➦In 1904...Print journalist and CBS Radio correspondent William Lawrence Shirer was born in Chicago (Died – December 28, 1993 at age 89). He was a journalist and war correspondent. He wrote The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a history of Nazi Germany that has been read by many and cited in scholarly works for more than 50 years.
Originally a foreign correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and the International News Service, Shirer was the first reporter hired by Edward R. Murrow for what would become a CBS radio team of journalists known as "Murrow's Boys". He became known for his broadcasts from Berlin, from the rise of the Nazi dictatorship through the first year of World War II (1940). With Murrow, he organized the first broadcast world news roundup, a format still followed by news broadcasts.
➦In 1927...President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill into law that created the Federal Radio Commission, “to bring order out of this terrible chaos.” The president was speaking, of course, of the nation’s then unregulated radio stations. The name was changed to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on July 1, 1934. The FRC regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1934.
The Commission was created to regulate radio use "as the public interest, convenience, or necessity" requires. The Radio Act of 1927 superseded the Radio Act of 1912, which had given regulatory powers over radio communication to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. The Radio Act of 1912 did not mention broadcasting and limited all private radio communications to what is now the AM band.
➦In 1970...Jay Reynolds, who generated huge ratings in PM Drive at WIFE 1310 AM, the market leader at that time in Indianapolis, started at 77 WABC in NYC.
Reynolds did the all-night show for six years - not only the longest consecutive tenure during the station's 21 and a half years with a music format, but nine months longer than the combined time that Charlie Greer spent on the all-night show during his two stints. He died in March, 1996.
➦In 2010...‘Boss radio’ co-creator Gene Chenault died of non-Hodgkins lymphoma at age 90.
Chenault, who with his business partner, Bill Drake, reshaped rock radio in the 1960s with prepackaged programming that delivered more music and fewer commercials to hundreds of stations, creating an automated format.
The programming, using reel-to-reel tapes of Top 40 hits, was primarily designed by Drake and marketed and syndicated by Chenault. It raised ratings at station after station and brought a certain big-city sound to many small towns.
The new format gave rise to the stock phrases “boss jock” and “boss radio,” which first took hold at 93KHJ in Los Angeles in 1965. (The word boss was derived from California surfer slang for good, as in “That’s a boss wave.”) Within a year KHJ leapt from 12th to first place in the Los Angeles ratings. Its slogan: “Much More Music.”
➦In 2017…Broadcaster Alan Colmes died from cancer at age 66 (Born-September 24, 1950). He was a radio and television host, liberal political commentator for the Fox News Channel, and blogger. He was the host of The Alan Colmes Show, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show distributed by Fox News Radio. From 1996 to 2009, Colmes served as the co-host of Hannity & Colmes, a nightly political debate show on Fox News Channel.
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, "The Five" on Fox News Channel maintained its position as a ratings powerhouse in the cable news landscape.
Airing at 5 p.m. ET, the program—featuring a rotating panel of co-hosts discussing current events and political issues—drew an impressive 4.672 million total viewers, according to posts found on X citing preliminary data. This performance made it the most-watched cable news show of the evening, reinforcing its status as a dominant force in Fox News’ lineup.
The show’s strong viewership aligns with broader trends observed in early 2025, where "The Five" consistently led cable news ratings. For context, reports from earlier in February (e.g., the week of February 10) noted the program averaging 4.727 million viewers, securing the top spot among cable news broadcasts. Its appeal in the Adults 25-54 demographic, a key metric for advertisers, was also notable, with an average of 514,000 viewers in that group during the February 10 week. While specific demographic data for February 20 isn’t fully detailed in available sources, the show’s robust total viewer numbers suggest it likely retained significant traction in this coveted category as well.
"The Five" outperforming its competitors on Thursday evening underscores Fox News’ continued dominance over rivals like MSNBC and CNN. Posts on X highlighted that Fox News claimed the top five most-watched hours that night, with "The Five" leading, followed by "Jesse Watters Primetime" (3.738 million), "Special Report with Bret Baier" (3.475 million), "The Ingraham Angle" (3.444 million), and "Gutfeld!" (3.022 million). This sweep reflects the network’s strong hold on the cable news audience, particularly during a period of heightened political interest under the Trump administration.
Rebecca Kutler, who was officially named president of MSNBC on February 12, 2025, after serving as interim president since January, is reportedly gearing up to unveil significant programming changes as early as next week.
