New Walt Disney Company CEO Josh D’Amaro is a longtime employee of the company, and he believes that helps him navigate uncharted territory when it comes to AI.
D’Amaro, who was announced Tuesday as the executive tasked with succeeding Bob Iger next month, has spent 28 years with the organization.
And in an interview with David Muir on World News Tonight, D’Amaro said that the use of AI at the company is something that’s ancillary to the organization, not strictly fueling its growth and success.
“The reason this company is so special is because of how creative we are and the human beings that are generating that creativity — something that, in my mind, never gets replaced,” D’Amaro shared. “And in fact, this isn’t even theory anymore; this is real. AI is here, and it’s something we’re embracing.
“You’re seeing it supercharge these creatives in amazing ways,” D’Amaro said of the technology. “They’ve embraced artificial intelligence, and if you were to walk over to their studios today, you’d see them using AI, harnessing 70 years of history. This is when The Walt Disney Company thrives — when technology intersects with brilliant people and creativity — and we’re in that moment right now.”
During the discussion, Iger shared that he felt the weight on his shoulders felt slightly less with the appointment of Josh D’Amaro. But the incoming CEO said he now feels the gravity of the situation.
“The sense of responsibility that I have for this role and this company — of course, I feel the weight on my shoulders,” D’Amaro said. “And I think I should feel it. But I also feel so fortunate to be in a position to be the next steward for the brand as it moves into the next 100 years.”
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After 15 years in Tyler, Texas, Buddy Logan has exited afternoons at 101.5 KNUE.
In addition to hosting afternoons on the Townsquare Media country station, Logan also hosted the syndicated Radio Texas Live program.
He originally joined 101.5 KNUE in 2011. He began helming afternoon drive in 2019. Logan also hosted the daypart on other country stations inside the Townsquare Media portfolio.
In a post on social media, Logan revealed that he had exited the company. He shared his gratitude for those who supported him, 101.5 KNUE, and Radio Texas Live during his tenure.
“It’s been a lot of fun and more rewarding than I ever could’ve imagined when this all started. We built something special, I’ll always be proud of it, and I’m excited for the road ahead. To everyone who supported me, my family, and a little Texas and Red Dirt radio show that only a few believed could work in 2011, thank you.”
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After more than 30 years hosting a weekend show on KDKA in Pittsburgh, Chris Moore has announced he’ll be stepping away later this month.
On Sunday, February 15th, The Moore of Pittsburgh will air for the final time. He originally began the show in 1994.
“Having our meaningful discussions about world and local issues, as well as more mundane issues with you has been one of the highlights of my career,” said Moore.
Moore has earned several Emmy Awards for his work at Pittsburgh’s PBS station, WQED, and was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Gold Circle last year. He’s also been inducted into his alma mater’s — Grambling State University — hall of fame.
The longtime KDKA host shared that mobility and health concerns, combined with the recent winter weather, were the leading factors in his considering his future.
After 32 years on KDKA Radio, Chris Moore will host his last show later this month. Chris has been a local weekend staple since 1994, and he's given us countless hours of entertaining radio that made listeners smile, think and participate. https://t.co/4Hs6VAUsV8pic.twitter.com/7h55fetU2M
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A Second Circuit judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals has lifted an injunction against Nielsen from Cumulus Media.
On Tuesday, circuit judges John M. Walker, Barrington D. Parker, and Joseph F. Bianco ruled that the injunction from Cumulus be lifted after originally being granted in December by District Judge Jeannette Vargas.
That injunction being lifted now allows Nielsen to re-enact its policy of joining national ratings with the purchase of local market data, at least temporarily.
Cumulus alleged the practice by Nielsen was anti-competitive. The core of the dispute centered on Nielsen’s September 2024 Network Policy. Cumulus, which owns Westwood One, alleged that Nielsen was using its dominance in national ratings to force broadcasters to purchase local market data they might otherwise source from competitors like Eastlan.
