Saturday, June 14, 2025

Radio History: June 15


➦In 1910...David Rose born in London (Died at age 80 – August 23, 1990). He was a songwriter, composer, arranger, pianist, and orchestra leader. His best known compositions were "The Stripper", "Holiday for Strings", and "Calypso Melody".

David Rose
He also wrote music for many television series, including It's a Great Life, The Tony Martin Show, Little House on the Prairie, Highway to Heaven, Bonanza, and Highway Patrol under the pseudonym "Ray Llewellyn." Rose's work as a composer for television programs earned him four Emmys.  In addition, he was musical director for The Red Skelton Show during its 21-year run on the CBS and NBC networks.

In Hollywood, Rose formed his orchestra, doing a twice-weekly radio show for Mutual Broadcasting System called California Melodies, writing all the broadcast arrangements. He worked his way up to becoming music director of the Mutual network. Rose's first try at composing was his hit song "Holiday for Strings". During World War II, Rose entered the Army first meeting Red Skelton while both were enlisted. Skelton asked Rose to become the conductor for his Raleigh Cigarette Program. Rose joined the cast in 1948 and worked with Skelton on his television show for over 20 years.

➦In 1917...Blind Country musician and songwriter Leon Payne was born in Alba Texas.

Leon Payne
He is perhaps best known for his hits “I Love You Because,” and “You’ve Still Got A Place In My Heart.”   He began his music career in the mid-1930s, playing a variety of musical instruments in public, and later performing on KWET radio in Palestine, Texas, starting in 1935.

He also had a stint playing with Bob Wills' Texas Playboys in 1938. Payne was a regular working musician at Jerry Irby’s nightclub in Houston, Texas. He joined his stepbrother, famed songwriter Jack Rhodes, and formed Jack Rhodes and The Lone Star Buddies in 1949. They performed regularly on the Louisiana Hayride show in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was later on the Grand Ole Opry.

He died from a heart attack Sep 11, 1969 at age 52.

➦In 1923...Erroll Garner born (Died at age 53 – January 2, 1977) He was a jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads. His best-known composition, the ballad "Misty", has become a jazz standard. Scott Yanow of Allmusic calls him "one of the most distinctive of all pianists" and a "brilliant virtuoso."  He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6363 Hollywood Blvd.

Erroll Garner
Garner began playing piano at the age of three. His elder siblings were taught piano by Miss Bowman. From an early age, Erroll would sit down and play anything she had demonstrated, just like Miss Bowman, his eldest sister Martha said.  Garner was self-taught and remained an "ear player" all his life, never learning to read music.

At age seven, he began appearing on the radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh with a group called the Candy Kids. By age 11, he was playing on the Allegheny riverboats. At 14 in 1937, he joined local saxophonist Leroy Brown.

He played locally in the shadow of his older pianist brother Linton Garner. Garner moved to New York City in 1944.

➦In 1945...NBC Blue Network becomes the American Broadcasting Company.

The company’s history traces to 1926, when the Radio Corporation of America (now RCA Corporation) and two other firms founded the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) to operate a nationwide radio broadcasting network.

NBC expanded so rapidly that by 1927 it found itself with an excess of affiliates in the same cities, so it split its programming into two separate networks, called the Red and the Blue networks.

After the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) declared in 1941 that no company could own more than one radio network, NBC in 1943 sold the less-lucrative Blue Network to Edward J. Noble, the millionaire maker of Life Savers candy, who initially renamed it the American Broadcasting System before settling on the name the American Broadcasting Company, Inc. (ABC).

ABC was the smallest of the major radio networks and distinguished itself by hiring popular singer Bing Crosby to perform on a weekly variety series. As a precondition for his employment, Crosby required that he be allowed to prerecord the program for later broadcast; as a result, ABC became a pioneer in the field of magnetic recording.

➦In 1966...Capitol released the Beatles' newest US album, a compilation of sorts entitled Yesterday and Today, featuring a bizarre cover by arty photographer Robert Whitaker where the group, dressed in butcher smocks, is surrounded by decapitated baby dolls and raw meat.

News Media Set For Busy Saturday Covering Parade, Protests

Fox News Channel To Provide Extensive Coverage

Washington, DC, will host its largest military parade in over three decades tomorrow to commemorate the US Army’s 250th anniversary. The event, expected to cost $25M to $45M, also coincides with Flag Day and the 79th birthday of President Donald Trump, who is expected to give an address. 

Festivities begin on the National Mall with a morning fitness competition and conclude with a parachute jump, concert, and fireworks. The roughly mile-long, three-hour parade (starting at 6:30 pm ET) is expected to draw about 200,000 spectators and feature more than 6,000 soldiers, dozens of aircraft, more than 100 vehicles, several horses, two mules, and one cavalry dog traveling from Texas. A similar event Trump proposed in 2018 was canceled due to expected high expenses. 

The last military parade honored the end of the Gulf War in 1991, with similar events historically reserved for war victories and presidential inaugurations. Meanwhile, over 1,800 demonstrations are planned nationwide to counter the parade and protest the administration’s policies.

The parade, coinciding with Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, features over 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles (including 28 tanks), 50 aircraft flyovers, a fitness competition, parachute jumps, a concert, and fireworks along the National Mall. 

Here’s how coverage is likely to unfold:


ABC: As a broadcast network, ABC will likely prioritize logistical and visual coverage, airing segments on Good Morning America and evening news. Expect live shots of the parade route (Constitution Avenue), flyovers, and the West Point band, with neutral reporting on the Army’s milestone. ABC may briefly note protests, like the “No Kings” rallies, but avoid deep political analysis to maintain broad appeal. Weather concerns (50-90% rain chance) will be highlighted, per local affiliate reporting. Coverage will be accessible via ABC News Live streaming.

