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For Keisha Nicole It’s About More Than Just Playing Music

Charese Fruge
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For Keisha Nicole It’s About More Than Just Playing Music

Keisha Nicole is the midday host of “The Keisha Nicole Show” on Rhythmic Top 40 97.9 The Box in Houston and Hot 100.9 in Indianapolis. She is also the voice of WHTA in Atlanta and WENZ in Cleveland, as well as Reach Media’s syndicated afternoon/night show “Posted On The Corner.”

For as long as I can remember, The Box in Houston has been one of the largest Rhythmic stations in the country. As a kid growing up in the next state over (Louisiana), there were two options for things to do: go to New Orleans or go to Houston, so I know working on such a legendary station like The Box is a privilege for Nicole.

She got into radio because she loves connecting with people. “From the start, I knew this was more than just playing music—it’s about creating moments, making people feel seen, and bringing energy to their day,” she says.

Her journey began at 93.5 KDAY in Los Angeles as an intern. From there, she became the receptionist and then worked her way onto the air on weekends. Her first full-time role took her to Louisville, KY, then to Indianapolis, and eventually to Houston, where she led the morning show for five years. She recently transitioned back into middays, allowing her to focus on “The Keisha Nicole Show” and its expansion.

“Houston is different,” says Keisha. “The city moves to its own beat, and the love here is unmatched. People support their own—whether it’s artists, businesses, or culture, Houston shows up. And right now, Houston is the #1 hot spot in the world. Everyone wants to come here and immerse themselves in the culture, music, food, and energy. You really can’t compare Houston to anywhere else.”

That being said, Keisha says her commitment to the community and The Box (as well as Hot 100.9) is “Bigger than just playing music! We bring conversations that matter—things people are really dealing with. We highlight local businesses, put people onto opportunities, and give back. My goal is for listeners to feel like they’re part of something when they tune in. It’s not just a show; it’s a community. I also want every listener to leave with a moment—something they felt, laughed at, or really connected with.”

As for how the business has changed over the last few years, Keisha insists it has undergone drastic changes. “Social media and streaming have shifted how people consume content, and radio has had to evolve with that. It’s not just about being on the mic anymore; you have to be on IG, TikTok, YouTube, all of it. In some ways, it’s made things more exciting because there are more ways to connect with listeners, but it’s also a lot more work. The key is staying ahead of the curve without losing what makes radio special—creating moments people remember.”

Over the years, Keisha has learned many lessons, including what it takes to be a “Grade A” talent. “You have to be real.” If you’re not authentic, people can tell. You can’t fake connection. You have to be adaptable. The industry is changing constantly. If you’re stuck in your ways, you’ll get left behind. You have to engage. It’s not just about talking—it’s about listening and making real connections with your audience. And you have to create moments. Don’t just do it to go viral—make people feel something. The best personalities create moments that stick with listeners long after the mic is off.”

“What we’re missing from the industry right now is that we’ve lost some of that real, in-depth storytelling. A lot of content feels surface-level now—just quick hits, viral moments, and moving on. But people want substance. They want something that sticks with them. We have to let personalities actually be personalities again. Not everything has to be a quick soundbite. The best content comes when you give people room to have real conversations, be vulnerable, and connect on a deeper level.”

“One of my biggest challenges over the years has been learning how to navigate transitions in my career,” Keisha says. “Leaving a city, adjusting to a new role, moving into different spaces—it’s never easy. But every time I’ve faced a shift, I’ve had to remind myself that I earned my spot. I’ve learned to trust my talent, stay prepared, and to be open to what’s next, even when I don’t have all the answers.”

As for my immediate future, career-wise, I’m building “The Keisha Nicole Show” into something bigger and helping usher in the next wave of personalities. I want to take it beyond radio—whether that’s TV, more brand partnerships, or expanding into the sports world. I’m also working on digital content, growing my presence in that space.”

“On a personal level, I want more balance—fitness, relationships, and personal growth. I want to make sure I’m pouring into every area of my life, not just my career.”

