Harris Sits For Fiery Interview With Fox News

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris was grilled in a TV interview on Wednesday on the Biden administration's efforts to tackle a surge in illegal immigration at the southern border, and laid the blame on Republicans for failing to pass a border bill, according to Reuters.

In a combative interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, Harris was also pressed to defend President Joe Biden's mental fitness, her years as vice president and previous support of gender-affirming surgery for transgender inmates. Harris and Baier frequently talked over each other and Harris grew visibly frustrated.

She was asked to defend the administration's early decision to reverse some of Republican rival Donald Trump's restrictive policies, and to respond to a mother who testified in Congress about the loss of her daughter at the hands of an illegal immigrant.

"I'm so sorry for her loss, but let's talk about what is happening right now," Harris said. She said Trump told Republicans to reject a bipartisan immigration bill because "he preferred to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem."

Asked about her recent comment that there was "not a thing" she would change about the actions of the Biden administration, Harris said, “Let me be very clear, my presidency will not be a continuation of Joe Biden's presidency," but did not provide specifics.

Harris was pressed about her previous vouching for Biden’s mental fitness for office before he ended his reelection campaign in July.

Biden has the “judgment” and “experience” to be president, she said, while questioning Trump’s fitness for office.

“Joe Biden is not on the ballot, and Donald Trump is,” Harris said.

Fox’s @BretBaier challenges Kamala Harris: More than 70% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track. If you're turning the page, you've been in office for 3.5 years

Kamala: "And Donald Trump has been running for office."

Baier: "But you've been the person holding the… pic.twitter.com/X9n3ULJzdI

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) October 16, 2024

She was pressed on her position on using taxpayer funds for gender-affirming surgery for transgender inmates, including those who are undocumented. Trump has spent millions of dollars in ads on the subject in battleground states.

“I will follow the law,” she said a few times, noting that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons provided gender-affirming treatments under Trump. She accused him of “throwing stones when you live in a glass house.”

The nearly 30-minute interview marked the first time Harris has appeared on the media network as a presidential candidate. Within minutes of the interview's end, the Trump campaign released a statement calling it a "train wreck."

Baier: Harris Staffers 'Iced' The Interview

Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier claimed Wednesday that Kamala Harris’ campaign team pared down the allotted time he had with her just before a highly anticipated interview — and then had the vice president show up late.

The NY Post reports Baier, a veteran political journalist, compared the Harris campaign’s tactics to a football team “icing the kicker” before an important field goal attempt.

“So, we were supposed to start at 5 p.m. — this was the time they gave us, originally. We’re going to do 25 or 30 minutes,” the host explained. 

“They came in and said, ‘Well, maybe 20 [minutes]. So, it was already getting whittled down,” Baier added.

“And then the vice president showed up at about 5:15 [p.m.].” 

🚨Kamala Harris is the same radical she’s always been:@BretBaier: “In 2019, you supported allowing illegals to apply for drivers' licenses, qualify for free tuition at universities, and get free healthcare. Do you still support those things?”

Kamala: “That was five years ago.” pic.twitter.com/fzeooR07GB

— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) October 16, 2024

The “Special Report” host noted that Harris’ tardiness made it a challenge for his production team to get the interview out at the start of his 6 p.m. show. 

“We were pushing the envelope,” Baier said. 

“So, that’s how it started. And I could tell when we started talking that she was going to be tough, to, you know, redirect without me trying to interrupt,” he continued, referring to the Democratic nominee’s efforts to “filibuster” during the interview and not allow him to get a word in edgewise. 

🚨Wow. @BretBaier was forced by Kamala Harris’s campaign staffers to end the interview. If that train wreck went on another few minutes, Kamala’s staffers might’ve tackled Bret:

“They’re wrapping me pretty hard here.” pic.twitter.com/AU1y3wyoGL

— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) October 16, 2024

In his post-interview analysis, Baier also revealed that he had hoped to ask more questions but several Harris campaign staffers were frantically signaling to him off-camera to end the interview because his time was up. 

“I’m talking, like, four people waving their hands like it’s got to stop,” he said. “I had to dismount there at the end.” 

Trump Talks with Friendly Audience During Fox Town Hall

Donald Trump’s Wednesday appearance on Fox News, recorded Tuesday, highlighted how his campaign is working to boost voter turnout among people who support him already, reports The Wall Street Journal. 

The town hall—geared to the women who watch the conservative network during the day—was an effort for Trump to bridge the gender gap he has faced as women are concerned about the loss of abortion rights in the country, an act by the Supreme Court for which Trump has taken credit. 

With a folksy background of chuck wagons, American flags and yellow flowers, Trump answered questions on topics ranging from the economy to foreign policy. The entire room of women raised their hands when asked if they were concerned about biological men playing in women’s sports. 

HUGE moment in Trump's town hall:

"How many of you are worried about biological men and boys competing against women and girls in sports?"

The entire room raises their hands.

Trump responds: “We’re not gonna let it happen." pic.twitter.com/bohZKXbfaR

— Moms for Safe Neighborhoods (@MomsSafe) October 16, 2024

Trump repeated several false statements that went unchecked by Faulkner, including an exaggeration of the inflation rate and the estimated number of immigrants who have crossed the border illegally.  

Near the end of the town hall, Trump said “everybody,” including “the Democrats” and “the liberals,” wanted abortion rights to be decided by the states, adding “nobody wanted it to be in the federal government.” Harris has said if she is elected, she will push Congress to pass a law enshrining the right to an abortion. 