Cumulus argued this constituted an illegal “tying” arrangement in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Without the court’s intervention, Cumulus claimed it faced “irreparable harm,” including potential financial ruin and damage to its reputation if it lost access to the Nationwide data essential for its advertising clients. Throughout the proceedings, Nielsen’s legal team pushed back hard, characterizing the lawsuit as a tactical move by a sophisticated company to lower its bills.
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Barrett Media’s Top 20 series for sports radio has reached the halfway point. Today, the focus shifts to the top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Midday Shows of 2025. Stay tuned to this website, our newsletters and X, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and/or Instagram to learn the results for the remainder of the series. After the Top 20 series is over, I will record a video discussing the key takeaways from this year’s results. That video will be posted on the Barrett Media YouTube page. Be sure to subscribe to be notified once it’s live.
As you review these results, please remember that they represent the collective feedback shared by our industry voters. Barrett Media does not vote in this process. Our role is to assemble the group, collect the votes, and present the information.
Important Information
#1 – These results are based on 2025’s performance. 2026 changes have no effect on the voting.
#2 – We ask our voters to supply photos and logos to avoid headaches. Some comply, but most don’t. It forces us to spend a lot of time digging for images to highlight everyone. For that reason, there are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. Thanks in advance for understanding.
#3 – Our Major Market executive panel consists of thirty six (36) program directors and corporate executives from radio’s top broadcasting companies. They include Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Good Karma Brands, Bonneville, SiriusXM, ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, Radio One, and a bunch of independently owned and operated radio stations. Our voting group is large because we want feedback from every part of the country. We also do that to assure the results don’t favor any one media group.
#4 – The criteria for our voters included the ear test, originality, multi-platform impact, ratings success, clearance (national shows) and industry buzz. Keep in mind, our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.
#5 –A total of 41 shows were eligible for voting consideration in the Major Market Sports Radio Midday Shows category.
And the Winner Is…
98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak and Bertrand. Congrats to Scott, Marc and their entire crew on the well earned recognition. The win marks the fifth straight year and sixth time overall the show has been voted the best Major Market Sports Radio Midday show.
I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork, and each voter who participated in the process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 Major Market Sports Radio Midday Shows of 2025.
Additional Notes:
Zolak & Bertrand finished fifty eight (58) points ahead of Brandon Tierney & Sal Licata to score the first-place finish. The 98.5 Sports Hub midday show received a category best ten (10) first place votes, expanding their lead from last year.
Spots 21-25 belonged to Papa & Silver, Bump & Stacy, Kevin Sheehan,Polumbus, Hastings & DMac, and Jon Marks.
The closest contest saw The Michael Kay Show and Dover & Cecil edge Karsh & Anderson and Cellini & Dimino by three (3) points each.
Of the 41 shows to appear on submitted ballots, nine (9) received at least one 1st place vote.
BNM Top 20 of 2025 Remaining Schedule:
Thursday February 5 = BM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2025
Friday February 6 = BM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2025
Monday February 9 = BSM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2025
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries.Sign upfor our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Barrett Media’s Top 20 series for sports radio has reached the halfway point. Today, the focus shifts to the top 20 Mid Market Sports Radio Midday Shows of 2025. Stay tuned to this website, our newsletters, X, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and/or Instagram to learn the results for the remainder of the series. After the Top 20 series is over, I will record a video discussing the key takeaways from this year’s results. That video will be posted on the Barrett Media YouTube page. Be sure to subscribe to be notified once it’s live.
As you review these results, please remember that they represent the collective feedback shared by our industry voters. Barrett Media does not vote in this process. Our role is to assemble the group, collect the votes, and present the information.
Important Information
#1 – These results are based on 2025’s performance. 2026 changes have no effect on the voting.
#2 – We ask our voters to supply photos and logos to avoid headaches. Some comply, but most don’t. It forces us to spend a lot of time digging for images to highlight everyone. For that reason, there are no photo changes unless it involves a mistake. Thanks in advance for understanding.