CBS: CBS, with its history of detailed reporting (e.g., 2019 parade coverage), will emphasize the event’s scale—tanks at Joint Base Andrews, parachute jumps, and the fitness competition. CBS Evening News and CBS Mornings will feature interviews with military officials and attendees, framing it as a patriotic tribute. Political context, including Trump’s role and protests, will be covered lightly, with nods to the $40 million cost (per USA Today). CBS’s livestream, noted by WTOP, will offer real-time visuals. Expect balanced but cautious reporting to avoid alienating viewers.

NBC: NBC’s coverage, via Today and NBC Nightly News, will focus on spectacle—flyovers, fireworks, and the concert—while noting logistical impacts like Reagan National Airport’s four-hour closure (per WLWT). Local affiliate NBC4 Washington will provide weather updates and traffic alerts. NBC may address protests and Trump’s birthday tie-in, framing them as secondary to the Army’s anniversary, but with a slight liberal tilt, citing critics like Rep. Moulton on costs (The Washington Post). MSNBC’s influence may seep into evening segments, but broadcast coverage will stay relatively neutral.

Fox News: Fox News will likely champion the parade as a patriotic showcase of military strength, aligning with Trump’s vision (inspired by Bastille Day, per CBS News). Expect enthusiastic coverage of tanks, Black Hawks, and troop formations, with anchors like Sean Hannity or Laura Ingraham praising Trump’s leadership. Protests will be downplayed or framed as anti-military.

CNN
: CNN will cover the parade’s visuals—flyovers, fireworks, and the 6,600 troops—but with a critical lens on its political undertones. Anchors like Jake Tapper may highlight Trump’s birthday overlap and his long-standing parade obsession, framing it “authoritarian” (per USA Today). Expect significant protest coverage, with reporters embedded at D.C. rallies and graphics showing the 1,800 nationwide “No Kings” events. The $40 million price tag and airport closure will draw scrutiny, alongside weather risks.

MSNBC: MSNBC will likely frame the parade as a Trump-driven spectacle, emphasizing its cost, timing, and authoritarian optics (e.g., Sen. Adam Schiff’s “dictator-style” critique, per USA Today). Rachel Maddow or Chris Hayes may draw historical parallels to authoritarian regimes, spotlighting protests and pro-democracy events like D.C.’s picnic (per NPR). Military aspects—troops, flyovers—will be secondary to political analysis, with minimal focus on logistics or weather. Expect heavy use of critical X commentary and interviews with protest organizers. Coverage will cater to progressive viewers, risking one-sidedness.

All networks will air live footage, with local affiliates providing real-time updates on weather and crowds. Visuals of tanks, Black Hawks, and fireworks will be universal, but framing differs—Fox News and broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) will lean toward patriotism or neutrality, while CNN and MSNBC will emphasize political controversy.

Outlets like USA Today, CBS News, and WTOP are emphasizing practical details—parade route (Constitution Avenue, 23rd to 15th Street NW), timing (6:30 p.m. ET), road closures, and viewing options (livestreams on WTOP, FOX 5 DC). They highlight the event’s grandeur, with AP News providing visuals of tanks and Black Hawk helicopters staged at Joint Base Andrews. Expect live broadcasts, aerial shots of flyovers, and interviews with attendees and military officials. Weather concerns, with a 50-90% chance of rain or thunderstorms, will be a recurring theme, as noted by NBC4 Washington and The New York Times, with Trump’s insistence on proceeding rain or shine likely to be quoted.

Political Controversy and Protests: The parade’s overlap with Trump’s birthday and his long-standing desire for such an event (inspired by France’s Bastille Day, per CBS News) will fuel critical coverage. Liberal-leaning outlets like CNN, The Washington Post, and New York Magazine will highlight the “No Kings” protests, with 1,800 rallies planned nationwide against Trump’s administration. NPR and WTOP note anti-Trump demonstrations, including a pro-democracy picnic in D.C., with organizers like D.C. Citizens decrying the parade’s politicization. 

Trump vs CBS: Lawyers Seek Extension of Court Deadlines


President Donald Trump’s legal team has requested an extension of court deadlines in his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, filed in a Texas federal court. 

The lawsuit, initially seeking $10 billion but amended in February 2025 to demand $20 billion, stems from allegations that CBS’s “60 Minutes” program deceptively edited an October 2024 interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris to mislead voters and cause Trump financial harm, particularly to his Truth Social platform and Trump Media and Technology Group. 

The claim centers on CBS airing different portions of Harris’s response to a question about U.S.-Israel relations on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation,” which Trump’s team argues violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

In a filing on Friday, Trump’s attorneys, joined by co-plaintiff Rep. Ronny Jackson and Paramount’s legal team, cited “active settlement discussions, including continued mediation” as the reason for requesting the extension. They proposed moving the deadline for Trump’s response to CBS’s motion to compel evidence from June 16 to June 30, CBS’s reply to Trump’s response from June 23 to July 7, Trump’s motion to compel from June 30 to July 14, and CBS’s response to Trump’s motion to compel to July 28. 


The parties emphasized that they are not seeking to extend deadlines for CBS’s pending motion to dismiss, which the network plans to reply to by June 23, 2025.

Settlement talks have been ongoing, with reports indicating Paramount offered $15 million, which Trump rejected, seeking at least $25 million and an apology. 