Asked about protecting infertility care, which has been at risk since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Trump called himself “the father of IVF,” referring to in vitro fertilization, and said he supported it. 

When Faulkner pointed out that Democrats’ response to the town hall was an event featuring the family of Amber Thurman, a woman who died after driving across state lines to get abortion medication, Trump said, “We’ll get better ratings, I promise.” The women and Faulkner laughed.

TV Ratings: Jesse Watters is Number One in Primetime Cable News

During the week of October 7th - October 13th, FOX News Channel (FNC) led all of cable news with primetime and total day viewers powered by the network’s breaking news coverage of Hurricane Milton making landfall in Florida. FNC continued to lead cable news combined throughout primetime and total day, earning 2.5 million viewers and 301,000 in the 25-54 demo from 8-11PM/ET. 

In total day (6AM-6AM/ET), marking 40 consecutive weeks of dominance, FNC posted 1.6 million viewers and 201,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC also saw double-digit gains year-over-year among total viewers for primetime.

The extreme weather event that was Hurricane Milton could not match the draw of a vice presidential debate. Unlike the morning and evening news broadcasts, the three major cable networks all experienced week-to-week declines in total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo during primetime.

The situation was not that much better during total day the trio once again saw drops in total viewers. In a lone bright spot, CNN was the only network to see a viewership uptick in the advertiser-coveted total day demo. 

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News fell behind ESPN to land in the No. 2 spot in total primetime viewers, and registered at fourth place in the primetime demo. In total day, it continued to lead in total viewers and placed second in the demo.

MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1.241 million total viewers and 130,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo. That translates to week-to-week drops of -29% and -42%, respectively.

During total day, MSNBC averaged 874,000 total viewers and 94,000 A25-54 viewers. It was down a respective -12% and -14% compared to the week before.

Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC slipped one spot to land in fourth place in total primetime viewers and dropped from eighth to 10th in the demo. During total day, it was the No. 3 network in total viewers and slid from the No. 5 to the No. 7 position in the demo. 

CNN averaged 766,000 total primetime viewers and 162,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime for drops of -21% and -28% compared to the previous week. In total day, the network had 558,000 total viewers and 108,000 viewers in the demo. That split the difference, as CNN dipped -2% in the former category, but ticked up by +4% in the latter.

CNN landed in sixth place in primetime with total viewers and moved down two spots to No. 9 in the primetime demo. It held onto fourth and sixth place in total day viewers and the total day demo, respectively. 

Fox News occupied 12 of the 15 spots of the most-watched cable news shows of the week, with The Five (3.573 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) leaping over Jesse Watters Primetime to take the top spot. MSNBC occupied the remaining spots, with Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace (1.666 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) landing at No. 13.

Jesse Watters Primetime (389,000 viewers at 8 p.m. ET) remained the top show in the Adults 25-54 demo. Fox News had 13 out of the 15 top shows in the demo, with CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 (211,000 viewers at 8 p.m. ET) landing in the No. 14 spot.

For the week, The Five averaged 3.6 million viewers and 361,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2.6 million viewers and 275,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle saw 2.7 million viewers and 313,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. 

• At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 3.3 million viewers and 389,000 in the 25-54 demo, making it the top show in all of primetime across the board. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.8 million viewers and 334,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.5 million viewers and 225,000 in the 25-54 demo.
• FOX News Channel’s Gutfeld! averaged 2.9 million viewers and 373,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.8 million P2+; 312,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.2 million P2+; 315,000 A25-54), NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers (865,000 P2+ and 218,000 A25-54), HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher (668,000 P2+ and 104,000 A25-54) and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show (521,000 P2+ and 124,000 A25-54).
• FNC also excelled across daytime, occupying the highest rated programs among every hour. Kicking off with America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET) scoring 1,914,000 P2+ and 224,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11 AM/ET Harris Faulkner’s The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11 AM/ET) also notched 1,914,000 P2+ and 239,000 25-54 demo and Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET) saw 2,094,000 P2+ and 266,000 25-54. From 1-3 PM/ET America Reports delivered 1,795,000 P2+ and 219,000 followed by Martha MacCallum’s The Story (weekdays, 3 PM/ET) with 1,809,000 total viewers and 226,000 25-54. At 4 PM/ET, Your World with Neil Cavuto drew 1,840,000 P2+ and 231,000 A25-54.

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Week of 10-7-24 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54, P18-49. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.

TV Ratings: NFL Viewership Off During Week Six

The NFL has a big weekend of games coming up—including Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans and a Super Bowl LVIII rematch (Chiefs at 49ers)—that the league will be counting on to drive big TV audiences after a second consecutive rating dip this season.

After five weeks of the NFL’s regular season, game broadcasts were averaging 17.5 million viewers, up 1% from 2023. But in Week 6, the Chiefs didn’t play, the Cowboys got blown out, and most of the NFL’s broadcast partners suffered as a result. 

Front Office Sports reports NFL Network’s coverage of Jaguars-Bears from London and the early Sunday afternoon slot on CBS were the only two TV windows to outperform their 2023 Week 6 counterparts. The rest were down year over year:

• 
  49ers-Seahawks on Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football was down 5%.
• Fox’s 1 p.m. ET games were down 13%.
• Lions-Cowboys drew 24.06 million viewers on Fox, down 8% from Eagles-Jets in 2023.
• NBC’s Bengals-Giants matchup was the least-watched Sunday Night Football broadcast since 2020 with 15.44 million viewers.
• The 17.3 million viewers for Bills-Jets on Monday Night Football was down from 19.64 million for Cowboys-Chargers last year, but still the second-largest Week 6 MNF audience since 2000.

