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Guy Benson: I Won’t Interact with Candace Owens’ Content Because I Don’t Want Her Profiting Off Charlie Kirk’s Death

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Candace Owens has been vocal about uncovering a supposed conspiracy in the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Fox News Radio host Guy Benson has seen and heard enough.

On The Guy Benson Show, he shared that the statements and conspiracies shared by Owens have gone too far. He believes, in no uncertain terms, that Owens is lying about her position on the topic and is knowingly causing damage to Erika Kirk and Turning Point usa.

“The podcaster, former friend of Charlie’s in question, who had a relationship with TPUSA and then was, I think, sort of put out to pasture because of increasing derangement in a lot of different ways, said, ‘Well, if Turning Point is innocent, they can present the evidence, and we can have that conversation anywhere, anytime.’ This is what Candace said,” said Benson.

“I saw the clip. Because I won’t actually download her show or watch. I don’t want to give her money. I don’t want to reward any of this that she’s doing,” he added.

Benson noted that — from his standpoint — the edict from Candace Owens was clear: “anytime, any place, you name it.” But he shared his belief that Owens uses “ever-moving goal posts” to avoid confronting the notion that she has shared conspiracies.

“How do people not see this?” the Fox News Radio host questioned, adding that he “would love to not mention her name almost ever again, if possible.”

Benson concluded by admitting why he was taking a stand against Owens and her conduct in recent weeks.

“I’ve mostly bit my tongue on it, not because I’m scared of her or not wanting to take sides,” he said. “I think I have been very clear in these heinous arguments that we’re having in the online right-wing or right-of-center space. I’ve been pretty clear on that, especially with some of the anti semitism and the list that goes on.

“But sometimes things just need to be said explicitly, out loud,” he said. “It’s a time for choosing. I choose truth, and I choose respecting this widow and not spitting on her family and the grave of her murdered husband. That’s my position.”

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NBC Sports President Rick Cordella: We’re Already Looking at Long Term Plans for MLB Package

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NBC Sports hasn’t begun its new TV rights deal with Major League Baseball, but it’s already looking at the future.

After securing rights to the Sunday Night Baseball package, NBC Sports President Rick Cordella told The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch that it is committed to the sport for the long term, not just the three-year contract it signed earlier this year.

“I think whenever we get into a deal with someone, it’s not for just the period of time,” Cordella said. “Fox has had baseball since NBC exited back in the early 2000s, and the NBA didn’t come to market for almost 20 years. So whenever you do these deals and become an incumbent, it really puts you in the pole position to sort of look ahead and do many other deals into the future.”

As part of the new MLB TV package, NBC Sports purchased the rights to Sunday Night Baseball that was previously seen on ESPN, as well as the package that was previously owned by Roku for the Sunday morning window, and the Wild Card round.

The network is paying $200 million per year for the new deal, significantly less than the $550 million ESPN spent for the package.

And while the contract only runs from 2026 through 2028, Cordella says NBC Sports is making plans to be in the baseball business for years to come.

“At the end of it, my hope and expectation is that we’re in business for baseball for a super long time,” Cordella concluded.

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Ashleigh Banfield to Leave NewsNation Primetime Show to Lead Network’s True Crime Digital Vertical

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NewsNation has announced that Ashleigh Banfield is leaving her primetime show with the network to lead up the new true crime division.

As part of the agreement, content from Banfield’s Drop Dead Series podcast will be made available on NewsNation.

“I’m excited to channel the momentum of my Drop Dead Serious podcast brand towards NewsNation’s growing digital audience,” said Banfield. “The success of true crime reporting on streaming media platforms has been transformative, and I’m looking forward to helping shape and enhance NewsNation’s multi-platform strategy in this genre.”

“Ashleigh is truly one of the best at what she does – her storytelling and credibility make her the perfect partner as we build a digital destination for true crime fans while keeping her voice central to our on-air coverage,” added NewsNation President of Programming and Specials Michael Corn.

Banfield — which currently airs at 10 PM ET — will continue until at least January 2026. After she departs the program, a cast of rotating hosts will helm the program until a permanent choice is selected.

Ashleigh Banfield originally joined NewsNation in 2021, after previously working at TV networks like MSNBC, Court TV, CNN, ABC, HLN, and NBC, among others.