The Wall Street Journal noted that Trump’s team also threatened another lawsuit against CBS during these discussions. Paramount’s interest in settling is reportedly tied to its $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which requires Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval for transferring CBS’s 28 broadcast licenses. Some speculate a settlement could ease regulatory hurdles, though FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has stated the lawsuit and merger review are unrelated. However, Carr has linked the lawsuit to an FCC investigation into alleged “news distortion” by CBS, raising concerns about potential license revocation.

NYC Radio: WCBS-FM Tweaks On-Air Line-Up

Race Taylor, Jesse Addy and John Foxx
101.1 WCBS-FM, an Audacy station in New York, has announced a series of on-air lineup changes. Beginning June 16, Race Taylor can be heard on-air weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ET. Jesse Addy will host middays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm. ET and John Foxx will host afternoons 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.

“One of the most recognizable voices on the radio in New York, Race brings an unparalleled legacy and deep-rooted connection with tri-state listeners spanning multiple generations to 101.1 CBS-FM,” said Foxx, Brand Manager, 101.1 WCBS-FM. “His love for this city, passion for the music and unstoppable ability to entertain are set to ignite mornings, creating a truly iconic, one-of-a-kind moment for our listeners and 101.1. With Jesse taking over middays, our refreshed lineup is designed to deliver a seamless, engaging experience all day long.”

“Huge thanks to Chris Oliviero, Jeff Sottolano, John Foxx and Jim Ryan. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope to build upon the momentum that John and his team have already established in morning drive,” said Taylor. “I am well aware of the legendary talent who’ve previously occupied this daypart in New York City. They are the very foundation of the WCBS-FM legacy and brand. I hope to perform to their level of entertainment and excellence for years to come.”

“The city that shapes world economics, entertainment, pop culture and fashion every workday also never stops listening to WCBS-FM,” says Addy. “I've heard the station in skyscrapers, cabs, bodegas, souvenir shops, diners and construction sites. It's the soundtrack of New York. Thanks to John Foxx, Chris Oliviero, Jeff Sottolano and Jim Ryan for their continued support.”

New 101.1 WCBS-FM weekday programming lineup is as follows.
  • 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ET: Race Taylor
  • 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET: Jesse Addy
  • 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET: John Foxx
  • 7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. ET: Broadway Bill Lee
Taylor spent nearly two decades on WPLJ in New York and presided over the station’s sign-off in 2019. He is a recognizable voice talent who can be heard on national commercials like Audacy’s flagship coverage of New York Mets baseball and ABC-TV’s prime time, daytime and late-night programming. He can also be heard regularly on General Hospital, GMA3, Dancing With The Stars, American Idol, Shark Tank and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Before joining 101.1 WCBS-FM in 2024, Addy hosted the afternoon drive show on Audacy’s New York’s Country 94.7 and Kiss Country 99.9 in Miami. He also launched and hosted Audacy's Nationally Syndicated Top 20 Country Countdown. Addy continues to serve as Music Director for 101.1 WCBS-FM. Previous roles include fill-in for sister station New 102.7 (WNEW-FM) along with stops in Detroit, Atlanta and East Lansing, MI.

Foxx is a native New Yorker who began his 25-year career in radio at WSPK K104 before leading programming efforts in Dallas and Houston. He made his mark as Program Director and afternoon drive host at WPLJ in New York, then as Brand Manager of WNSH-FM in New York, and served as Regional Vice President for Country at Audacy. In 2023, Foxx returned to the airwaves as morning show host and Brand Manager of 101.1 WCBS-FM.

Listeners can tune in to 101.1 WCBS-FM (WCBS-FM) in New York on-air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station on social media via X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Philly Radio: Audacy Also Shuffling At WTDY-FM

Michael Bennett Moving To PM Drive

The New 96.5 (WTDY-FM), a Hot Adult Contemporary radio station in Philadelphia owned by Audacy, Inc., is undergoing significant on-air lineup changes starting Monday, June 16.

Morning Show Change:
Michael Bennett, a 12-year veteran of the station through its various iterations (Wired 96.5, 96.5 Amp Radio, Today’s 96.5, 96.5 TDY, and The New 96.5), is shifting from mornings to afternoons (2–7 p.m.). Bennett, who hosted one of Philly’s most listened-to morning shows for four years, signed a new three-year deal and will bring his same show format to the afternoon slot.

The station has not yet announced a replacement for the morning show slot vacated by Bennett. However, Radio Insight speculation points to a potential national expansion of KYKY St. Louis’ “Bret Mega Show,” which announced its syndication plans around the same time, making a Philadelphia launch plausible.

Existing Lineup Context: The current lineup includes V Hale in middays (also at Alice 97.3 in San Francisco), Mike Adam in afternoons (also at New 102.7 in New York), and Josh “Bru” Brubaker in nights, syndicated across multiple Audacy stations. These roles were established during the station’s 2023 rebrand to The New 96.5, shifting from Top 40 to Hot AC with a “Feel Good Variety” focus. No new changes to these specific slots were detailed in the announcement.

Fox News Reporter Trey Yingst Forced To Take Cover


Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst was forced to take cover during a live broadcast from Tel Aviv due to an Iranian missile attack on Israeli targets. 

The attack was a retaliation following Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran the previous day. 

Yingst was reporting from a balcony when air raid sirens sounded, and Israel’s Iron Dome defense system intercepted most of the 100 ballistic missiles launched by Iran, though five to seven penetrated the shield, causing damage, including to the Kirya, Israel’s Ministry of Defense. 

During the broadcast, Yingst and his crew had to flee as explosions occurred nearby, with Yingst shouting, “Guys, c’mon, everyone move!” 