The Cowboys (3–3 and winless at home) are on a much-needed bye week, but Fox gets the new TV king, Kansas City, against the 49ers on Sunday afternoon, with San Francisco (3–3) looking for revenge against the unbeaten Chiefs, who beat Brock Purdy & Co. to win their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy in February. Last season, MNF got a Super Bowl LVII rematch, and that Eagles-Chiefs game drew 29 million viewers—at the time the most-watched game of the 2023 season.

Week 7 kicks off with the Broncos visiting the Saints on Thursday night. Prime Video is averaging 13.98 million viewers for TNF games this season, up 18% over the 2023 full-season average.

Ex-CNN Anchor Rips CBS News For Handling Of Book Interview

Ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon ripped CBS News leadership for forcing one of its anchors to meet with the “DEI” unit after staffers complained he was too tough on an anti-Israel journalist.

CBS News faced backlash after “CBS Mornings” anchor Tony Dokoupil grilled journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates on a section of his new book, “The Message,” which addresses the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Dokoupil raised concerns about anti-Israel bias in the book and questioned whether he believed Israel had “a right to exist.”

According to The New York Times, some of Dokoupil’s colleagues complained to network leadership afterward about his handling of the interview.

According To The NY Post, the Jewish anchor was forced to meet with both the CBS News standards and practices team as well as the Race and Culture Unit.

CBS executives reassured offended staffers that the interview did not meet the company’s “editorial standards,” according to audio obtained by the Free Press.

Lemon responded to the saga on his YouTube show this week, arguing that corporate leaders should not have treated Dokoupil that way and should’ve instead commended the interview as an example of “good journalism.”

The liberal journalist said he didn’t agree with everything Dokoupil said or what’s written in Coates’ book, but argued journalists should still be allowed to ask tough questions without corporate overreach.

“Stay out of it and let the journalists do the journalism,” he said.

Media heiress Shari Redstone, the controlling stakeholder in CBS News parent Paramount Global, reportedly fumed to network executives over its left-leaning lurch in its coverage of Israel and lobbied for them to hire more conservative voices.

Redstone sent clips from other outlets to CBS higher-ups as examples of what she felt was more balanced coverage of Israel’s battle against Hamas terrorists.

Watchdog Group Files FCC Complaint Over '60 Minutes' Edits

 

A conservative watchdog filed a formal complaint with the FCC that accuses CBS of distortion for airing edited answers from Vice President Kamala Harris’ interview on “60 Minutes.”

The NY Post reports The Center for American Rights (CAR), a nonprofit law firm, demanded the FCC order WCBS-TV — the network’s New York City station — to release the full, unedited “60 Minutes” interview transcript.

“This isn’t just about one interview or one network,” said CAR president Daniel Suhr.

“This is about the public’s trust in the media on critical issues of national security and international relations during one of the most consequential elections of our time. When broadcasters manipulate interviews and distort reality, it undermines democracy itself. The FCC must act swiftly to restore public confidence in our news media.”

In her answer to a question by Bill Whitaker that aired Sunday on “Face the Nation,” Harris said:

The internal polling numbers for Kamala Harris are so depressing that the Dems forced her to do some interviews. Her answers on 60 Minutes were so bad that CBS had to edit them to hide her ineptitude. CBS has been caught in a fraud against American voters. pic.twitter.com/cgJDE9pjfq

— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) October 9, 2024

“Well, Bill … the work that we have done has resulted in a number of movements in that region by Israel that were very much prompted by or a result of many things, including our advocacy for what needs to happen in the region.”

During the prime-time broadcast of “60 Minutes” the next night, Harris’ answer was cleaned up: “We are not going to stop pursuing what is necessary for the United States to be clear about where we stand on the need for this war to end.”

CBS has maintained that the answer was to the same question from Whitaker but that was edited for time constraints.

But Suhr dismissed the excuse.

“CBS crosses a line when its production reaches the point of so transforming an interviewee’s answer that it is a fundamentally different answer,” the filing said.

Harris’ campaign has since fought to distance itself from the network’s editing controversy.

News distortion “must involve a significant event and not merely a minor or incidental aspect of the news report” to be considered a policy violation, according to the FCC.

CAR argued that CBS’ editing of Harris’ interview fit those violation requirements.

Entravision Strengthens Leadership Team

Entravision Communications Corporation has announced several key leadership appointments aimed at bolstering its sales growth strategy and operational effectiveness:

• Juan Navarro has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer, after previously serving as Executive Vice President of Local Sales. Mr. Navarro will succeed Karl Meyer, who is departing the company.
• Marcelo Gaete has been appointed Chief Government Affairs Officer, after previously serving as Executive Vice President of Public and Government Relations.
• Larry Safir will assume the role of Executive Vice President for Entravision Texas. Mr. Safir has most recently served as a consultant advisor to Entravision, after previously serving as the company’s Executive Vice President for media properties in Texas.

Michael Christenson, Entravision’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am excited to welcome Juan to his new role as our Chief Revenue Officer. He is a proven leader with a commitment to local television, radio and digital media and a track record of building performance-focused sales teams across all of Entravision’s markets.”

