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Rachel Maddow to Lead MS NOW’s Primary Election Coverage

Garrett Searight
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Rachel Maddow to Lead MS NOW’s Primary Election Coverage

Rachel Maddow will anchor MS NOW’s primary election coverage on August 4th. MS NOW plans wall-to-wall analysis from polls closing through late-night results.

What We Know: Rachel Maddow will lead MS NOW‘s live primetime coverage beginning at 8 PM ET as voters head to the polls in Michigan, Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, and Washington. The special coverage will focus on real-time election results, reporting from the field, and analysis of races expected to influence the November general election. Maddow will be joined throughout the evening by Nicolle Wallace, Chris Hayes, Symone Sanders Townsend, Michael Steele, and Lawrence O’Donnell. Meanwhile, Ali Velshi will oversee the network’s big board, breaking down incoming returns and explaining key trends as results arrive. After primetime, The Weekend co-anchors Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Daniels, and Jackie Alemany will continue coverage into the early morning hours. In addition, reporters stationed across Michigan and Virginia will provide updates from polling locations and campaign headquarters.

What’s at Stake: Tuesday’s primaries represent one of the biggest testing grounds yet in the 2026 election cycle. Voters will decide nominees in competitive gubernatorial, Senate, and congressional contests that could shape the political landscape heading into November. Consequently, the outcomes may offer an early indication of voter sentiment in several closely watched battlegrounds while giving campaigns fresh momentum or new challenges.

What Remains Unclear: It remains unknown how long MS NOW will stay on the air with election coverage. That largely depends on how quickly decisive results will emerge in every race. Some contests could extend late into the night depending on turnout, ballot counting, and the closeness of the vote.

What It Means: Election nights remain among the biggest programming opportunities for cable news networks. By placing Maddow at the center of its coverage and deploying anchors, analysts, and reporters across multiple states, MS NOW aims to provide viewers with comprehensive reporting during a pivotal night in the 2026 campaign.

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.

ESPN Adam Schefter: Kyle Shanahan Car Accident Happened During “Quietest Time” Of NFL Year

John Mamola
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ESPN Adam Schefter: Kyle Shanahan Car Accident Happened During “Quietest Time” Of NFL Year

ESPN’s Adam Schefter isn’t apologizing for the Kyle Shanahan news timeline. Instead, he’s crediting the 49ers for handling the situation well.

What We Know: Kyle Shanahan’s car accident happened July 14, yet the news didn’t surface for 11 days. Schefter addressed that gap Tuesday during an appearance on ESPN Radio’s Unsportsmanlike following criticism about if ESPN held onto the story because of their relationship with the NFL. He explained the delay reflected a quiet stretch on the NFL calendar, not any cover-up. Training camp openings, rather than injury news, dominated headlines throughout that stretch, according to Schefter.

What They Said: (All quotes via Unsportsmanlike on ESPN Radio)

Adam Schefter credits the 49ers for keeping the Kyle Shanahan news quiet: “It’s the quietest time of the NFL year. The 49ers did a great job at keeping things quiet. There were other people that knew. Sean McVay talked about the fact that he had a press conference, and the 49ers did some interviews with other media outlets where other people knew. It came up in those interviews.”

Adam Schefter on why the Shanahan story is different than other league news: “It’s a sensitive situation. It’s not like a transaction or a signing. Where there’s a signing. There are certain things that are a little bit sensitive. People are a little bit private about certain things, and different stories move at different rhythms and paces. That that was probably the quietest week in the NFL calendar.”

What Remains Unclear: Schefter said others, including Rams coach Sean McVay, already knew key details beforehand. Still, it remains unclear why those details didn’t reach the public sooner. That gap, nearly two weeks long, continues to raise questions among those in sports media.

What It Means: Schefter’s explanation reframes the story as routine rather than orchestrated. Additionally, it suggests sensitive injury news moves differently than transactions or signings. Despite the explanation, the timing is unescapable. How every NFL reporter didn’t know about an accident involving a NFL head coach is hard to fathom. Schefter’s words provide a distinction that could ease lingering scrutiny of ESPN’s role in the timeline. Ultimately, his comments shift the conversation from suspicion toward simple context.

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.

Cumulus Media Wins Court Approval for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Extension

Garrett Searight
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Cumulus Media Wins Court Approval for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Extension

Cumulus Media received court approval to extend key Chapter 11 deadlines. The broadcaster continues to await FCC approval to complete its restructuring.