#3 – Our Mid Market executive panel consists of thirty one (31) program directors and corporate executives from radio’s top broadcasting companies. They include Audacy, iHeart, Cumulus, Beasley, Good Karma Brands, Bonneville, SiriusXM, ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio, Radio One, and a bunch of independently owned and operated radio stations. Our voting group is large because we want feedback from every part of the country. We also do that to assure the results don’t favor any one media group.
#4 – The criteria for our voters included the ear test, originality, multi-platform impact, ratings success, clearance (national shows) and industry buzz. Keep in mind, our voters live in different cities, work for different companies, have different tastes, and value certain factors higher than others. This is not a perfect system but it’s one we feel good about using to showcase the industry’s best.
#5 –A total of 70 shows were eligible for voting consideration in the Mid Market Sports Radio Midday Shows category.
And the Winner Is…
Kentucky Sports Radio led by Matt Jones. Congrats to the entire KSR crew on returning to the top spot for the first time since 2022. The popular Kentucky based show was ranked #3 in 2024.
I want to thank Dylan Barrett for creating the artwork, and each voter who participated in the process. Now without further delay, here are Barrett Media’s Top 20 Mid Market Sports Radio Midday Shows of 2025.
Additional Notes:
Kentucky Sports Radio finished twenty six (26) points ahead of The Really Big Show to claim the first-place victory. KSR snagged the most first-place votes in the category with six (6).
Spots 21-25 belonged to Query & Company, Next Man Up w/ Jake Lyman, JT The Brick,Cody & Gold, and Josh & Swain.
The closest contest saw The Really Big Show nip Buck Reising by two (2) points for second place.
Of the 70 shows to appear on submitted ballots, twelve (12) received at least one first place vote.
BNM Top 20 of 2025 Remaining Schedule:
Thursday February 5 = BM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2025
Friday February 6 = BM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Program Directors of 2025
Monday February 9 = BSM Top 20 Major/Mid Market Sports Radio Stations of 2025
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries.Sign upfor our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
The opportunity to play in the NFL is rare. Not everyone makes the cut. Far too often the dream of playing in the league is cut short. Football is not a forgiving game, and success requires a combination of dedication and sacrifice. Phillip Lindsay played in the NFL for his hometown team, the Denver Broncos. Three seasons at Mile High Stadium represented the dream of a lifetime. Unfortunately, time eventually ran out on his NFL career.
“You’re competing with other players around the league that want to take your spot,” said Lindsay. “It’s very cut-throat, but it’s rewarding… Just like anything else you have to devote your life to it.”
The Denver native lived the ultimate NFL dream. Growing up a Broncos fan, he chose to stay close to home and played four seasons for the Colorado Buffaloes. He then signed as an undrafted free agent with the Broncos in 2018 and was living that dream. Several years later, however, Lindsay found himself at a crossroads. Following several stops in the NFL and XFL, he decided it was time to walk away from playing and pursue a future in sports radio.
“It [radio] was a way for me to cope with getting away from football, and being able to talk about the game,” explained Lindsay, who co-hosts The Drive alongside Zach Bye on 104.3 The Fan in Denver. “You’re on the ‘dark side’ now, so it was different for me.”
Finding New Purpose
Lindsay’s decision to leave the NFL did not come easily. He had worked his entire life to reach a dream that remains unattainable for many. After his final season with the XFL’s Seattle Dragons, Lindsay said he was uncertain whether to continue playing anywhere that would have him or finally move on.
“I have my wife and kids. Plus, we were moving back and forth, and my son is getting older. At some point, you have to have stability,” noted Lindsay. “I’m talking to God one night and I gave myself a date. If somebody doesn’t come calling me by this date, then it’s a sign that I need to move on.”
Three days later, Lindsay received his answer. The call came from management at 104.3 The Fan in his hometown of Denver. While he was familiar with the station, he did not know much about its operation. After a few fill-in roles, Lindsay discovered that hosting a radio program was demanding. However, his passion for discussing football resonated on the air and caught the attention of station management.
In September 2023, Lindsay was announced as the new afternoon drive co-host on 104.3 The Fan alongside Bye, who had been elevated from middays with former Denver Bronco Brandon Stokley.