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1110 KFAB Names Studio After Retiring Gary Sadlemyer

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Longtime 1110 KFAB morning host Gary Sadlemyer hosted his final show Friday morning, but the station couldn’t let him leave without a major honor.

Friday was Sadlemyer’s final show with the iHeartMedia Omaha news/talk outlet. His retirement comes one day shy of his 49th anniversary of working at the station, and 53 years in radio overall.

During his final broadcast, one of his segments was interrupted with the news that 1110 KFAB was naming the station’s broadcast studio in Sadlemyer’s honor.

“Wow,” Sadlemyer said in amazement. When he was asked if he ever thought he’d get to be at the same place for nearly 50 years, he said the idea never crossed his mind.

“I never thought about it,” Sadlemyer said. “You just come to work every day.”

Gary Sadlemyer is a member of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, where he was enshrined in 2011. Current late morning host Scott Voorhees is going to move from the 9-11 AM timeslot into morning drive as the replacement for Sadlemyer.

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1130 WISN’s Jay Weber After Retirement Announcement: ‘My Generation of Talk Radio Is Over’

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1130 WISN morning host Jay Weber is set to end his daily news/talk radio show in the coming weeks. He says the time is right because of changes in the industry.

Weber will host his final program on December 23rd, ending a 35-year run on the iHeartMedia Milwaukee station, including the past 18 in morning drive.

He isn’t completely stepping away, however. He’ll host a twice-weekly podcast centered on local issues for the company, mimicking a strategy created when former colleague Mark Belling exited the station’s daily lineup last year.

In the wake of his announcement, Weber spoke about the reasoning for why he’s leaving the show behind, saying that the game has changed, and not in a manner he enjoys.

“No disrespect to the new generation of talkers, but I feel like my generation of talk radio is over,” said Weber.

Weber pointed to the talk radio boom following the explosion of The Rush Limbaugh Show as the golden era in his mind, stating that it couldn’t be replicated today.

“We were inventing an entirely new aggressive, important, and game-changing genre,” Weber said. “And it really has been a game changer in this country: some will argue for the better. Others will argue for the worse. I’ll leave that to the historians. All I know is, it was a blast to do.” 

Jay Weber, 59, also noted that he had considered signing another three or five-year contract to remain in the daypart with 1130 WISN, “but in my heart, I know it’s time.” 

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HOT 97 Ends ‘Ebro in the Morning’

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Ebro in the Morning, the long-running morning show on HOT 97 in New York City, has ended.

The show featuring Ebro Darden, Peter Rosenberg, and Laura Stylez hosted its final program on Friday morning.

After the program concluded, Darden and Rosenberg both took to social media to share that the show had ended.

“It’s done. More to come,” Darden shared on X.

“I lived out a childhood dream and it was amazing. Very excited for what’s next,” Rosenberg added.

The morning show began in 2012 when Darden returned to mornings after previously working in the timeslot from 2004 to 2007. Rosenberg — who also hosts afternoons on ESPN New York alongside Don La Greca and Alan Hahn — has been with the station since 2007. Style, who also works for SiriusXM, joined the show in 2013.

The departure of the morning show is the latest in a long line of changes happening at HOT 97. Earlier this year, Funkmaster Flex moved to the 5-10 PM timeslot, while DJ Enuff and TT Torrez both departed the lineup.

After those changes, Ebro Darden shared his belief that the parent company of HOT 97 would begin cutting the budget and staff for his show, which has now ended.

“They’re gonna start,” Ebro said of potential impending cuts. “This program right here, the amount of money they spend — which ain’t a lot, but it’s more than they spend on the rest of the radio station — when they get to cutting off fingers and toes up here? It’s gonna happen, bro. Don’t play with these people, man. Don’t play with these people if you worried about your mortgage and all of that.”

“I’ve been telling y’all for months — years — that the new ownership of the big legend, HOT 97, didn’t give a damn about investing in this damn thing here,” he later added. “No new studios. Making cuts, cutting staff, cutting this, cutting that. Then I hear last Thursday, (Funkmaster) Flex started tweeting about his last show and that they keeping our show on till 11 o’clock. I didn’t get an email, a text, I didn’t get a heads up, I didn’t get a nothing.”

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Brandon Tierney, Sal Licata Set Live Stage Show Date Following WFAN Exit

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As Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata host their final show together with WFAN, the pair have announced an upcoming live event.