“I am excited to serve as Entravision’s CRO and leverage my experience to help drive the company’s future growth,” said Mr. Navarro. “We have significant opportunities ahead to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional value to our clients, and I look forward to collaborating with our teams in this new capacity.”

Mr. Christenson added, “Marcelo’s expertise in the political landscape will be vital for us as we capitalize on opportunities in government and political advertising revenue during election years as well as off-cycle years. Larry has been a trusted advisor since I joined Entravision, and his deep industry insights and strategic vision will be instrumental as we navigate the evolving media landscape. I also want to thank Karl for his dedication and service to the company, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Edison: Sports Fans Bet on Audio

According to Edison Research, sports fans follow their favorite teams on audio and for some, the stakes are higher than just looking for a win. Recent data from the Sports Audio Report reveals that sports audio plays an integral role in how sports fans stay informed and make decisions when placing bets.

One standout finding from this report is the strong connection between fantasy sports and fan loyalty. A surprising 56% of those who play fantasy sports say they'd rather see their fantasy sports team win than their favorite sports team.

And for these engaged fans, sports audio is indispensable. The report shows that 65% of fantasy sports players consider audio content like podcasts, radio, or satellite radio essential for managing their fantasy teams. Similarly, 60% of sports bettors view such audio as crucial for their betting activities.

Audio content has become a vital tool, providing real-time statistics, expert analysis, and information that helps fans make informed decisions for both fantasy sports and betting.

More insights on sports fans will be available in the upcoming Sports Audio Report: Diverse Fans, supported by SiriusXM Media and GroupM. The webinar is scheduled for October 29 at 2 PM ET. Click here to register for the webinar.

D/FW Radio: Cowboys Owner Tries To Justify On-Air Meltdown

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made headlines Tuesday morning when he became angry during one of his weekly radio interviews, getting defensive when asked about the franchise’s lack of offseason moves to improve the roster.

Jones seemed to take exception with the line of questioning because he was speaking on the team’s flagship radio station, KRLD-FM 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. Jones conducts interviews with the station on Tuesday and Friday mornings. He also takes part in a pregame interview with the station.

While attending NFL meetings Tuesday afternoon in Atlanta, Jones explained in an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini why he reacted the way he did.

“I don’t know that I would go as far as (calling) the volume connotation as yelling,” Jones said. “OK? But the facts are that if I’m going to be grilled by the tribunal, I don’t need it to be by the guys I’m paying. I can take it from fans and take it from other people. I take a lot of pride in how fair and how much I try to work with the media, we’re brothers and sisters. But I was a little frustrated there today.

“We got in there as of accounting for decisions made in the offseason. OK? They might as well gone back to decisions made in 2010. My point is, and that’s from my perspective, there’s no question, I’m sure that they would have liked to have grilled me like the fans are thinking, what are you going to do about that? I get it. I get all of that. And really will go along with it.”

Jones went on to explain how his frustration stemmed from the individuals asking the questions, not necessarily the topic itself.

The Cowboys are coming off a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday at AT&T Stadium, the worst home loss in Jones’ 35 years as owner and general manager.

Even Young Americans Mistrust The Media

Amidst the pervasive sludge of AI-generated content, ongoing conflicts around the world, and a monumental US election that’s now only 3 weeks away, the share of Americans who have a “great deal/fair amount” of trust in the mass media to report the news fully, fairly, and accurately has never been lower.

That’s according to a recent installment of a Gallup survey, which dates back to 1972 and has run almost every year since 1997, with the latest update revealing that just 31% of US adults reported having the top level of trust in mediums including newspapers and TV. By comparison, 33% said that they had “not very much” trust in the mass media, while 36% reported having “none at all”. 

The amount of trust Americans have in the mass media took a significant hit in 2016, a year in which Oxford Dictionaries declared “post-truth” the international word of the year, but this year has seen faith fall across every age group, not least the youngest cohorts. Across the 4 age ranges tracked by the Gallup survey, Americans aged 18-29 and those aged 30-49 reported having the least trust in mass media to report news accurately, both hitting a record low of just 26%.

It’s hard to overlook the simultaneous rise of social media alongside this fall in trust, as more and more of us each year put faith in our social feeds to stay up to date.

FAB Donates $25k to BFoA’s Hurricanes Helene and Milton Fund

The Florida Association of Broadcasters (FAB) has donated $25,000 to the Broadcasters Foundation of America (BFOA) Hurricanes Helene and Milton Fund. With the addition of FAB’s donation, BFOA has exceeded the amount necessary for the $25,000 match donation from John Catsimatidis, Owner and CEO of Red Apple Media and WABC Radio.

“The Broadcasters Foundation has been a tremendous help to individuals in broadcasting who are in the greatest need of assistance from the onslaught of these back-to-back hurricanes. On behalf of FAB’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, we are proud to make this contribution,” said Pat Roberts, President, and CEO of FAB.

“Unfortunately, this is far from over,” he continued. “Many of our colleagues are just now discovering the extent of the damage and the cost of repairing or rebuilding. On behalf of our members and all broadcasters who are suffering from the catastrophic impact of these storms, please continue to contribute to the Broadcasters Foundation Hurricanes Fund.”

“We are so grateful to John and Pat and all the individual donors who continue to rise to the occasion and provided much-needed donations to help our colleagues, many of whom are temporarily homeless,” stated Tim McCarthy, President of BFOA. “The volume of requests that pour in every day is overwhelming. We need everyone in radio and television to give as much as they can afford. There is no such thing as a too small donation. Every dollar helps.”

