DC Radio: WMAL Adds Derek Hunter For PM Drive

Cumulus Media announces that it has named Derek Hunter as Afternoon Talk Host at Cumulus Media’s News Talk 105.9 WMAL-FM in Washington, D.C.

Hunter has been a regular fill-in host on the station since 2011. A 20-year veteran of talk radio, Derek is also a senior columnist for Townhall.com, a podcaster, and a former managing editor at The Daily Caller. He previously served as a fill-in host for The Rush Limbaugh Show, and his experience spans media, policy analysis, and political communications. Hunter debuts today and can be heard on WMAL Monday through Friday from 3:00pm-6:00pm.

Hunter began his talk radio career in 2005, hosting The Insiders, a live call-in show for The Heritage Foundation where he was also a health care policy analyst. In 2007, Hunter co-founded the First Friday Happy Hour podcast, which quickly became essential listening for Capitol Hill staffers. In 2009, he was recruited by Tucker Carlson and Neil Patel to help launch The Daily Caller, as Managing Editor.

Derek Hunter

Hunter's on-air career grew when he began regularly hosting the Saturday 4:00pm–7:00pm slot on WMAL’s The Big Show in 2011. That same year, he was hired by WBAL in Baltimore for the noon–3:00pm time slot. He later worked at WCBM in Baltimore and WFMD in Frederick, MD, where he also served as Program Director.

“We’re thrilled to have Derek’s fresh voice and perspective on our fulltime line-up”, said Bill Hess, Program Director, WMAL-FM. “His width of interests will make for a fun and informative afternoon program as we wrestle this news cycle each day.”

Hunter commented: “I couldn’t be more excited—this is a homecoming for me. Returning to where I first hosted is a great feeling. I’ve been fortunate to fill in across the lineup—from O’Connor and Company to Chris Plante, and even for Rush Limbaugh. To now have a permanent home here is incredibly special. I want to thank Bill Hess, Jeff Boden, and all of Cumulus for this amazing opportunity.”

Hunter now lives with his wife and two children just outside the nation’s capital.

For more information or to stream WMAL-FM, visit: https://www.wmal.com/.