What We Know: Bankruptcy Judge Alfredo Pérez approved Cumulus Media‘s request to extend its exclusive Chapter 11 filing and solicitation periods. The company now has until October 30th to file a reorganization plan and until December 29th to solicit acceptances. The extension doesn’t signal new issues with the restructuring. Instead, it reflects the ongoing Federal Communications Commission review of ownership changes required before the bankruptcy plan can take effect. The bankruptcy court confirmed Cumulus’ prepackaged restructuring plan in April. However, the company can’t emerge from Chapter 11 until the FCC signs off on the ownership transfer. Earlier this month, Cumulus told the court it remains in a holding pattern while the agency reviews its application. Although the broadcaster has worked with stakeholders throughout the process, it acknowledged the FCC’s timeline remains largely outside its control.

What’s At Stake: The FCC’s approval remains the final major step before Cumulus can complete its financial restructuring. Once finalized, the transaction would eliminate roughly $592 million in debt, reduce annual cash interest expenses by approximately $49 million, and transfer ownership to the company’s lenders.

What Remains Unclear: The FCC hasn’t indicated when it expects to complete its review of the ownership changes. Additionally, it’s unknown whether Cumulus will need to seek another extension if the regulatory process extends beyond the new deadlines.

What It Means: Friday’s ruling keeps Cumulus’ restructuring on track while federal regulators complete their review. Although the bankruptcy process has moved unusually quickly since the company filed for Chapter 11 on March 4th, the broadcaster’s emergence now depends almost entirely on the timing of the FCC’s decision.

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.

Mike Valenti: Ryan Clark Playing the Victim “Predictable” Following ESPN Departure

John Mamola
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0
Mike Valenti: Ryan Clark Playing the Victim “Predictable” Following ESPN Departure

97.1 The Ticket host Mike Valenti wasted no time on Monday tearing into the explaination by Ryan Clark following his departure from ESPN. The comments made by Clark on The Pivot struck a nerve with Valenti as predictable.

What We Know: ESPN cut Ryan Clark last week amid broader layoffs tied to its NFL Network integration. Clark later addressed the exit on The Pivot podcast, insisting he was fired rather than laid off. That explanation set off Valenti, who blasted Clark Monday on The Mike Valenti Show with Rico. Valenti didn’t buy Clark’s framing and said so repeatedly.

What They Said: (All quotes from 97.1 The Ticket)

Mike Valenti on Ryan Clark departing ESPN: “I’m done with him. He is a delusional, race baiting loser. He got got. He’s doing exactly what we all knew he would do when he got let go. Play the victim, inject race into it, and then in a delusional maraschino cherry topper, act as if he is a Zion broadcaster of football.”

Mike Valenti in enjoying witnessing the aftermath of Ryan Clark’s departure from ESPN: “Dude, you could walk the streets and nobody would even know you’re on ESPN. Nobody watches that show. It’s insanity. I am enjoying it because it’s just showing you who he is and what he is. It’s five stars. We’ll read again.”

Mike Valenti doesn’t buy into Ryan Clark saying he was defending the culture at ESPN: “Good riddance. I was defending the culture. What are you, Malcolm X? It’s ridiculous. Can you imagine? That’s like David [The Mike Valenti Show with Rico producer] having a sports take and then going into the microphone to be like, guys, I’m defending the culture. No, you’re not. You’re talking sports.”

What Remains Unclear: Clark nor ESPN has not commented on Valenti’s remarks. Clark also hasn’t responded directly to the radio host. Meanwhile, his next career move remains unannounced.

What It Means: Valenti’s rant adds another loud voice to the Clark fallout. The most vocal have been the ones who have seemingly celebrated Clark’s exit. Sports radio thrives on this kind of unfiltered reaction, and Valenti delivered it once again. For Clark, the criticism piles onto an already messy exit with an unknown future lying ahead.

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.

WFAN Boomer Esiason Open To Weekly Appearance With Chris “Mad Dog” Russo On SiriusXM

John Mamola
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WFAN Boomer Esiason Open To Weekly Appearance With Chris “Mad Dog” Russo On SiriusXM

Boomer Esiason may be ready to team up with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo again. The WFAN host hinted at a weekly SiriusXM hit on Tuesday’s Boomer & Gio, just days after Audacy and SiriusXM announced their content-sharing deal.

What We Know: Audacy and SiriusXM struck an agreement bringing WFAN and other Audacy stations to SiriusXM starting September 1. Russo already hosts Mad Dog Sports Radio on SiriusXM. Additionally, Esiason and Russo have history. They co-hosted In The Huddle together in the late ’90s and early 2000s on WFAN. Moreover, that old partnership could resurface in some form.

What They Said: (All quotes from WFAN)

Boomer Esiason on Chris “Mad Dog” Russo inquiring about an opportunity at SiriusXM: “He did not leave me a message as to coming on to his show as a guest. He left me a message as I got something for you. You might want to do this. Which led me to believe that there was some sort of payment attached to it. Ten years ago I was told I couldn’t do anything in SiriusXM. Now all of a sudden we-I guess I can do things with SiriusXM.”