The Broadcasters Foundation has temporarily adjusted its already streamlined Emergency Grant Guidelines and Application Process to make it even easier and faster to get funds into the hands of broadcasters hit hardest by these storms. Under the adjusted guidelines, broadcasters who have suffered catastrophic loss contact their Market or General Manager, who then fills out the Hurricanes Helene and Milton Group Submission Form for all of those within their station who are applying. To access the new temporary application form Market or General Managers may click here.

To make a donation to the Broadcasters Foundation of America Hurricanes Helene and Milton Emergency Fund, please click here.

About the Broadcasters Foundation of America: www.broadcastersfoundation.org

Former Politico Gets Extended Sentence In Journalist's Murder

Robert Telles and Jeff German

A district judge extended the sentence for a former county official convicted of murdering a longtime Las Vegas journalist, ruling on Wednesday that he will have to spend at least 28 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

The journalist, Jeff German, had taken on mob bosses and casino titans during his four decades as a reporter. But it was a series of articles focused on an obscure county office and its leader, Robert Telles, that ultimately served as the motive for his murder in September 2022, prosecutors argued at trial.

A Clark County jury convicted Telles of first-degree murder in August, and he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years. On Wednesday, Judge Michelle Leavitt, who has discretion under Nevada law to consider enhancements, added eight years to that minimum sentence because the murder involved a deadly weapon and a victim who was 60 years or older.

R.I.P.: Singer-Songwriter Liam Payne, Member of One Direction

Liam Payne (1993-2024)

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires after the 31-year-old fell from his third-floor room balcony, Argentine police said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the capital police said they were called to the hotel in the capital's leafy Palermo neighborhood where they were notified of an "aggressive man who could be under the effects of drugs and alcohol."

The hotel manager said he heard a loud noise at the back of the hotel, and when police arrived they found that a man had fallen over the balcony in his room, the statement said.

News that he jumped came from Pablo Policicchio, communications director for the Buenos Aires Security Ministry, who disclosed the findings in a statement provided to the Associated Press.

Radio History: Oct 17

➦In 1907...Guglielmo Marconi officially opened the first commercial transatlantic wireless telegraph service, which runs between Nova Scotia and Ireland.

➦In 1919...Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was created.

At the end of World War I, the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America was the only company in the United States that was equipped to operate transatlantic radio and telegraph communications. The United States government found this unacceptable since the Marconi Wireless Company of America was entirely owned by a foreign company—the British Marconi Company.

At the prompting of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was undersecretary of the navy at the time, General Electric (GE) formed a privately owned corporation to acquire the assets of American Marconi from British Marconi. On October 17, 1919, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was incorporated and within a month had acquired those assets.

General Electric was the major shareholder of RCA and the two companies cross licensed their patents on long distance transmission equipment. A year later American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) bought into RCA and also cross licensed patents with the new company. Transoceanic radio service began that same year with a major station in New Jersey broadcasting to England, France, Germany, Norway, Japan, and Hawaii. The world’s first licensed radio station also began transmitting in 1920. This station, KDKA of Pittsburgh, was owned by the Westinghouse Company.

In 1921, Westinghouse, too, joined the ranks of asset holders of RCA; in exchange for selling Westinghouse radio equipment to the public, RCA was permitted access to Westinghouse patents.

RCA entered the broadcasting field in 1921 with its transmission of the Dempsey-Carpentier fight in Jersey City, New Jersey. Using a transmitter borrowed from the navy. The company began full-time radio broadcasting shortly afterwards when it became an equal partner with Westinghouse in station WJZ of Newark, NJ.

Rochester Radio: 98.9 The Buzz’s Spezzano & Sandy Celebrate 25 Years

WBZA 98.9 The Buzz morning show co-hosts Scott Spezzano and Sandy Waters are celebrating 25 years in Rochester radio. The station is commemorating this milestone with a special invite-only morning show celebration at the iconic Geva Theatre on Friday, October 18, from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. ET.

During the show, Spezzano and Sandy will reminisce on two-and-a-half decades of laughs, unforgettable moments and special guests. It will be a morning of entertainment and surprises to mark the longest-running morning show in Rochester history. City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans will deliver a proclamation declaring October 18 “Spezzano & Sandy Day.”

“From their days on 98PXY and seamless transition to 98.9 The Buzz, Spezzano and Sandy have been an integral part of the fabric of Rochester radio for 25 years,” said Sue Munn, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Rochester. “Their ability to entertain listeners in such a relatable way and to develop relationships with countless clients and charitable organizations is a testament to their commitment to and passion for serving the Rochester community. We look forward to Spezzano and Sandy being a continued fan favorite for years to come!”

“It seemed like a blink of an eye, but 25 years of being able to wake up and engage our listeners has been so much fun,” said Spezzano and Sandy. “First on 98PXY and now with the 98.9 The BUZZ fam…we’re so blessed!”

Spezzano and Sandy consistently rank in the Top 10 among Adults 25-54. Over the years, Spezzano and Sandy have received numerous awards and recognitions as a result of their strong ties within the community, from reading to school children to raising donations for countless local and national charities, including the Salvation Army.

Candidate Harris Peppered With Questions During iHM Interview

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris defended her record as a prosecutor, pledged to decriminalize marijuana and push for police reform as she aimed to shore up support among Black men in an interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God on Tuesday.

Charlamagne, a Black comedian and author who hosts radio program "The Breakfast Club," on WWPR In New York and syndicated nationally by iHeartMedia is known for his blunt interviews of celebrities.