“Once football is done or it’s taken from you, it’s hard to transition and find something that you love to do,” says Lindsay. “In my head, I approached it as this may be my opportunity to shake off my identity as just a football player and see what else I could do in my life. That’s why I decided to take that leap and try radio.”
It Takes A Village
Lindsay’s move from the field to traditional sports radio feels less common today than in previous eras. Increasingly, former athletes gravitate toward podcasts, where they can leverage their playing resumes to generate attention and revenue while controlling their schedules.
For Lindsay, however, the appeal came from learning a craft he grew up listening to, even though he believed the podcast route could have been just as successful.
🔸🔹Broncos Country!! 🔹🔸quiet before the storm, enjoy the bye but also start your morning by tuning into Game Day Live on @9NEWS from 9AM- 10Am. Do the Broncos have what it takes to win it ALL! #BroncosCountrypic.twitter.com/GkI9jeNOQY
“I didn’t know how to do this. I grew up listening to radio, but I grew up listening to guys on the radio who have never been in the shoes of an athlete,” explains Lindsay. “Radio is a unique entity that you can only get by just listening. Podcasts are new and flashy, but radio you still have to work at it and abide by the rules of it.”
Following the announcement of his arrival at The Fan, Lindsay hit the ground running. After some early speed bumps during his debut, he credited program director Amanda Brown for helping him improve. Just as players need great coaches, Lindsay found the guidance he needed from Brown after her hire in November 2023.
Brown leaned on her experience guiding high-profile talent at ESPN Los Angeles. Lindsay said Brown connected him with talent coach Gerry Matalon, who spent 27 years at ESPN as a producer. With time, patience, and numerous airchecks, Lindsay began to see and hear the results of his work.
“I started to get confident in understanding what it takes to do radio. You have to have the reps. What can I do to be a better version of myself for my partner,” says Lindsay, comparing aircheck meetings to watching film with coaches. “I’m proud of myself. Definitely not a finished product. There is still work to be done.”
Navigating Criticism
One of Lindsay’s biggest challenges has been learning how to be critical when necessary. His guiding principle focuses on performance rather than the performer. Often, former athletes in sports media are viewed as protectors of the shield, avoiding criticism of former teammates and players.
Lindsay jokes about joining “the dark side” when discussing the balance he continues to navigate.
“When I first started, Jerry Jeudy [former Broncos wide receiver] saw I said something which seemed more like an attack. It caught a bunch of my former teammates off guard, because I’m supposed to be telling their story as well. I could have gotten my point across without feeling I had to belittle somebody,” explained Lindsay. “The players know they aren’t doing their thing… You do it with respect. You don’t just say whatever you want and go from there. To me, that’s not good radio.”
With nearly three years of experience in sports media, Lindsay’s perspective has evolved. While it is no longer simply “the dark side,” he understands the importance of professionalism and approach. Focusing on performance rather than the individual has served him well.
At 31, Lindsay continues adapting to an industry he never expected to enter. Sports radio came calling without warning, but he embraces the opportunity. He values being a guiding voice in the city where he grew up, covering teams he once played for. His roots, family, career, and life remain centered a mile high, with each day focused on preparing for the next.
“I would love to be here and do it as long as I can. I never look at what’s next for me. I’m always in the moment. Be where my feet are,” said Lindsay. “I’m not doing this just for money. That can come and go. Leaving a legacy for my kids is what it’s all about. I want to be one of the best to do it here in Colorado and go from there.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Super Bowl LX radio row in 2026 is a perfect example of the evolution of the concept. What began as a handful of sports radio stations has morphed into a collection of sports radio, media, podcasts, influencers, and sponsored content that often houses the biggest stars of the week. When brands like Bounty and Toyota have larger setups, more mass appeal, and producing content of their own for an unknown audience. It’s fair to question what is radio row all about now and moving forward?
Navigating the row for a second day, one singular conversation kept coming up among most I spoke with, a conversation that typically stays inside station walls back home. Is the trip still worth it? When I spoke with Mike Francesa, who many credit with inventing the concept, he admitted feeling depressed about what radio row has become.