Boomer Esiason open to a spot with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on SiriusXM: “He probably felt since the announcement came down that Audacy is going to be on SiriusXM Radio, that he could, in some way, shape, or form, pull me into his web during football season. I never say no to anything. I just always want to hear it all out.”

Boomer Esiason on working with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo previously: “I worked with him a long time ago. I did ‘In The Huddle’ with him way back when in the late ’90s, early 2000s. He was a maniac. He was coming off of a five-hour show, and then just started attacking me as the show started. Which was fun. Kind of made it fun.”

What Remains Unclear: No formal offer exists yet, according to Esiason’s account. Terms, and frequency remain unconfirmed.

What It Means: The Audacy-SiriusXM deal appears to be opening doors beyond simple station distribution. Esiason’s openness suggests talent crossover could follow the September launch. Moreover, for listeners, that means more potential Boomer-Mad Dog content ahead. Russo has been destination radio for many years with regular guest spots on his program. In addition, Russo has expressed an interest in a reunion with Mike Francesa for his weekly football picks segment. We will see who Russo lands as kickoff is less than 50 days away.

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.

Steve Smith Reportedly Joining ESPN In A Studio Analyst Capacity

John Mamola
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Steve Smith Reportedly Joining ESPN In A Studio Analyst Capacity

Steve Smith is reportedly coming to ESPN’s studio lineup. The move traces back to Disney’s takeover of NFL Network.

What We Know: Front Office Sports is reporting that Smith will be in a recurring role across ESPN programming. Potential landing spots include Get Up, First Take, NFL Live, and a forthcoming program involving Peter Schrager. That show would follow The Pat McAfee Show at 2 p.m. ET. Smith previously worked as an NFL Network analyst and called Panthers preseason games in 2021.

What’s At Stake: Steve Smith is just the latest NFL Network talent inserted into daily ESPN programming. With ESPN taking oversight over the league’s network, continued use of talent across both platforms is likely to increase ahead of the regular season kicking off in September. While in the NFL, Smith made the Pro Bowl five times and amassed 14,731 receiving yards over his career with the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens, good for seventh most all-time. He won the “Triple Crown” with the Panthers in 2005 by topping three separate statistical categories, tying for the league lead in catches and touchdowns while leading the league in receiving yards.

What Remains Unclear: Smith’s exact show assignments are unknown. Timing for his ESPN debut also remains undetermined.

What It Means: Smith joins Kyle Brandt and Stacey Dales as former NFL Network voices folded into ESPN’s coverage so far. Moreover, ESPN appears to be actively reshaping its NFL talent roster with the takeover of the NFL Network. Ryan Clark, Cam Newton, Tom Pelissaro, Charles Davis are out. Using Brandt, Dales, and now reportedly Smith on both platforms seems to be the start of those plans. What shows Smith will be a part of remains to be seen.

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.

WNBA Viewership Up Double Digits Halfway Through 2026 Season

John Mamola
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WNBA Viewership Up Double Digits Halfway Through 2026 Season

WNBA viewership is up double digits so far this season. Caitlin Clark remains the biggest draw on the schedule.

What We Know: According to Sports Business Journal, league-wide viewership has risen 12% year over year, averaging 742,000 viewers per game across all partners. More than 73 million people have watched WNBA games this season, a record at the All-Star break. Fever games account for the seven most-watched broadcasts of the year. A July 12 Fever-Aces game on NBC drew 2.64 million viewers, the league’s third-best audience in 25 years.

What Remains Unclear: It’s unclear whether NBC and USA can sustain these numbers once Clark-driven matchups thin out later in the season. ION’s overall audience is down, even after front-loading its schedule with Fever games.

What It Means: The WNBA continues to become a bigger piece of the sports viewership puzzle. The new media-rights deals are paying off early, and Clark remains its engine. Networks are leaning hard on Fever games to anchor big audiences, including Finals coverage this fall. Still, the league’s challenge is proving growth extends beyond one team, player, or network. Sustained gains will depend on building interest across the full schedule, not just marquee matchups on all partners.

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.

Tony Khan: AEW Podcast Network “Is Coming”

John Mamola
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Tony Khan: AEW Podcast Network “Is Coming”

AEW CEO Tony Khan confirmed AEW’s podcast network remains in development. The update follows months of silence since a March tease in a release regarding MyAEW for overseas fans.

What We Know: In March, AEW announced MyAEW, a streaming platform for international fans to watch live and archived events. The press release also mentioned an AEW Podcast Network, though no updates followed for months. Since then, MyAEW has kept expanding, recently adding QT Marshall’s 1 Fall Wrestling promotion. Meanwhile, WWE recently launched its own audio venture, WWE Radio on SiriusXM.