Follow Keisha Nicole on Instagram @keishanicole @keishanicoleshow, and on TikTok @thekeishanicole

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

How News/Talk Radio Professionals Can Make Social Media Work for Them

Peter Thiele
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So, your employer has social media goals as part of your job. News/talk radio hosts and programmers have a huge issue with these initiatives. There is a good reason why: hosts and programmers want to know what the benefits are for the station brand and for their actual shows.

News/talk radio hosts can be quite a curmudgeonly type of human. The social media space seems often that it is out of whack with the format. This could not be more wrong.

Trying not to be stereotypical, but most news/talk radio hosts are not likely to follow the latest looks from New York Fashion Week. Heck, I know hosts who seemingly wear the same hairstyle today as they did a decade ago.

Why is this important? Social media is a visual medium. Radio is not. If you are a host who has been doing this for a while, the only reason to present yourself well-dressed is at a public event or for a sales call. Those days are over. Hosts are now most likely their own producers as well. Being a social media star is now mandated. But, where to start? Your wonderful employer likely has a strategy and a social media point person. Get to know them.

Updated hairstyles and clothing are important because the best way to reach a large audience is with a reel. Your reel should not look like a hostage video. You should be doing something like walking or dancing poorly. I am a terrible dancer, but it is about being eye-catching.

Ask your Program Director if you can keep the board operator after his/her shift for 30 minutes to shoot some reels. It can be 30 seconds long and be like an explainer video. Your reel must look great. Shooting using a cell phone may not be good enough. There may be some post-shoot editing as well.

Your company may have software that they can upload for you. I use one on my personal laptop: I use Wondershare Filmora, which has AI tools for you to use. You can pay a monthly fee or download the program for one convenient fee. I think that I paid $90. It is really easy to use.

There are a wide range of these programs. I have used a couple over the years and this one seems pretty good. I am no expert and am not getting some sweet side cash. Adobe, Apple, and so many more programs are available and likely can be downloaded on your computer in less than 5 minutes unless your internet sucks.

Do you have a set? A cool backdrop for your reel? I am no interior designer, but it is kind of a good idea and likely very affordable. Hit a garage or yard sale, get some good pictures and a bookshelf. You could get a custom sign or logo produced. This does not need to be too elaborate. Look at The Joe Rogan Experience or what Dave Rubin’s sets look like. These are relatively easy and not too expensive. If social media content production is considered essential by your employer, they need to set up their content creators with a way to look appealing.

You must be eye candy. If you are distinguished but not a magnetically attractive human, I am right there with you. It is like taking those unpleasant lemons and making them into lemonade. Dress up the barn as best you can. If you have a better half, take them to get you dolled up for your future career as a social media influencer. Perhaps distinctive headwear. Make yourself different.

If you are producing a 30-second to 90-second reel, it cannot be too complicated. Likely, explaining the need for tort reform in 30 seconds may be too big a putt. Figure out how to simplify things. Consider this a different type of show prep. If you are in a PPM Market, you already know that short monologues, guest segments, and calls are imperative to keep the show working. The same is true with the reel.

We all look at reels. You stop to watch and listen because something is visually appealing or that you have had positive experiences with previous episodes of that content creator’s product. The goal is to stop people from scrolling and to pay attention to your video. Perhaps, you can have someone in their 20s wearing swimwear and interrupt that attractive person explaining why tax cuts are sexier than that bikini. Consider this one.

I hope that this gives you some ideas. Many of us have been shadow-banned and have a natural cynicism to social media. Your employer likely knows this. This is a part of a radio career in 2025. You are creative and likely are awesome as well. Figure it out!

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

What Survey Results About Future of NPR and PBS Should Mean for Federal Support of Public Media

Dr. Ed Cohen
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What Survey Results About Future of NPR and PBS Should Mean for Federal Support of Public Media

Federal support for public broadcasting — PBS for video and NPR for audio — is teetering. Since the advent of the two services more than a half-century ago, the annual federal grant has come under attack many times — mostly from conservatives — but has always survived.

The current Congress shows an appetite for “zeroing out” the subsidy and if that happens, you can be certain that President Trump will support it.

A couple of weeks ago, the Pew Research Center released the results of a short study about the public’s interest in federal support for public broadcasting. The study, conducted between March 10th and 16th, showed a plurality favored continued federal funding by a margin of 43% to 24%, with 33% unsure.