Radio row is not what it once was. No one disputes that. However, for those who make the annual trek, especially when their local team isn’t involved, the cost is reaching a point that many simply can’t justify moving forward.
Super Bowl radio row is about more than what gets produced at the tables. There are opportunities at Super Bowl Opening Night every Monday before the game. Media parties offer the chance to run into familiar faces outside the convention hall. This year also includes the Pro Bowl Games, now held on site at the Super Bowl location.
Another cherry on the Super Bowl sundae.
What’s been missing in recent years is the once-in-a-lifetime access radio brands used to enjoy during Super Bowl week. Too often, radio row features the same familiar rotation of celebrities filling grids and segments across the country. Stations spend months planning guest appearances, often with no guarantees anything meaningful will come together.
103.5 The Fan Radio Row (Barrett Media)
Even when access is secured, star power is limited. Unless you know the right “runner” or already have a relationship with the celebrity, most stations are shut out. Nearly every guest arrives with something to sell, focused on pushing product to the widest possible audience.
It’s impossible for every celebrity to sit down with every outlet, and many are available for only an hour or two. National brands like SiriusXM, FOX Sports Radio, and ESPN will always receive first priority. Longtime radio row attendees are left with the B-list, the C-list, or no list at all.
That reality explains the premium placed on national brands over local sports radio outlets, even though they operate on the same platforms. Selling the “why” becomes difficult when outcomes are already predetermined by people who don’t understand your individual brand.
So why go?
For stations without a team in the game, the value of radio row is supposed to be twofold. First, it allows stations to put a local spin on the biggest sporting event in the world. Second, it creates opportunities for marquee moments that add prestige to a show and a station.
But for many stations, the shared celebrity of the week has become the only certainty. Another annual conversation with a former athlete, a college prospect, or a reality show contestant. Another segment built around stem-cell research, socks, or a BBQ sauce brand tied to someone your audience might vaguely recognize.
It’s no longer about the people who impact the game, raise excitement, or offer insight into your local franchise.
“It’s just too many people and feeding off the same people. It had lost the spontaneity it once had,” explained Mike Francesa.
Francesa’s words ring true, and they reflect the reality many sports radio brands face. Is the trip worth repeating the same conversations simply to push the same products back home? Is it worth giving away airtime for sponsor messaging that generates no direct revenue for the station?
So again, why go?
San Antonio Star Radio Row (Barrett Media)
The decision comes down to what you can deliver on the air that you can’t already do from your home studio. Results and revenue have to justify the cost. Can you land a guest who moves the meter? Can you create digital content that actually drives engagement rather than just fills space?
When radio row becomes more about filling chairs than creating appointment listening, the value fades. If it’s no longer about producing unique content for your digital audience at the biggest event of the year, the question answers itself.
The event still offers opportunities across multiple platforms. But if access remains the same year after year and costs continue to rise, what’s truly new or exciting?
Radio row didn’t lose its value overnight. It lost its purpose by inches. When the biggest week on the NFL calendar becomes about occupancy instead of moments, the math stops working.
The Super Bowl will always be worth covering. Radio row will always attract brands chasing relevance and visibility. But relevance today isn’t measured by square footage or guest count. It’s measured by impact.
That’s why more sports radio brands are starting to look elsewhere. It’s also why fewer tables appear each year and familiar logos disappear. When opportunity favors big builds and national appeal over loyal local audiences, the question becomes unavoidable.
Does showing up in person still deliver something you can’t do better, cheaper, and more creatively from home?
In the end, radio row isn’t judged by guest lists or social posts. It’s judged by return. If the cost outweighs the content, the access, and the revenue, the conclusion is clear.
Coverage without impact isn’t exposure.
It’s overhead.
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The New England Patriots will square off on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. For hundreds of millions of viewers watching, they won’t only be paying attention to the game. There’s also the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
We live an era where music discovery has become so algorithmic-infused, AI-directed, and at times overly personalized. The Super Bowl halftime show might be the last true shared music experience left. Sure, album drops, viral TikTok moments, and more can be popular. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are shared.