Military personnel later moved him and his cameraman away from the damaged Kirya site, which he described as “Israel’s version of the Pentagon.” Yingst, unharmed, noted the unprecedented scale of the attack in his seven years of covering Israel, with five people hospitalized, including two with serious injuries


Diddy Trial: Kanye Visits Courtroom


The Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking and racketeering trial continued with significant developments Friday, marking Day 23 of testimony.

Witness Testimony Jonathan Perez: Perez, a former personal assistant to Combs during the period when Combs was dating an accuser known as "Jane" (2021–2024), testified. His testimony focused on his role in setting up "freak-offs" or "king nights," which were alleged drug-fueled sexual encounters. Perez confirmed that these tasks, including procuring drugs like Xanax, cocaine, and molly, were part of his job as a personal assistant. He stated he obtained drugs from individuals named "Baby Girl" and "Guido," using cash provided by Combs.

Sean Combs in courtroom
Perez testified that Jane, who accused Combs of sex trafficking, always appeared to be a willing participant in these "king nights" and never seemed hesitant or upset afterward. This testimony was elicited by defense attorney Brian Steel to support the defense's argument that Combs' sexual arrangements were consensual.

Prosecutors announced they would not call Combs' longtime chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, who was initially portrayed as a potential co-conspirator. Instead, they planned to call summary witnesses and Brendan Paul, another former assistant, the following week.

Juror No. 6 was dismissed due to "inconsistencies" in statements about their residence, raising questions about candor and ability to follow instructions. This issue was not resolved on Friday, as the judge deferred further discussion.


Rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) attended the trial, arriving with Combs' son, Christian "King" Combs, and was directed to the overflow room. Ye has publicly supported Combs and is reportedly collaborating with Christian Combs on an album. His presence caused a stir outside the courtroom.
Judge Arun Subramanian reminded Combs not to nod his head during testimony he approved of, to avoid influencing the jury.

Prosecutors indicated they were ahead of schedule and expected to rest their case by the following Wednesday or Friday, planning to call summary witnesses to present records and evidence.

Nashville Radio: Jeff Hoag Exits WSM-AM


Jeff Hoag, a beloved country music DJ and long-time host at WSM-AM in Nashville, is no longer with the station. 

He hosted the weeknight show "WSM At Night" and the Opry warm-up show, becoming a familiar voice to country music fans. 

Hoag, who moved to Nashville in 2003, started as a musician, playing lead guitar and mandolin, and was known for his extensive knowledge of country music history, making him a fitting successor to Eddie Stubbs. 

He also served as an announcer for the Grand Ole Opry. His departure was reported Friday, by Saving Country Music, though no specific reason for his exit was provided. 

Hoag had expressed that working for WSM was a lifelong dream to preserve classic country music traditions.

WSM-AM stated it was committed to keeping Classic Country airing nightly. Stay tuned for future programming moved.

FBI Director Patel Sues MSNBC Columnist


FBI Director Kash Patel is suing an MSNBC columnist who falsely alleged Patel spent more time in nightclubs than on the job, the New York Post reported.

Frank Figliuzzi knew his comments were a lie when he said it, Patel's attorneys alleged in the lawsuit, claiming Patel has not spent a single minute inside a nightclub since he took the job, the Post reported, citing the lawsuit.

"Defendant did not rely on reporting by any other person," Patel's attorneys said. "Defendant made up the story out of whole cloth, and by using the word 'reportedly,' attempts to distance himself from what is a maliciously false and defamatory statement. Defendant fabricated this story to discredit Director Patel because of Defendant's clear animus toward Director Patel."

Frank Figliuzzi
Figliuzzi was a harsh critic of Patel in his columns, calling him "one of the most ill-suited Cabinet nominees — not just now, but of all time."

"The FBI's motto is Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity. The record suggests that Patel doesn't possess any of those traits," Figliuzzi wrote. "It isn't just that Patel is wholly unqualified to lead the pre-eminent law enforcement and intelligence agency in the nation and perhaps the world. Patel's particular problem goes far beyond competence: His record shows no devotion to the Constitution, but blind allegiance to [President Donald] Trump."

MSNBC later retracted Figliuzzi's nightclub claims, calling it a misstatement and acknowledging the claim was not verified, the Post reported.

Radio History: June 14


➦In 1908...John Scott Trotter born (Died at age 67 from cancer – October 29, 1975). He was an arranger, composer and orchestra leader, best known for conducting the John Scott Trotter Orchestra which backed singer and entertainer Bing Crosby on record and on his NBC Kraft Music Hall show on NBC Radio from 1937 to 1946.  He also worked with Vince Guaraldi scoring some of the early Peanuts cartoons for TV.

Burl Ives

➦In 1909...Burl Ives born (Died from oral cancer at age 85 – April 14, 1995) was an singer and actor of stage, screen, radio and television.

Ives began as an itinerant singer and banjoist, and launched his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which popularized traditional folk songs. He also performed  on WBOW radio in Terre Haute, Indiana.  In 1942 he appeared in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army, and then became a major star of CBS radio.

In the 1960s he successfully crossed over into country music, recording hits such as "A Little Bitty Tear" and "Funny Way of Laughin'". A popular film actor through the late 1940s and '50s, Ives's best-known film roles included parts in So Dear to My Heart (1949) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), as well as Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country (1958), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Ives is often remembered for his voice-over work as Sam the Snowman, narrator of the classic 1964 Christmas television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which continues to air annually around Christmas.

Warren Harding -1922 (AP Photo)
➦In 1922...President Warren G. Harding, while addressing a crowd at the dedication of a memorial site for the composer of the “Star Spangled Banner,” Francis Scott Key, became the first president to have his voice transmitted by radio, via WEAR Baltimore. The broadcast heralded a revolutionary shift in how presidents addressed the American public. It was not until three years later, however, that a president would deliver a radio-specific address. That honor went to President Calvin Coolidge.