Although he is a Harris supporter, he has been critical of her and President Joe Biden in the past and called Democrats "cowards" for ineffectively prosecuting a case against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, reports Reuters.

In one of his first questions he asked Harris to address a rumor that she disproportionately locked up Black men over her more than a dozen years as San Francisco's district attorney.

"It's just simply not true," Harris said, adding she was described as "one of the most progressive prosecutors" on marijuana cases. She said as president she would work to decriminalize marijuana because she knew how the laws have hurt certain populations, especially Black men.

Some polls show that fewer Black men support Harris than they did Biden in the 2020 election.

Her campaign and allies including Barack Obama are working to win them back in Michigan and other battleground states that will be decided by a thin margin.

One of the tensest points of the interview came when Charlamagne pushed Ms. Harris on one of her greatest political vulnerabilities: the U.S.-Mexico border.

She went on the defensive, according to The NY Times.

When Charlamagne asked whether President Biden’s administration should be blamed for the soaring number of illegal crossings recorded during most of his presidency, Ms. Harris repeated her standard argument that the White House had supported a bipartisan border security bill that would have sharply curtailed asylum. Republicans killed the bill after taking a cue from Mr. Trump, who did not want Democrats to secure an election-year victory.

But the exchange also included a rare comment from Ms. Harris about Mr. Trump’s attempts to label her the “border czar.” Mr. Biden did not assign her the job of managing policies at the border, but rather addressing poverty and corruption in Central America so that would-be migrants would stay home.

Trump To Answer Questions During Women's Town Hall On FNC

FOX News Channel’s Harris Faulkner will present a town hall with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump focusing on issues impacting women ahead of the election and news of the day at Reid Barn in Cumming, Georgia.

 

The event, which will be held with an audience entirely composed of women, pre-taped on October 15th and will air on October 16th on The Faulkner Focus (11 AM-12 PM/ET). FOX News has a standing invitation to Vice President Harris for a townhall event of equal stature which has been extended to her campaign multiple times since she became a candidate for president in August.

In commenting on the town hall, Faulkner said, “Women constitute the largest group of registered and active voters in the United States, so it is paramount that female voters understand where the presidential candidates stand on the issues that matter to them most. I am looking forward to providing our viewers with an opportunity to learn more about where former President Trump stands on these topics.”

According to a September 2024 FOX News poll, the top issues impacting female voters are economy, abortion, immigration and health care. During the pre-taped one-hour town hall, Trump will discuss these concerns and others facing female voters as well as how he would address these issues.

Faulkner joined FNC in 2005 and currently serves as the anchor of The Faulkner Focus and a founding co-host of Outnumbered. 

At 11 AM/ET, The Faulkner Focus features interviews with top newsmakers and analysts and is cable news’ most-watched program in the timeslot, averaging nearly 2 million viewers. Outnumbered features an ensemble of four female panelists and one male breaking down the day’s headlines from all perspectives and dominates the competition at 12 PM/ET with 1.8 million viewers. Both programs outpace broadcast program’s NBC’s TODAY Third Hour, TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC News Daily, ABC’s GMA3, CBS’ The Talk and The Drew Barrymore Show.

D/FW Radio: Cowboys' Owner Has Meltdown On Air At 105.3 The Fan

The feistiness of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones finally surfaced Tuesday, two days after the most one-sided loss of his 36-year tenure in Dallas. As fans have hoped, Jones is finally threatening to hold some people accountable.

Starting with radio hosts Shan Shariff and RJ Choppy at 105.3 The Fan.

Jones became heated when the radio hosts brought up “all the offseason topics” surrounding the Cowboys.

The Dallas Morning News reports Jones makes two appearances a week on KRLD 105.3 The Fan during the NFL season. And when he was asked about his offseason mistakes and frequent unwillingness to spend money the team still has under the salary cap, Jones went off.

Jerry Jones was heated in his interview with @1053SS & @rjchoppy on @1053thefan (especially at the end of this clip)… 😳 pic.twitter.com/x9fWrcbJDn

— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) October 15, 2024

“This is not your job,” Jones said. “If you think I’m interested on a damn phone call with you over the radio, sitting here throwing all the good out with the dishwater, you have got to be smoking something over there this morning. That’s not your job or I’ll get somebody else to ask these questions, men.”

R.I.P.: Brett Elmore, Owner Of Station With Stolen Tower

Brett Elmore, owner and announcer of the radio station WJLX 101.5 in Walker County, has died. He was 41, according to CBS42.

Elmore, who owned the station since 2008, had been a fixture in the community, hosting his own radio show at the station, as well as calling football games for the Jasper Vikings football team, a role that had previously been held for over 40 years by his father, Johnny Elmore.

“It is with the heaviest heart that we formally announce the passing of owner and station manager, Brett Elmore,” the station posted on its Facebook page Tuesday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Elmore family.”

Brett Elmore

In the last year, Elmore and WJLX had gone through a lot of changes. It started with Elmore recruiting Jim Battan, a longtime Birmingham radio host better known as “Coyote J. Calhoun,” to the station, the host’s first foray into radio since his last show on WKSM Rock 99 in 2011. Every Sunday night, Calhoun hosts “Coyote J’s Sunday Night Cemetery of Rock.”

“I knew if I was going to do something interesting, it would have to be in a smaller market,” Battan said at the time. “Everyone is going to satellite, where there is no room for a disc jockey like me, who likes to have autonomy over music and do things his way.”