What They Said: Tony Khan, AEW CEO: “We’ve been working on it. We’re still planning the AEW podcast network with our friends. That is coming. That’s been in the works for quite a while, and it’s still in the works. It’s going to be very good. I’m looking forward to the AEW podcast network as we’ve been planning for a while. It’s going to be excellent.”

What Remains Unclear: Khan didn’t share a launch date, partners, or show lineup. He said the project has been planned for months and developed quietly behind the scenes. Still, no timeline exists for when fans might hear actual programming.

What It Means: A podcast network would extend AEW’s push into owned digital platforms, building on MyAEW’s momentum. Professional wrestling content continues to be a budding category for online and satellite radio content distribution. Kahn was questioned about the network following the WWE’s SiriusXM expansion. Continued growth across MyAEW suggests AEW views audio and streaming as connected priorities. Until specifics emerge, though, the podcast network stays a promise rather than a product.

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.

Kaitlan Collins Responds to President Donald Trump’s Personal Attacks

Garrett Searight
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Kaitlan Collins Responds to President Donald Trump’s Personal Attacks

Kaitlan Collins says the focus should stay on her reporting. President Donald Trump remains a frequent critic of the CNN journalist.

What We Know: CNN anchor and White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins is addressing the repeated personal insults she receives from President Donald Trump. During an appearance on The Daily Show, Collins told host Jon Stewart she deliberately avoids making the exchanges about herself and instead redirects attention to the reporting that prompted Trump’s criticism. Trump intensified his attacks during last week’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner. While Collins accepted the Excellence in Presidential News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure Award, the president sharply criticized her from the stage. The remarks added another chapter to the contentious relationship between the two.

What They Said: “In terms of my reaction, I’ve always felt this, regardless of who’s the president, whether it’s Joe Biden or Donald Trump. Those are the two I’ve covered. It’s really not about me. And I don’t want it to be about my reaction. So I think if you let it become about that, it becomes a back-and-forth between the two of us. Instead, I think it’s more effective to remind people in those moments when he is insulting me or when he is criticizing me about the question I asked or the reporting that I did that he was so angry about in this moment — and the fact that I got an award for it really bothered him, clearly. I just think in those moments it’s important to put the reminder back on the work, on the question, and on the non-answers that we get.” – Kaitlan Collins

What Remains Unclear: It’s unclear whether Trump’s latest criticism will alter Collins’ stature in the Briefing Room. Likewise, neither Trump nor CNN has indicated whether the latest exchange will change their approach going forward.

What It Means: Collins’ response reinforces a philosophy shared by many White House correspondents. She is clear in wanting to keep the attention on the reporting instead of the rhetoric. Her remarks on The Daily Show suggest she believes Trump’s criticism only underscores the significance of the questions being asked. Especially when those questions produce uncomfortable moments for the administration.

CW Sports To Begin Streaming Live Sports On ESPN App Beginning August 4

John Mamola
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0
CW Sports To Begin Streaming Live Sports On ESPN App Beginning August 4

CW Sports has a date set for their launch on the ESPN App. The new streaming partnership officially launches Tuesday, August 4.

What We Know: The CW Network and ESPN confirmed the date in which the expansion of CW Sports’ reached beyond traditional broadcast. More than 800 annual hours of CW Sports will stream live on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. The launch begins with a two-hour WWE NXT event on August 4, followed by NASCAR, college football, and another WWE event later in the month. Additionally, The CW already sublicenses ESPN’s ACC football and basketball rights, extending a partnership that predates this new streaming deal.

What They Said: CW Sports President Brad Schwartz (via Barrett Media May 7, 2026): “It’s going to be a CW-branded destination within the ESPN app, just like they have an NFL destination within the ESPN app. We control all of our content. It’s not unlike if it was just a CW app. It gives us that streaming solution that we, fans, and frankly the leagues have been asking us for.”

CW Sports President Brad Schwartz (via Barrett Media May 7, 2026): “We sublicense an ACC package from them, and love working with them [ESPN]. When you have a partner and work together really closely on something, it leads to other conversations. It started with asking if we should stream ACC games. Then it was, should we stream everything? The conversation just grew. This is a first-of-its-kind deal for them, and the same for us. It’s very innovative for all and took some time to figure out.”

What Remains Unclear: Pricing details for accessing CW Sports through ESPN Unlimited were not specified. Similarly, the release doesn’t clarify whether all CW Sports programming will stream, or only select events.

What It Means: This deal significantly widens CW Sports’ digital footprint ahead of its biggest college football season yet. By pairing with ESPN’s massive App audience, The CW gains exposure well beyond its own distribution. Meanwhile, ESPN adds live NASCAR, added WWE, and college sports programming to its Unlimited tier, sweetening its value proposition. Ultimately, both companies benefit from combining fanbases across linear and streaming platforms.

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.

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