➦In 1924...WOKO signed on in 1924 IN New York City.  The station moved to Mount Beacon, N.Y., in 1928.  In 1930, moved to Albany, N.Y.  WOKO was the first radio station licensed to that city.

The station picked up he CBS affiliation in the city.  In the early 1940s, CBS moved to rival WTRY.  WOKO adopted a locally-based independent format, focused largely on music. It carried a middle-of-the-road music format in the 1960s before flipping to country.  In 1978, WOKO flipped to a disco format.  As the disco fad passed, WOKO returned to country in 1980.

WOKO tried an all-news format in 1982, changing its call letters to WWCN.  The station flipped back to the WOKO call letters in 1987 with an oldies format.

Barnstable Broadcasting bought the station in 1988 and used it to simulcast WGNA.  ABC Radio purchased the station in 2002 and flipped it to the Radio Disney format as WDDY.  The station went silent in 2013.

Harold Peary
➦In 1950...After 13 years on radio, Harold Peary played the title character in "The Great Gildersleeve" for the final time. It was a radio situation comedy broadcast from August 31, 1941 to 1958.

The series was built around Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, a regular character from the radio situation comedy Fibber McGee and Molly. The character was introduced in the October 3, 1939 episode (number 216) of that series. The Great Gildersleeve enjoyed its greatest popularity in the 1940s. Peary played the character during its transition from the parent show into the spin-off and later in four feature films released at the height of the show's popularity.

After Peary. Willard Waterman took over the role for the next eight years on radio and for several years on TV.

Friday, June 13, 2025

PBS, NPR Could Lose $1.1 Billion in Funding


The House Thursday narrowly passed a 214-to-212 vote to rescind $9.4 billion previously allocated for foreign aid and public broadcasting, aligning with spending cuts proposed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

The move followed a White House request for Congress to formalize the rollback, a shift from President Trump’s typical approach of bypassing Congress through executive orders to control federal spending.

The cuts targeted $8.3 billion in foreign aid and $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS. Representative Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) defended the measure, arguing that “America’s resources should always serve America’s interests” and accusing the “radical left” of misusing these programs.

Four Republicans—Mark Amodei (Nevada), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania), Nicole Malliotakis (New York), and Mike Turner (Ohio)—joined Democrats in opposing the bill. Speaker Mike Johnson secured passage by persuading several GOP lawmakers to switch their initial “no” votes. Representative Nick LaLota (New York) cited a deal with Johnson on SALT deductions—state and local tax write-offs—as a factor in his vote change, stating he secured “expectations” for his constituents.

The proposal’s future in the Senate remains uncertain. While Republicans can pass it with a simple majority, some senators have voiced concerns about defunding programs like public broadcasting and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a global health initiative credited with saving over 25 million lives.

Hosts, Anchors Face Uncertain Times At CNN


CNN anchor Anderson Cooper reportedly earns $18 million annually, a hefty salary that may face scrutiny as the struggling network prepares for a spinoff from its debt-burdened parent, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). 

Cooper, the primetime host of Anderson Cooper 360 at 8 p.m., along with anchors like Kaitlan Collins and Jake Tapper, faces an uncertain future following WBD CEO David Zaslav’s Monday announcement of the split, per Puck newsletter.

Zaslav appointed WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels to lead CNN and other cable properties like TNT, TBS, and HGTV under a new entity, Global Networks. A source told The Post that CNN staff fear Wiedenfels’ cost-cutting reputation, describing him as a “slash and burn” executive.

Puck’s Dylan Byers highlighted Cooper’s $18 million salary as a potential target, noting CNN’s last-place ratings. Byers questioned why Wiedenfels would pay Cooper that sum when Collins, earning roughly a fifth as much, draws comparable viewership. Nielsen data shows Anderson Cooper 360 had 647,000 viewers on Tuesday—about $27 per viewer—while Collins’ 9 p.m. show The Source drew 829,000.

Cooper’s exact salary remains unconfirmed, though The Post previously estimated it at up to $20 million. A CNN spokesperson declined to comment on his pay but strongly denied Byers’ claim of looming drastic salary cuts, calling it “a complete fabrication.”

Cooper, a CNN veteran since 2001, may not stay for the expected restructuring, with Byers suggesting he might tire of reading news to under a million viewers nightly. CNN, once a cable news leader, has seen ratings plummet to historic lows, often dwarfed by Fox News, a News Corp sister company to The Post’s parent, during major events.


Senator Forcibly Removed From Noem Press Conference


California State Senator Alex Padilla (D) Thursdays was forcibly removed, handcuffed, and pinned to the floor by federal agents after interrupting a Los Angeles press conference by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The incident, captured on video, underscored escalating political tensions as California challenged the Trump administration’s immigration policies in federal court and protests against ICE raids intensified nationwide.

Padilla, attempting to question Noem about federal immigration enforcement, identified himself as a senator but was swiftly removed by Secret Service and FBI agents. 


The viral footage of him being handcuffed in a hallway sparked widespread outrage among Democrats and some Republicans in California and Washington. Noem, addressing the incident, claimed Padilla’s interruption was “inappropriate” and said she spoke with him afterward, though Padilla’s office did not confirm this.

Federal officials said his removal was appropriate. A DHS spokeswoman said that Padilla “chose disrespectful political theater and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself.” She said Padilla was told to back away and didn’t comply with officers’ commands, and that Secret Service officers “thought he was an attacker.” 