The expected 100+ million viewers who will be watching Bad Bunny perform on NBC aren’t tuning in because they necessarily enjoy the Latin reggaeton superstar’s music. They are watching because it is a moment that everyone can collectively share.
Make no mistake about it, the Super Bowl halftime show is still the ultimate next morning, watercooler talk moment. It is something everybody still loves to take part in regardless of the topic. As long as you give them a good enough reason to. Many valuable lessons and opportunities can come from this week for music radio programmers.
With a live music resurgence and a Gen-Z/Millennial-led movement craving more live music experiences, the music broadcast industry should take note of the various ways this year’s halftime show resonates beyond just the live broadcast itself.
Politics aside, Sunday’s halftime show is the perfect opportunity for radio and streaming platforms to be part of the conversation. Not only in the moment but also leading up to it and especially afterwards.
In recent years, the Super Bowl has grown beyond just the game itself. It’s the spectacle involving sports, music, and culture, with the guaranteed delivery of trending moments that channels and platforms can leverage to maintain relevance.
Westwood One made headlines last year when it announced it would be broadcasting the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show live. The result was successful enough that the network will once again air this year’s halftime show with SiriusXM also jumping on board.
Both examples signify that programmers believe the halftime show is important enough to stand on its own as a programming element. If national networks see its value, local music programmers should ask themselves how they can be part of the conversation and the content that comes with it.
Last year’s Halftime Show featuring Kendrick Lamar spiked to 130+ million viewers at one point. Immediately afterward, not only did the rapper’s streaming numbers shoot up, but so did those of similar artists.
The halftime show buzz surrounding it allows casual listeners to engage with the music while becoming more active participants. It also gives legacy artists an opportunity to be rediscovered.
Things To Consider
As a radio programmer this week, have you created content that drives the halftime show conversation? Even if your station’s format doesn’t play Bad Bunny’s music, there are still ample opportunities to expand on the halftime show hype.
Did you create a block of programming focused on previous Super Bowl halftime performers? Regardless of format, most stations can find former halftime show artists that fit their genre.
Have you posted on social media asking which artist your audience would want to see perform next? Did you turn that conversation into a poll with a ‘Top 3’ while also promoting it on air?
Do you plan on being active during the game itself? Anything from covering commercials and other trending moments. Are you promoting a live discussion on your station’s Instagram page immediately after the halftime show?
For some stations, perhaps you will want to pay attention not only to Bad Bunny’s performance but also to the recently announced Turning Point USA’s All-American Halftime Show. The counter programming will feature Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and CMA 2021 New Female Artist of the Year winner Gabby Barrett.
You should be actively placing your station or on-air talent in the conversation, especially during the biggest shared music moment in the world. How can you expect your audience to stay engaged if you’re not meeting them there?
A simple photo of Bad Bunny on social media and asking for feedback isn’t enough. In this day and age, if you treat your audience like fools, they will treat you like one.
Shared Moments Turned Local
The fact that sports radio brands like Westwood One and SiriusXM have chosen to carry the halftime show underscores its importance not only as a visual experience but also as an audio moment. What’s interesting is that while sports radio recognizes the significance of music, the music industry itself has largely moved in the opposite direction.
Further fragmentation, driven by algorithms and playlists, has all but eliminated appointment listening moments. But that doesn’t mean it has to be that way, especially on a local level.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show remains one of the few truly shared music moments in the modern landscape. It also provides broadcasters and programmers with a unique opportunity for engagement, conversation, and a litmus test for future programming decisions.
Your audience will be watching the Super Bowl. Leverage that many will also be using social media during the game and the halftime show to your station’s advantage.
See what works and what doesn’t. Most importantly, listen to what your audience is telling you.
Then figure out how you can create your own localized shared music moment. You may not have 100 million people listening, but 10,000 energized and engaged fans can work just as well.
The audience will always care if you give them a reason to.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Don Lemon is suddenly being hailed as a hero. After a history of saying dumb things, his publicity stunt at a Minneapolis church covering anti-ICE protestors, might be the best thing that ever happened to him, and the worst for the First Amendment.