As you might have guessed, self-proclaimed Democrats or those who lean Democrat favored support by a margin of 69 to 5, while self-proclaimed Republicans or those who lean Republican were against federal support by 44 to 19.

Three points stood out to me as a researcher. Rather than accept what was reported in the trades, I reviewed Pew’s release on their website. Pew is one of the top survey research operations in the country and allows you to see far more of the “inner workings” than other survey organizations, including the actual questionnaire.

Pew asked respondents whether they had heard of NPR or PBS, regardless of whether they used the services. While only 15% had not heard of PBS, 42% had not heard of NPR. A Pew study in 2019 put the NPR “hadn’t heard of it” number at 44%. In other words, in a national study, more than four out of ten respondents had not heard of National Public Radio! NPR has been around since 1972, yet after more than a half-century, a quality survey finds more than four out of ten Americans can’t identify NPR!

Since Arbitron/Nielsen added noncommercial stations in the published ratings (the stations were always there, but the results were not part of the public release), some public radio stations have consistently finished in first place on a P12+ or P6+ total week basis or at worst in the top five in their markets. And for years, the two biggest draws on public radio have been national shows, All Things Considered and Morning Edition, both of which use the NPR branding extensively. Yet Pew says more than four out of ten Americans haven’t heard of NPR.

Next, Pew asked the funding question of everyone in the sample including the 42% that didn’t know about NPR. As noted above, one-third weren’t sure and you can bet the vast majority of the “not sures” didn’t know about NPR.

My issue with the question is that PBS and NPR were conflated. In other words, users of public TV that don’t use NPR or even know of it may have been in favor of federal support for PBS, but not for NPR, or weren’t sure. While I greatly respect Pew’s methodologists, this question should have had two parts. I’d be willing to go on DraftKings, FanDuel, or BetMGM and put a few dollars on a lower federal support number for NPR.

There’s another insight here concerning conducting surveys today. Pew is open about their results and this study was part of their ongoing American Trends Panel (ATP). ATP is done mostly online with a small telephone component. The sample size for Wave 165 of the ATP (this study) was 9,482. That’s big and the response rate for those who were asked to do the survey was 90 percent (base of 10,576).

However, the “P” in ATP stands for panel which was recruited using other methods and Pew publishes the stats:

  • Cumulative response rate, ATP Wave 165
  • Weighted response rate to recruitment surveys: 11%
  • % of recruitment survey respondents who agreed to join the panel, among those invited: 73%
  • % of those agreeing to join who were active panelists at start of Wave 165: 35%
  • Response rate to Wave 165 survey: 90%
  • Cumulative response rate: 3%

The true final response rate for the study was 3%. Yes, 3%, which in today’s environment is decent. If you think Nielsen’s PPM response rate is higher, I have a couple of bridges you may be interested in purchasing. And don’t look at the Nielsen SPI (Sample Performance Indicator) because that inflates the true response rate even though many SPIs are in single digits.

I’m not showing these numbers to embarrass or denigrate Pew or Nielsen, but rather to highlight how hard it is to get people to take part in surveys. Further, always look closely at how the questions were asked. In this case, the support for federal dollars for NPR may be buoyed by support for Masterpiece Theatre or Nova…we don’t know.

As a longtime media researcher, here are my key points:

· Fifty years on and over 40% of the US population doesn’t know what NPR is.

· Whether or not you think NPR is valuable, there is a huge negative perception when only 19% of those on the right believe federal support is warranted.

· NPR has a trust issue as a news source. PBS won on “trust versus distrust” for news by a margin of 41 to 15. For NPR, the margin was 29 to 14. Another 14% weren’t sure if they trusted or distrusted NPR and again, 42% didn’t know what NPR was.

· Among Republicans or those who lean Republican, NPR news lost on trust by 26 to 12, while for PBS, the margin was just 26 to 23 in favor of “distrust”. Democrats and lean Democrat trusted NPR news by a margin of 47 to 3.