After the press conference, Noem said she and Padilla met after the incident and exchanged phone numbers. 

Joe Rogan: Two Former Presidents Contacted Spotify About His Podcast


Joe Rogan claimed on a June 2025 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, featuring Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, that two unnamed former U.S. presidents contacted Spotify in 2022 to express concerns about his COVID-19 commentary. 

The controversy stemmed from Rogan’s discussions, particularly a 2021 Instagram post where he revealed using ivermectin to treat his COVID-19 infection, which drew criticism for promoting unproven treatments. 

Critics, including progressive groups and musicians like Neil Young, who removed his music from Spotify in protest, accused Rogan of spreading misinformation. 

Rogan said the calls from the former presidents were part of a broader push to censor his podcast, which he described as a “wake-up call” about media bias. 

Spotify faced backlash but did not remove Rogan’s show, with CEO Daniel Ek stating in 2022 that the platform’s policies wouldn’t change based on one creator. 

Some episodes were removed, though Rogan’s podcast gained two million subscribers during the controversy. Speculation on X suggests the presidents could be Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, but Rogan did not disclose their identities. No definitive evidence confirms which presidents were involved

Coca-Cola Partners With UMG To Launch Record Label


The Coca-Cola Company has partnered with Universal Music Group (UMG) to launch Real Thing Records (rtr), a new record label focused on discovering and promoting emerging artists from around the world. 

The label adopts a "genre-agnostic" approach, aiming to amplify authentic voices and foster deeper connections between artists and fans. 

Its first signings are French-New Zealand artist Max Allais, known for acoustic pop, and Indian singer-songwriter-producer Aksomaniac, who blends jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and Carnatic music. Both artists are already signed to UMG-affiliated labels (Better Now Records/Universal Music Germany for Allais and Def Jam Recordings India/Universal Music India for Aksomaniac) and will release music under rtr in the coming months.

The initiative builds on Coca-Cola’s long-standing music involvement, including its Coke Studio platform, launched globally in 2022 with UMG, featuring artists like NewJeans, Karol G, and Peggy Gou.

Real Thing Records combines Coca-Cola’s global brand reach and cultural influence with UMG’s expertise in artist development and its extensive network. The label’s creative identity was shaped by creative director Ibrahem Hasan, with branding by forpeople and digital experiences by Explorers Club. Joshua Burke, Coca-Cola’s Global Head of Music & Culture, emphasized the label’s commitment to empowering artists to develop their identities without creative compromise

Chicago Tribune Faces Backlash Over Staff Buyout Offers


The Chicago Tribune Guild has strongly criticized a buyout offer extended to newsroom staff by Tribune Publishing, the newspaper’s owner, calling it detrimental to the paper’s mission and the Chicago community.
 
“Buyouts will undermine the Tribune’s purpose and damage our company in the long run,” the Guild stated, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. “This approach prioritizes short-term gains over investing in robust regional coverage, ultimately hurting Chicagoans.”

 The Guild further condemned the plan as driven by “greed” rather than strategic foresight, urging the Tribune to focus on growing readership through quality journalism instead of staff cuts.
 
Under the existing union contract, full-time Guild members are eligible for one week of base pay per year of service, plus two weeks for the first year. Staff can apply for the buyout starting June 26, with a deadline of July 7, and those accepted will depart on July 11.
 
Tribune Publishing, which operates the Chicago Tribune Media Group, is owned by Alden Global Capital. In June 2024, after five years of contentious negotiations, employees across several Tribune newsrooms ratified a two-year contract with Alden. Earlier that year, some NewsGuild members participated in a 24-hour strike to protest labor conditions.

PBS, NPR Cuts Would Hit Trump States


A new congressional report reveals that proposed federal funding cuts to public television and radio would disproportionately affect stations in states that supported President Trump in 2024. About 60% of the impacted stations are in these states, according to the report obtained by CBS News from Senate Democrats.

The cuts would affect public media outlets in major cities like Houston and Miami, as well as smaller stations in places like Douglas, Wyoming (population 6,000). These reductions are part of a Republican plan to eliminate $9 billion in funding for programs approved before Trump’s second term, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS. The Trump administration and Republicans argue the cuts target “liberal” or biased media.

Public broadcasting advocates call the cuts devastating, arguing they threaten local news access in communities with limited alternatives and reject claims of political bias. The report details significant impacts: stations in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., could each lose nearly $1 million, while a community radio station in Carbondale, Colorado, which received $145,000 last year, faces similar cuts. Alabama’s public TV stations could lose $3 million, affecting 215 employees, and South Dakota’s 20 media outlets could see funding gutted.

Patricia Harrison, CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, emphasized that federal funding is critical for emergency communications, early learning, and community connectivity, warning of “regrettable and lasting consequences” if cut. PBS and NPR have previously sued the Trump administration over similar cuts, citing First Amendment violations. PBS CEO Paula Kerger noted that while federal funding is 15% of PBS’s budget, smaller stations rely on it for up to 50%, making the cuts potentially “existential.” NPR CEO Katherine Maher said federal dollars account for about 1% of NPR’s budget.

The House is set to vote on the rescissions package Thursday.

Diddy Trial: 'Jane' Concludes Six Days of Testimony


The Sean “Diddy” Combs federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial continued with significant witness testimony, primarily from a former girlfriend testifying under the pseudonym “Jane.”

Witness Testimony“Jane” Testimony: Overview: Jane, who dated Combs from early 2021 to around August 2024, concluded her testimony after six days on the stand, which included three days of cross-examination by defense attorney Teny Geragos. Her testimony was described as graphic and emotionally exhausting, focusing on allegations of coerced sexual encounters known as “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.”