Then, back in February, WJLX’s radio tower mysteriously vanished. To this day, police have not been able to determine if had been stolen or what happened to it.

For Elmore, having a robust local radio station was important to the community.

“Radio is not dead,” Elmore told CBS 42 in 2023. “The way corporate radio is doing radio is what’s killing radio stations. I believe in being live and local.”

No funeral arrangements have been announced.

Up Next: Harris On Fox News Channel, Maybe Joe Rogan

On Wednesday, Harris will be interviewed on Fox News Channel with Anchor Bret Baier during Special Reports, which airs at 6pm Eastern.

According to Mediaite, Baier has shown himself to be a tough but fair interviewer. He is always respectful of his guests, but he almost certainly will question Harris on some subjects that have been avoided on friendlier turf, particularly The View appearances and various alternative podcasts.

Baier is expected to press the vice president on topics that Fox News viewers seem to hold dearest — immigration issues under the Biden-Harris administration. Harris has successfully punted any failures on the border by blaming Trump for effectively killing a bipartisan bill. Still, she has failed to answer why it took over three years to put that forth or enact the Executive Orders that have brought down border crossings dramatically.

But while Harris might risk getting her feet held to the fire, this is still potentially a massive win for her.

It is impossible to overestimate the political influence of Fox News, especially in an era of flagging network news viewership and the rise of cable news opinion shows filling that and the void of leadership ceded to media personalities by elected officials. Fox News enjoys more viewers than MSNBC and CNN combined. Also more swing state viewers watch Fox News than any other network by a wide margin.

Harris is also weighing joining the podcaster Joe Rogan, whose show reaches millions of men across the political spectrum, and who has joked that a "puppet master" was behind Harris' strong debate performance against Trump.

The effort reflects increasing anxiety within Democratic circles about Harris' waning momentum in the handful of decisive election states and fears that her under-performance with men, and Black men in particular, could doom her bid for the White House.

Over a quarter of young Black men say they would support Trump in the election race, according to a September poll by the NAACP, the nation's largest civil rights organization. Biden received about 80% of the Black male vote in 2020.

Harris' lead over Trump has narrowed in recent days, several polls show. Her lead held steady at 3 points in the latest national Reuters/Ipsos poll and other battleground state polls show the two in a dead heat.

Harris has been on a media blitz, speaking with friendly hosts from comedy shows, talk shows and podcasts.

iHeartMedia Adds To Leadership Team with New Division Presidents

iHeartMedia has announced the impending retirement oof key executive Tom McConnell.  His retirement marks the end of an era at iHeartMedia. After nearly three decades with the company and its predecessor, Clear Channel, McConnell has been a significant figure in the radio industry. His leadership has spanned multiple markets, and his influence will continue as he transitions to a consulting role.

iHM has also announced the appointment of Eddie Martiny and John Karpinski as Division Presidents to ensure continuity and leverage their extensive experience. This realignment, under Hartley Adkins’ leadership, aims to decentralize decision-making and enhance the company’s ability to respond swiftly to market demands.

Tom McConnell

CEO Bob Pittman and President/COO/CFO Richard Bressler announced the realignment of the company’s Markets Group structure in a memo Tuesday  The memo explained iHM'x commitment to staying ahead in the rapidly changing media landscape is clear. By evolving their assets and technology solutions, they aim to maintain their leadership in the audio industry and better meet the needs of their marketing and advertising partners.

Eddie Martiny’s new role as Division President overseeing key Texas markets and parts of Louisiana is a strategic move to ensure strong leadership in these important regions. This realignment reflects iHeartMedia’s focus on decentralizing decision-making to enhance responsiveness and efficiency.

At the same time, Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships John Karpinski will become Division President for markets in the Carolinas, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Memphis, and Kentucky's Louisville and Lexington. Karpinski will continue to lead iHeartMedia's Market Tier 3 Automotive business at the corporate level.

CBS News Management Struggling To Keep Control

CBS News President Wendy McMahon is trying to contain several crises that have divided the storied newsroom, including backlash over the network’s handling of a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris and a debate about whether a morning anchor went too far in his questioning of a guest about Israel and the war in Gaza. 

The 50-year-old McMahon spent last week attempting to quell internal tensions and deal with a torrent of negative press while also overseeing hurricane coverage. 

Meanwhile, Shari Redstone, nonexecutive chairwoman of CBS parent Paramount Global PARA 1.25%increase; green up pointing triangle, has inserted herself into the controversy as well.

Wendy McMahon

The Wall Street Journal reports,  CBS News is considering an editorial review to further address issues of fairness in reporting. The goal of the review would be to ensure that subjectivity doesn’t seep into reporting, according to a senior executive. How such a review would be implemented is still under discussion. 

CBS is also planning an investigation to review concerns employees have raised about their personal experiences in the newsroom, including antisemitism, anti-Muslim views, racism and sexism, the executive said.

McMahon’s current trials come as Paramount is in the midst of merging with Skydance Media, whose leadership team has been meeting with executives to determine future strategy. McMahon is scheduled to sit down later this week with Jeff Shell, the media veteran who has been tapped to become president of Paramount Global after the deal closes. 

The squabbles spreading beyond the halls of CBS’s corporate offices and newsroom into the public realm are seen by some inside the company as a sign that McMahon and her team are struggling to maintain control.

FCC Opens Probe Into Broadband Data Caps

The FCC said on Tuesday it was opening a formal inquiry into why broadband providers cap data use by some customers, and how it impacts consumers and competition.