If public broadcasting loses federal funding, results like these will explain a great deal, while Pew’s openness also shows just how hard it is to do quality survey research work in the 21st Century. Most of all, when presented with survey results, ask questions.

Let’s meet again next week.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Puro Tejano Launches in McAllen TX

BMM Staff
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Puro Tejano Launches in McAllen TX

The Latino Media Network has launched Puro Tejano 1530 AM, a new Tejano music station serving the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen, TX.

1530 AM operates at 50,000 watts daytime, allowing it to reach over 1 million potential Hispanic listeners.

Vicky Guerrero, Texas Regional General Manager, said, “KYWW Puro Tejano 1530 AM is more than a station — it’s a revival of the Valley’s deep-rooted Tejano music culture.”  “We’re proud to bring the community a station that reflects their heritage, celebrates their music, and connects listeners across generations with the authentic Tejano sound they love.”

The music mix features Tejano legends such as Selena, Emilio Navaira, La Mafia, and Mazz, alongside rising stars like Siggno, Solido, and Grupo Frontera.

The station was part of the station group LMN purchased from Univision in 2022.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

New York Yankees, YES Network Announce ‘The Stadium’ Docuseries

BSM Staff
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New York Yankees, YES Network Announce ‘The Stadium’ Docuseries

The New York Yankees and YES Network will be premiering a new docuseries that will grant fans behind-the-scenes looks at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. Viewers will be gaining unprecedented access into the ballpark that demonstrates what takes place inside of the iconic venue before it opens to fans on game days.

While filming the series, YES Network was able to capture locations and activities within the setting that have not been previously displayed to audiences.

“When you step back and think about what we do at Yankee Stadium, the population of a small city shows up to a single building in the most famous city in the world, and in a three-hour time frame, they have to enter and exit smoothly, shop for merchandise, be served hundreds of different items of food, and be entertained with music, continuously updated graphics and a performance from the best athletes in the world — all while their collective safety and security is vigilantly maintained,” Doug Behar, senior vice president of stadium operations for the New York Yankees, said in a statement.

“We also have to meticulously maintain an outdoor field through all types of weather and accommodate the wide array of outside people who come to work at Yankee Stadium, including staff from multiple broadcast networks, reporters from around the country, Yankees players and coaches, and the traveling party of the visiting team. The logistics are incredibly complex, but we pull it off because we love what we do, and we know how much it means to each and every person who steps foot inside our building.”

The first episode of The Stadium focuses on preparation ahead of Opening Day and will premiere on YES Network following the Yankees Postgame Show. New episodes will be released once per month throughout the season, and will also be available to stream on YES within The Gotham Sports App. The series will also be narrated by Yankee Stadium employees who will provide their insights and perspectives on what it takes to prepare the venue for visitors from around the world.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Brock Huard Exits FOX Sports College Football Booth

BSM Staff
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Brock Huard Exits FOX Sports College Football Booth

Brock Huard will be departing FOX Sports coverage of college football as he takes on a coaching position with his son’s high school football team. Huard, who has worked at the network since 2019 after a stint at ESPN, has been collaborating alongside play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti and reporter Allison Williams on the No. 2 announcing team. In addition, Huard is working on coverage of the UFL for FOX Sports and hosting his Brock and Salk radio show in morning drive on Seattle Sports 710 AM. News of Huard departing FOX Sports was first reported by Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports.

“I’m going to learn a lot of football,” Huard said during a recent appearance on the Real Hawk Talk podcast. “I told him, for 18 years I’ve been in reaction mode. So much of my radio show, so much on game day. Yeah, I project, and I try to see how the game’s unfolding. But most of it is just reacting. [I’m] kind of excited and anxious to see what it’s like on the other side, to prepare, to be in ‘go mode’ from the coaching end of it and learn a lot. I think I’ll be a better broadcaster, I think the radio show will be better.”

Although Huard will be leaving the college football announcing booth, he is still keeping “the door open” to potentially do NFL games. Huard played six seasons in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks, and he previously called games within the league for FOX Sports in 2020. Before that time, he was a college football quarterback for the University of Washington where he played for four seasons.