Jane testified about a 2024 altercation with Combs that allegedly culminated in him ordering her to perform oral sex on an escort during a violent argument. She claimed she felt financially coerced into participating in these sexual encounters, as Combs paid her $10,000 a month and covered rent for her 5,300-square-foot Los Angeles home.

During cross-examination, Geragos pressed Jane on her ability to leave the relationship, noting she had a car and questioning her willingness to return gifts and money from Combs to avoid the “freak-offs.” Jane’s responses suggested she felt trapped due to financial dependency.

The defense highlighted text messages and a video from October 2023 where Jane and Combs expressed affection, aiming to portray her participation as consensual. Jane countered that these messages reflected her attempts to placate Combs or cope with the relationship dynamics.

Jane testified about a note she wrote in late 2023 stating she felt “obligated 98 percent of the time” during “freak-offs,” which prosecutors argued had “extraordinary probative value” to counter defense claims of her consent. The admissibility of this note was debated, with Judge Arun Subramanian set to rule later.

An audio recording was played where Combs told Jane to “move on” if the relationship upset her, and Jane read a text she sent to an escort named Paul, indicating compliance to avoid angering Combs. She clarified she derived no physical pleasure from these encounters, describing them as “putting on a show.”


Emotional Moments: Jane appeared emotional, hugging both Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey and defense attorney Geragos after her testimony concluded, an unusual gesture noted in court reports.

Corroboration with Cassie Ventura: Legal analysts noted that Jane’s testimony corroborated aspects of Cassie Ventura’s earlier account of coercion and abuse, particularly the pattern of victims maintaining contact with their abuser due to emotional or financial bonds.

Men’s College WS Broadcasts To Be Heard Across Multiple Platforms


Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, the largest audio network in the U.S. and the official network audio broadcast partner of the NCAA, in conjunction with the NCAA Radio Network, will once again be home to every pitch, hit, and home run of the NCAA Division I Men’s College World Series Championship Finals, live from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. Coverage of the best of three Championship series will begin at 6:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 21st.

Championship Series All-Star Broadcast Team 

Kevin Kugler will call all the action from Charles Schwab Field, his 21st straight College World Series for the NCAA Radio Network. He will be joined in the booth by veteran announcer Scott Graham for the 14th consecutive year. Connor Happer will join the team as the field reporter for the first time.

Preliminary Game Coverage

NRG Media/1620 The Zone and Westwood One, in conjunction with the NCAA Radio Network, will present the preliminary games of the Men's College World Series as part of the broadcast schedule. The preliminary round of the championship will be conducted in a double elimination format, and the two bracket survivors will play a best-of-three series to determine the champion.

Westwood One’s complete NCAA Men’s College World Series coverage can be heard on terrestrial radio stations nationwide and via SiriusXM. All games will also be streamed online for free at NCAA.com/MCWS and on westwoodonesports.com and on the Westwood One Sports app available in the iTunes and Google Play stores. Additionally, the broadcasts will be available for free via the NCAA Men’s College World Series app or The Varsity Network app. Fans can also access live audio via Alexa-enabled devices by asking “Open Westwood One Sports”. TuneIn premium subscribers can also hear all the action live. 

Radio History: June 13


➦In 1913...Ralph Livingstone Edwards born (Died at age 92 – November 16, 2005). He was a radio, TV host best known for his game show Truth or Consequences and This Is Your Life.

Ralph Edwards
Edwards worked for KROW Radio in Oakland, California while he was still in high school. Before graduating from high school in 1931, he worked his way through college at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a B.A. in English in 1935. While there, he worked at every job from janitor to producer at Oakland's KTAB, now KSFO. Failing to get a job as a high school teacher, he worked at KFRC and then hitchhiked across the country to New York, where, he said, "I ate ten-cent (equivalent to $2 in 2015), meals and slept on park benches".

After some part-time announcing jobs, he got his big break in 1938 with a full-time job for the Columbia Broadcasting System on WABC (now WCBS), where he worked with two other young announcers who would become broadcasting fixtures - Mel Allen and Andre Baruch.

He is best remembered as radio’s host for the audience particpation show Truth or Consequences, which he created in 1940, and the TV host of This Is Your Life. In his early years in radio he was announcer on as many as 45 shows a week.  In his later years he was one of TV’s most prolific producers.

➦In 1946...Edward Bowes died at age 71 (Born - June 14, 1874). He called himself Major Edward Bowes, and was a radio personality of the 1930s and 1940s.   His nickname sprang from his earlier military rank, though historians are divided on whether he was an active-duty officer in World War I or held the rank as a member of the Officer Reserve Corps. His Major Bowes Amateur Hour was the best-known amateur talent show in radio during its 18-year run (1935–1952) on NBC Radio and CBS Radio

Major Bowes
Bowes brought his best-known creation to New York radio station WHN in 1934. He had actually hosted scattered amateur nights on smaller stations while manager of the Capitol. Within a year of its WHN premiere, The Original Amateur Hour began earning its creator and host as much as $1 million a year, according to Variety.

The rapid popularity of The Original Amateur Hour made him better known than most of the talent he featured. Some of his discoveries became stars, including opera stars Lily Pons, Robert Merrill, and Beverly Sills; comedian Jack Carter; pop singer Teresa Brewer; and, Frank Sinatra, fronting a quartet known as the Hoboken Four when they appeared on the show in 1935.

The show consistently ranked among radio's top ten programs throughout its run.

Bowes's familiar catchphrase, "...around and around she goes and where she stops nobody knows", spoken in the familiar avuncular tones for which he was so renowned, whenever it was time to spin its "wheel of fortune," the device by which some contestants were called to perform.

