on Sunday.

In a post on social media, Mark Levin took issue with recent comments from Megyn Kelly, stating that she is showing her true colors by failing to condemn the synagogue attack in Michigan last week.

“Poor Megyn Kelly. An emotionally unhinged, lewd, and petulant wreck,” wrote Levin. “She’s completely revealed and destroyed herself. She’s everything people say she is, but much worse. Never an intelligent, thoughtful, or substantive comment. Utterly toxic.”

Kelly responded by accusing Levin of being more obsessed with her than a stalker.

“Micropenis Mark Levin thinks he has the monopoly on lewd,” Kelly wrote. “He tweets about me obsessively in the crudest, nastiest terms possible. Literally more than some stalkers I’ve had arrested. He doesn’t like it when women like me fight back. Bc of his micropenis.”

Levin then accused her of being a “harlot.”

“Busy Sunday morning for Megyn Kelly. She wakes up and has ‘micrope*is’ on her mind,” he said. “Suffice to say, if it talks like a harlot, and posts like a harlot, it’s … well, you know the rest. Shalom!”

Following the trading of barbs, President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, supporting Mark Levin in the process.

“Mark Levin, a truly Great American Patriot, is somewhat under siege by other people with far less Intellect, Capability, and Love for our Country,” Trump wrote. “Mark is Tough, Strong, and Brilliant, hence the nickname, ‘THE GREAT ONE,’ conceived by our MAGA friend, the wonderful Sean Hannity, after years of dealing with Mark in Legal, Media, and other capacities … He is a true Conservative, and Intellect, far smarter than those who criticize him but, above all, he is a man of Great Wisdom and Common Sense who truly loves our Country.

“When you hear others unfairly attack Mark, remember that they are jealous and angry Human Beings, whose ‘sway’ is much less than the Public understands, and will, now that they know where I stand, rapidly diminish. Other than for his wonderful wife and family, Mark Levin only cares and wants one thing, GREATNESS AND SUCCESS FOR AMERICA! Those that speak ill of Mark will quickly fall by the wayside, as do the people whose ideas, policies, and footings are not sound.”

Levin responded to Trump’s remarks with a glowing retort.

“Mr. President: I am beyond humbled by your words and graciousness in writing such a beautiful note and sharing it on Truth Social,” Levin said. “I am honored that you took the time to write it. Your courage, strength, and moral clarity are truly unparalleled. And your leadership has made our country and the world much safer. Both you and what you are doing deserve our support.

“And I will not be intimidated or bow to threats,” Levin continued. “Through your insight and steady hand, America has been made great again. It is an enormous honor to know you as my family and I do and call you, Mr. President, our friend. You’re one of a kind. Truly remarkable. Please be safe and God bless.”

Megyn Kelly added that she believes Levin asked President Donald Trump to make the post supporting him.

“Micro penis Mark Levin is such a SMALL MAN he had to go beg the president for a pat on the head (in the middle of a war!) to make himself feel better about … well, you know,” Kelly wrote. “This, after one mean tweet about him – following his 111 (!) nasty, non-stop, personal, misogynistic attacks on me. (Fox has an OBSESSED HARASSER on its hands.) Just like all feckless, weakling bullies Micro can dish it out but he can’t take it. After just one post putting the so-called ‘great one’ in his place, he ran crying to Daddy.”

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