“I’d like to still do [announcing] down the road, but for these years, these formative years, my son’s going to be a sophomore,” Huard said. “These are years I’ll never, ever, ever get back, and I’m going to jump into it.”

Huard has been hosting on Seattle Sports 710 AM since 2009 and has primarily worked with Mike Salk in three different stints together. Before he started appearing on ESPN coverage as the Seahawks made a Super Bowl run in 2005, he ventured into a post-playing career working in real-estate development. Huard has continued his radio program concurrent with the college football season, including hosting Friday editions of Brock and Salk on the road.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Tennessee Titans Name Taylor Zarzour as Lead Play-By-Play Announcer

BSM Staff
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Tennessee Titans Name Taylor Zarzour as Lead Play-By-Play Announcer

The Tennessee Titans have named Taylor Zarzour as the new lead play-by-play voice of the NFL franchise. Zarzour replaces Mike Keith, who had been the Titans’ play-by-play voice since the franchise was renamed to the Titans in 1999. Keith decided to step down from his position with the team to pursue being the lead play-by-play announcer for the University of Tennessee.

Currently, Zarzour works for the SEC Network, calling play-by-play for Saturday afternoon college football games and some college baseball games since 2015. In addition, he serves as host and director for SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio as the radio voice of golf’s major championships, including The Masters this weekend.

“I know people always say this, when they get a job that they are excited about, how it is like a dream come true, or a chance of a lifetime,” Zarzour said via a team release. “To sit here today, I can’t stop thinking about this opportunity, and I am really excited to get going.”

Furthermore, in addition to his play-by-play role with the team, Zarzour will be hosting both the “Brian Callahan Show” for the radio audience and “Titans Football with Brian Callahan” for the television audience locally in Nashville, TN.

Zarzour, an Alabama native, was co-host for the “Morning Sports Page” on Sports Radio 560 in Nashville twenty-four years ago. Afterward, he returned to his hometown of Mobile, where he served as the Program Director and Afternoon Host for Sports Radio 105.5 WNSP. Zarzour began his broadcasting career as a sports reporter for WEAR TV in Pensacola, FL.

“To be the voice of a team in a town my wife and I have always dreamed of living in, I can’t believe it. I am super excited about it,” explained Zarzour.

Moreover, Zarzour will continue in his roles with golf and college sports while calling games on the Tennessee Titans Radio Network.

“We are so excited to welcome Taylor back to Nashville, and to add him to our team as Titans broadcaster,” said Titans Sr. VP of Brand Marketing, Erin Swartz. “We were immediately struck by his passion for connecting with fans through his broadcasts, and by the energy he brings to his work. We know he’ll fit right into the Titans community and can’t wait for fans to meet him.”

Zarzour noted that he understands the role he’s stepping into by replacing a local legend such as Mike Keith. Nevertheless, he’s looking forward to connecting with the fan base.

“I do think people will see very quickly that I get really excited about representing a team and a community, the way Mike did,” said Zarzour. “I am going to sound like Taylor, I am not going to sound like Mike.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Orlando Magic Announcer Paul Porter Says the Team Decided This Will Be His Final Season

BSM Staff
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Orlando Magic Announcer Paul Porter Says the Team Decided This Will Be His Final Season

For 36 years, Orlando Magic fans have heard the in-arena announcements from public address announcer Paul Porter. However, change is in the wind in O-Town. According to a team release, Porter will be working his final games for the Magic this season, as the team is slated to honor him at the April 9 game against the Boston Celtics.

Currently, Porter shares his time between the Magic and the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL. At the age of 71, he lives in the Tampa Bay region and travels for Magic games. Additionally, per a release by the team, Porter stated he was thankful for his 36 years with the organization.

However, Porter later clarified that the decision to leave was indeed the organization’s, not his, according to a post on his personal Facebook.

“Some career news,” Porter posted over the weekend on Facebook. “The Orlando Magic today announced that this will be my final season with the team. This was a decision by the team and not mine, but I am grateful for the 36 seasons I have had with them.”

Furthermore, Porter, speaking with the Orlando Sentinel this weekend, confirmed that he has known this would be his final season since last June, when he was informed by the team of the change.