In the early days of the show, whenever a performer was simply too terrible to continue, Bowes would stop the act by striking a gong (a device that would be revived in the 1970s by Chuck Barris's infamous The Gong Show). Bowes heard from thousands of listeners who objected to his terminating these acts prematurely, so he abandoned the gong in 1936.

Bowes is credited for featuring more black entertainers than many network shows of the time.

➦In 1948...WBAM becomes WOR FM in NYC. WOR-AM's original owner was Bamberger's Department Store in Newark, New Jersey. In the early 1920s, the store was selling radio receivers and wanted to put a radio station on the air to help promote receiver sales as well as for general publicity.

Fran Allison
➦In 1989... Fran Allison died (Born - November 20, 1907). She was a television and radio comedian, personality and singer. She is best known for her starring role on the weekday NBC-TV puppet show Kukla, Fran and Ollie, which ran from 1947–57, occasionally returning to the air until the mid-1980s. The trio also hosted The CBS Children's Film Festival, introducing international children's films, from 1967-77.

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Pew Tracker: Dems Trust More News Sources


A Pew Research Center survey released on June 10, 2025, highlights significant partisan differences in news source preferences and trust among Democrats and Republicans. The study, based on data from March 10-16, 2025, examined 30 major news sources and found the following:

Shared Trust: Forbes and The Wall Street Journal are the only two news sources that both Democrats and Republicans are more likely to trust than distrust. These business-oriented publications stand out as rare points of bipartisan agreement in a polarized media landscape.

Democrat Preferences: Democrats trust a broader range of sources, with 23 out of 30 sources viewed as more trustworthy than not. Notably, NPR is trusted by Democrats by a 47% to 3% margin, and PBS is trusted by 59% to 4%. Democrats also rely more on mainstream media, with 72% citing these as their main source of political news compared to 49% of Republicans.

Republican Preferences: Republicans trust fewer sources, with only eight out of 30 deemed more trustworthy than not. Fox News dominates, with 57% of Republicans regularly getting news from it and 58% expressing trust, far surpassing other outlets. However, 21% of Republicans distrust Fox News, indicating some skepticism even among conservative audiences. Joe Rogan’s podcast also ranks high among Republicans for trust, though specific figures vary.


Broadcast News: “20% of Republicans and GOP leaners regularly consume news from CNN, similar to the share of Democrats who get news from Fox News (18%).” After Fox, Republicans said they were most likely to get their news from ABC News (27%), NBC News (24%) and CBS News (22%). But, the report’s authors point out, “while roughly a quarter trust each of the major TV networks (ABC, CBS and NBC), larger shares of Republicans say they distrust the networks.”

Polarization and Distrust: The survey underscores a polarized media ecosystem. For instance, while Democrats trust NPR and PBS, Republicans distrust NPR by a margin of over two to one (more distrust than trust) and are nearly evenly split on PBS (23% trust vs. 26% distrust). Conversely, Fox News is heavily distrusted by Democrats, with far more expressing distrust than trust.

Additional Insights: Republicans are increasingly trusting of social media news, nearly matching their trust in national news outlets (37% for social media vs. slightly higher for news organizations). Democrats, however, remain more skeptical of social media sources. The study also notes that younger Republicans are more likely to use sources like The New York Times and CNN compared to older Republicans, though these remain less trusted overall.

This survey, part of Pew’s ongoing American Trends Panel, reflects a deeply divided media environment where Democrats and Republicans largely consume and trust different sources, with Forbes and The Wall Street Journal as notable exceptions. For more details, visit the Pew Research Center website.

Cumulus Announces The Return Of Max Pinfield


Cumulus Media announces that preeminent Rock journalist, insider, influencer and MTV legend, Matt Pinfield returns to the airwaves as host of nationally syndicated Rock radio show, “Flashback With Matt Pinfield” this Father’s Day Weekend, after taking time off to recover from a life-threatening stroke.

 Pinfield makes his remarkable comeback to “Flashback,” the country’s number one retrospective Rock radio program, on Saturday, June 14th and Sunday, June 15th, in markets across the U.S.

“Flashback,” syndicated by Cumulus Media’s Westwood One and written and produced by Benztown, take fans back in time to celebrate classics with rockers who defined their time – Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, The Who, Rolling Stones, Eagles, and many more. The show fuses Classic Rock with the newscasts, TV and movie clips, vintage commercials, and comedy of the era. As a living music encyclopedia, Matt Pinfield gives listeners a first person, behind-the-scenes perspective.

Pinfield said: “I am so excited to be back hosting my show, “Flashback,” and I am so proud to be here in my 13th year. I’m so grateful to be alive and back with my great family at Westwood One! Thank you to the amazing Leslie Fram, who has been covering for me since my stroke. I am getting better every day and am ready to be back on the air doing what I love.”

Brian Philips, Chief Content Officer, Cumulus Media and Westwood One, said: “The indestructible Matt Pinfield is one of the most beloved storytellers in Rock, and we are grateful to have him back in good form. We know doctors have characterized his recovery as 'miraculous'. Matt is a warrior, and a true friend to all music lovers."

Philips added: “We thank fill-in host Leslie Fram, Co-Host of Cumulus Media’s 99X morning show in Atlanta, for her selfless work during Matt’s recovery. Leslie enabled us to keep the great shows coming for “Flashback” fans around the world."

“Flashback” is available to stations in available markets as a two-hour or four-hour weekend program. For further information on "Flashback,” reach out to Neal Weiner, nweiner@westwoodone.com or at 206.335.5259.