In today’s crazy environment, getting arrested is all it takes to be crowned a champion of free speech. He later stumbled into the best professional moment of his life, a coveted spot on Jimmy Kimmel’s couch, where he eagerly provided the play-by-play of his arrest by about a dozen federal agents while waiting for a hotel elevator. “All of a sudden I feel myself being jostled and people trying to grab me and put me in handcuffs.”
“They want to embarrass you. They want to intimidate you,” he said on ABC. “And they want to instill fear…but this is very serious. These are federal criminal charges.”
Kimmel said Lemon was “arrested for committing journalism.”
The longtime CNN host, an independent, and until recently, largely irrelevant commentator with a million-strong following on YouTube, eagerly seized the spotlight, and is vowing not to back down. He’s undoubtedly loving every second of the mainstream media’s embrace.
On Real Time with Bill Maher, MS NOW’s Joe Scarborough defended Lemon while framing his reporting as aggressive. “I think there has to be a differentiation between if somebody’s going in there and saying, ‘I’m not with them, can I ask you some questions?’ — because you’re going to have embeds in war, you’re going to have embeds in protests…there’s no doubt this was meant to scare other reporters, to scare other journalists.”
I found the entire spectacle downright chilling. It seemed like an extension of the Trump administration’s war on the press, designed to squash aggressive reporting. Journalists have already had to battle lawsuits from the president himself including CBS, ABC, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.
Lemon says he followed a group of demonstrators into a city church who were protesting because one of its pastors had a leadership role in ICE. The journalist, who claims he’s not an activist, was charged with federal civil rights crimes under the FACE act, which prohibits unimpeded access to religious worship.
His proposed arrest was shot down by a federal judge, enraging Attorney General Pam Bondi, who got a grand jury to deliver the criminal indictment that enabled his arrest. She, and others in the administration, craved the idea of prosecuting the openly partisan commentator who has been denouncing Donald Trump for years. He was released without bail.
The spectacle gave Trump a reason to cackle, with headlines like “Trump Squeezes Lemon.” The White House’s official account featured Don Lemon’s arrest and the quote, “When life gives you lemons…”
CNN supported its former employee with concerns about the First Amendment.“The Department of Justice already failed twice to get an arrest warrant for Don and several other journalists in Minnesota, where a chief judge of the Minnesota Federal District Court found there was ‘no evidence’ that there was any criminal behavior involved in their work.”
As far as the claim that he helped plan the protest, Lemon has been vigorously defending himself: “I want to make it clear…that I have no affiliation with the organization.” And he said, “I didn’t even know they were going into this church until we followed them there.”
There could hardly be a more flawed champion of a free press.
Lemon, 59, a longtime liberal crusader, has a long resume of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, and it got him fired from not one, but two jobs. First from CNN, for among other things, saying then 52-year-old former South Carolina governor, and 2024 presidential candidate, Nikki Haley “isn’t in her prime.” And then by Elon Musk, who gave him a show, but soured on him when Lemon insisted on interviewing the X owner himself.
Also charged was award-winning independent CW journalist Georgia Fort, who made videos denouncing the charges. She has a track record of reporting on civil rights issues. Fort was arrested at her home while her children were there, livestreaming it as it happened. “As I reflect as a journalist…as I leave this federal courthouse today with one question. Do we have a Constitution? I should be protected under the First Amendment.”
It came down to whether or not Lemon knew the protestors were going into the church, whether he told them not to divulge where they were going, or if, as prosecutors allege, he was part of the group.
Having covered similar events, there is a fine line between chronicling the crowd and getting swept up by the mob. Lemon may have gone too far, but so does arresting someone for what normally would be seen as a flamboyant exploit. Arrest is supposed to be the last resort, not the opening move.
In a saner era, free speech was defended by people like Edward R. Murrow, who stood up against McCarthyism, and Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers – risking their careers, and livelihoods, to fight abusive government.
My instincts as a journalist make me want to come out forcefully for Lemon, even though I’m hardly a fan. But I’m holding my nose doing it.
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