“About February or so, I contacted the Magic and said, ‘I’d really like to retire on my own terms,’ and in my mind I was thinking I was going to do the Magic for a year or two. I’m 71 years old,” Porter told Jason Beede of the Sentinel. “And I just said, ‘Would you consider allowing me to do one more season or maybe two, and then just announce that I’m retiring?’ And they said, ‘No, the decision has already been made. We are going in a different chapter and this will be your final year.’”

Since then, the Magic have not commented beyond their initial release about honoring Porter with the game against the Celtics.

“Paul has certainly left an indelible mark on our franchise,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins in the team statement Friday. “Simply, he will be missed, but never forgotten. His iconic calls will certainly live on.”

Looking ahead, the team has announced they will be in search of a new public address announcer.

Porter Facebook Post (Orlando Magic PA)

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Stephen A. Smith No Longer Ruling Out Possibility of Running for President in 2028

BNM Staff
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Stephen A. Smith No Longer Ruling Out Possibility of Running for President in 2028

After some polls had shown him as one of the top candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, ESPN host Stephen A. Smith continually denied he’d be a candidate for the office. Evidently, he’s reversing course.

While speaking at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Smith was asked by McVay Media President Mike McVay about his political aspirations.

“I have no desire to do it,” said Smith about seeking the office of the presidency. “I’m living a pretty good life right now. Life’s been good. The last thing that I would want to do is involve myself in politics. I’ve always perceived politicians as being professional beggars. I don’t say that derogatorily or anything like that. It’s just the reality. You’ve always got your hand out for something. People always need favors in return. I’m not that guy. So I could never see myself as a politician.”

Stephen A. Smith then revealed that he’s been courted in recent weeks to reconsider his stance.

“Over the last few weeks, I’ve had no choice but to get more serious about it,” he shared. “I’ve been approached by people on Capitol Hill. I’ve been approached by people who are elected officials in office, whether it’s governors or mayors or what have you. People have legitimately, seriously, asked me about it. I have no desire to be a politician, but I’ve decided that I’m no longer going to close that door. I’m gonna keep my options open. I’m going to entertain the possibility. If it comes in late 2026, 2027, where I look at this country and think it’s an absolute mess and there’s legitimate reason to believe … that I indeed have a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States. I am not going to rule it out.”

Smith shared that he would be able to go on the offensive should he run for the office, due to his lack of political record and that he would be able to “eat (other candidates) alive” from their records.

He concluded his remarks by stating that in everything he does, he aims to win, and wouldn’t enter the race unless he truly felt he had the possibility of winning the race and making a change in the lives of millions of Americans. Smith listed prominent Democrats like Governors Wes Moore (MD), Josh Shapiro (PA), and Gavin Newsom (CA) as the most likely candidates that he would have to challenge for the nomination.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

CNN Sets Plans for Town Hall Series Hosted by Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and Kaitlan Collins

BNM Staff
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CNN Sets Plans for Town Hall Series Hosted by Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and Kaitlan Collins

CNN has announced plans to host a series of town halls, with hosts Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and Kaitlan Collins anchoring the coverage.

On Wednesday, April 9th, the network will host Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for a town hall with Anderson Cooper. The event will be staged in Washington D.C., with a live studio audience asking the sitting senator questions on a variety of topics. CNN maintains that the audience will be made up of a diverse array of political backgrounds.

On the following night, the network will broadcast a town hall featuring four current members of the House of Representatives. Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and Derek Tran (D-CA) will also be in Washington D.C. to answer questions from the public. That town hall event will be anchored by Kaitlan Collins and Jake Tapper.

Like the first town hall, the network says the live, in-studio audience will be compromised of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.

It is not the first time any of the network’s talents have hosted a town hall event. Collins famously hosted the 2023 town hall with Donald Trump which eventually led to her elevation to the network’s primetime lineup. Meanwhile, both Anderson Cooper and Jake Tapper also hosted town hall events with presidential candidates during the 2024 election cycle.

Additionally, Tapper moderated a presidential debate between Trump and then-Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in 2024, which ultimately led to his departure from the race for the White House.

Both town hall events will air at 9 PM ET. The broadcasts will be available for CNN subscribers the following day.

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