"For most people in the United States, rationing their internet usage would be unthinkable and impractical. But, for millions, limitations on how much data they can use online is a constant concern," said FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel.

Reuters reports many consumers face no data caps on internet service but millions -- especially those on lower-cost plans -- do face limits.

Rosenworcel

Rosenworcel said it is now easier and less expensive for broadband companies to provide unlimited data and noted that caps "can cut off small businesses from their customers, slap fees on low-income families, and prevent people with disabilities from using the tools they rely on to communicate."

Rosenworcel first said in June 2023 she was seeking support from other FCC commissioners to support a formal inquiry to learn more about how broadband providers use data caps on consumer plans.

Last month, a trade group said Americans used just over 100 trillion megabytes of wireless data in 2023, up 36% from the prior year, the largest single-year increase in wireless data consumption.

Some consumers have complained about their struggles with internet providers who receive government subsidies. The FCC separately released 600 stories from consumers about their struggles with wireless and broadband providers data caps.

Rosenworcel noted during COVID-19 many fixed and mobile internet service providers refrained from enforcing or imposing data caps "suggesting that our networks have the capacity to meet consumer demand without these restrictions. We know that some providers do not have them at all."

Radio Sputnik Going Off Air In U-S

Radio stations in at least two markets will be dropping their affiliation with Russia-backed programming distributor Sputnik by the end of the week, The Desk has learned.

The stations affected are two in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and three others in Kansas City, which have offered programs produced and distributed by Sputnik through time-brokerage agreements for a few years.

Sputnik has not commented publicly on the matter, but one source familiar with the decision to wind down the network says it was directly influenced by the U.S. State Department’s imposition of new sanctions on Russia-backed broadcast outlets last month.

Then, officials with the State Department accused the Russian government of utilizing television broadcaster RT (formerly Russia Today) to facilitate online fundraisers that helped the Russian military procure weapons, body armor and other items for its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. RT and Sputnik are owned by the Russian government.

While Sputnik was not specifically named by the State Department, the sanctions nonetheless applied to the broadcaster’s parent company, which made it difficult to continue leasing time on Washington and Kansas City radio stations where its programming was heard, the source said.

 In Kansas City, Sputnik programming was heard on KCXL (1140 AM, 102.9 FM), which set aside three hours in the evening for the network. The rest of the day, KCXL airs religious shows, though the schedule also includes a handful of conspiracy theory-related programming, including the far-right program “Tru News.”

Radio History: Oct 16

➦In 1923...Prolific songwriter Bert Kaempfert born in Hamburg, Germany. He wrote "Strangers in the Night" for Frank Sinatra, "Spanish Eyes" by Al Martino, "Danke Schoen" for Wayne Newton, "L-O-V-E" by Nat King Cole, and many others) and performed "Wonderland By Night" in 1960 and signed The Beatles to a recording contract.

➦In 1939...Listeners first heard "The Right to Happiness” to the NBC Blue Network. The 15-minute daytime drama turned out to be one of the longest-running radio shows of its kind. It moved over to CBS in 1941, then back to NBC in 1942. Fourteen years later “Right to Happiness” returned to CBS where it stayed until its final days in 1960

➦In 1951...Singer Richard Penniman, known as Little Richard, made his first recordings for RCA Camden at the studios of WGST Radio in Atlanta. It took another four years and working in New Orleans' French Quarter to turn him into a rock 'n' roll star.

➦In 1954...Elvis Presley made his famous first radio appearance on the KWKH Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, LA. He appeared weekly for $18. His sidemen, Bill Black and Scotty Moore, were paid $12 each.

➦In 1960...Sportscaster Arch McDonald died at age 59 from a heart attack (Born - May 23, 1901). He served as the voice of Major League Baseball's Washington Senators from 1934 to 1956 (with the exception of 1939, when he broadcast the New York Yankees and Giants).

McDonald was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. During the early 1930s, he broadcast for the Chattanooga Lookouts, and won the first The Sporting News "Announcer of the Year" award in 1932—a remarkable achievement, considering that the Lookouts were a Class A team. Senators owner Clark Griffith jumped him straight to the big club in 1934, and he immediately became a hit. He was one of the first to use "ducks on the pond" as a term for players on base, and was notable for singing an old country tune, "They Cut Down the Old Pine Tree", after a big Senators play.

He was best known, however, for his studio re-creations of road games—a common practice in the 1930s, when line charges were too expensive for live road coverage. The radio listeners would hear the click of the ticker tape code for HR, and the announcer would convey, "It's a long fly ball to deep center, going, going ....... gone. It's a Home Run" For many years, it was common for Senators fans to crowd around McDonald's studio at a drug store on G Street to watch his recreations.

In 1939, he became the first full-time voice of the Yankees and Giants, working the second half of the season alongside a young Mel Allen. In that same year, he aired the opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame on CBS. However, his homespun style didn't play well in New York, and he was back in Washington for the 1940 season.

For the most part, McDonald called losing baseball; the Senators only finished higher than fifth four times during his tenure. However, he was named "Announcer of the Year" again in 1942. During the 1940s, he began calling Washington Redskins and college football games.

McDonald was forced off Senators broadcasts by a sponsor change in 1956, but remained behind the mic for the Redskins.

➦In 1984…Announcer Kenneth Lee Carpenter died at age 84 (Born - August 21, 1900). He was best known for being the announcer for singer and actor Bing Crosby for 27 years.