On Thursday, January 22nd, at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, Tierney and Licata will host a live stage show beginning at 7:30 PM.

The two have confirmed that New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone will be their special guest.

The event is billed as “a celebration of the true voices of New York sports.”

General admission tickets for the event start at $79, while VIP packages begin at $299.

Changes to the lineup at WFAN are moving Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata out of their midday timeslot. Friday was the duo’s final program together. Tierney is set to host their previous timeslot by himself during the week of December 15th, before departing WFAN.

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1400 WDWS Host Scott Beatty Exits Show to Launch New Podcast

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1400 WDWS host Scott Beatty has announced he’s ending his sports talk show to launch a new Illinois Fighting Illini-focused podcast.

Beatty has hosted a sports talk show on the Champaign/Urbana news/talk station for the past eight years.

However, he shared in a post on social media that his final show leading the program is scheduled for Friday.

“It is time for new ventures and new rhythms,” Beatty said, adding that it was a “difficult choice that was entirely mine.”

Beatty continued by noting that he’s launching a new podcast called Light the I.

“It’s an exciting time for Illinois athletics, and I’m ever grateful for the opportunity to connect with listeners and fans. We’ll talk again soon.”

In addition to his daily sports talk show, Scott Beatty serves as the play-by-play voice for Illinois Fighting Illini baseball, as well as other assorted sports broadcast on the BTN+ streaming platform. He’s held that position since 2016.

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White House Calls CNN ‘Chicken News Network’ After Failing to Interview Stephen Miller

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The situation between CNN and the Trump administration has entered another day as Stephen Miller continues to argue he’s been banned by the network.

Earlier this week, Miller told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he had been banned by CNN from appearing on any of its shows after he had been continually offered as a guest.

In response, CNN denied those accusations, stating that Miller was welcome to appear when he was relevant to news programming.

The White House then responded by lobbing insults at the network.

White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung took to social media to blast the network for failing to bring the U.S. Homeland Security Advisor on for a third straight day.

“DAY 3: The White House has again made Stephen Miller available to CNN for a third day (any time, any show, any topic),” Cheung wrote. “They have declined, presumably because they are scared Stephen will school them and call out Fake News. CNN = Chicken News Network.”

Vice President JD Vance also commented on the situation, stating that “If CNN wants to be a real news network it should feature important voices from our administration.”

That led the network to issue a response, echoing similar statements it had made surrounding the topic.

“Members of the administration, including Stephen Miller, are welcome to come on our air,” the statement read. “As a news organization, we make editorial decisions about the stories we cover and when, and that depends on the news priorities of the day. We look forward to having Stephen on again in the future as the news warrants.”

Paul Finebaum Shares Why He Decided Against Senate Run: They Wanted Me to ‘Run Against Woke Disney’

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Paul Finebaum wasn’t shy about considering a run for the open Senate seat in Alabama. But the longtime ESPN host ultimately decided against a bid for the office. He’s now shared what swayed him against it.

In an appearance on The Takeout with Major Garrett, Finebaum said one key factor led him to determine the run for the Senate wasn’t in the cards.

“I’m just going to paraphrase the political operatives’ words: ‘you need to run against woke Disney,'” Finebaum said he was told. “And I could not do it. I could not burn down the place I had worked for the last 13 years. It had given me an opportunity as a Birmingham talk show host. Whatever you may think of Disney — and plenty of people have opinions, Disney owns ESPN, for those of you who don’t know — I couldn’t do it.

“I had several very prominent people — including two senators, sitting senators — tell me, ‘That’s your path.’ There are many other paths, obviously, to win a primary in Alabama, but they thought that was the cleanest path.”

Paul Finebaum revealed that a conversation with his wife made it clear that wasn’t something he was willing to do.

“In the end, that factor alone, that was at the top of the pyramid,” Finebaum said, before continuing with the reasons why he opted against chasing the nomination and office.

“Secondarily, was saying things that I just was not comfortable with. You can say whatever you want about me, ‘polarizing’, ‘mouth of the South’, ‘always ripping coaches’, but the one thing I’ve always wanted to do on a program is bring people together and let them fight within, under the tent. I couldn’t get up there and just draw a line and say, ‘I’m for you and I’m against you.’ It was against everything in the fiber of my body.”

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