This development comes from posts on X by Dylan Byers of Puck News, who indicated that Kutler’s plans could be detailed in a subscriber-exclusive scoop, alongside insights from Variety reporting by Brian Steinberg. These changes mark her first major moves since taking the helm of the progressive cable news network, which is preparing for a spinoff from Comcast into a new entity called SpinCo, expected later in 2025.
Kutler, a seasoned news executive with over two decades of experience—most notably from her time at CNN before joining MSNBC in 2022 as Senior Vice President of Content Strategy—is poised to reshape the network’s lineup to adapt to shifting viewer habits and a challenging media landscape.
Rebecca Kutler
Sources suggest her strategy includes expanding the roles of key on-air talent. Specifically, former Biden White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who hosts Inside with Jen Psaki, and the trio from The Weekend—Symone Sanders-Townsend, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele—are slated for increased screen time. Psaki’s show, launched under Kutler’s oversight, and The Weekend, a Saturday and Sunday program, have been focal points of MSNBC’s recent efforts to bolster its daytime and weekend programming.
These expansions aim to capitalize on their existing audience engagement amid a post-election ratings slump that saw MSNBC’s viewership drop 46% compared to the first 10 months of 2024, though it has begun to rebound.
Beyond talent adjustments, Kutler is reportedly exploring broader structural changes. Discussions within MSNBC have centered on hiring journalists from outlets like Politico to strengthen its reporting muscle, as well as elevating current contributors to anchor roles.
This comes as the network faces the loss of NBC News’ extensive newsgathering resources post-spinoff, prompting Kutler to prioritize building an independent news operation. Posts on X also mention her plans to establish a new MSNBC bureau in Washington, D.C., signaling a physical and operational expansion to enhance coverage of the Trump administration, which began its second term in January 2025.
The timing of these changes aligns with a critical juncture for MSNBC. The return of Rachel Maddow to a five-night-per-week schedule at 9 p.m. ET during Trump’s first 100 days has already boosted ratings—the week of February 3 was the network’s highest-rated since Election Week.
NBCUniversal discreetly resolved a $30 million defamation lawsuit brought by a Georgia physician after MSNBC's prominent personalities—Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, and Chris Hayes—incorrectly labeled him the "uterus collector" and accused him of conducting "mass hysterectomies" on female detainees at an immigration facility during Donald Trump's initial presidency.
On Thursday, the network reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount, averting a jury trial set to commence on April 22 in Georgia's Southern District. The lawsuit stemmed from sensational 2020 MSNBC reports claiming that Mahendra Amin, branded the "uterus collector" by network hosts, performed unwarranted and unauthorized gynecological procedures, including hysterectomies, on immigrant women at an ICE detention center.
Maddow, Wallace, and Hayes vigorously promoted these allegations, which originated from a whistleblower complaint and became a focal point of MSNBC's reporting on purported abuses under Trump's immigration policies. Amin filed a defamation suit against MSNBC in September 2021, refuting claims that he had carried out any unnecessary medical interventions.
This case's resolution is the latest notable settlement involving a progressive media outlet. Last month, CNN settled a significant defamation lawsuit after a Florida jury ruled that the network defamed Navy veteran Zachary Young by depicting him as an "illegal profiteer" operating in a "black market" while he aided Afghan evacuations during the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal. CNN was ordered to pay Young $5 million for economic and emotional damages, with additional confidential punitive damages included in the settlement. Meanwhile, CBS News is reportedly considering a settlement with Trump over his lawsuit regarding the network's careless editing of Kamala Harris's pre-election 60 Minutes interview.
A federal judge determined last year that MSNBC hosts made 39 "verifiably false" statements about Amin, ruling that a jury could reasonably find the network acted with "actual malice." Internal NBC documents exposed persistent doubts among reporters about the whistleblower's claims, yet the story aired regardless. Discovery revealed emails and texts showing early skepticism from journalists, including Maddow and Hayes.
Documents from the discovery process indicated that Maddow—who was deposed for the lawsuit—and Hayes were unusually involved in off-camera vetting and editorial discussions for on-air talent.
The controversy originated with a September 15, 2020, NBC News article by homeland security reporter Julia Ainsley, immigration correspondent Jacob Soboroff (who reports for both NBC News and MSNBC), and national reporter Danielle Silva, who focuses on immigration and education. The trio obtained a whistleblower complaint from Dawn Wooten, a former nurse at the ICE facility, and interviewed her. Their subsequent story claimed that "women are routinely being sent to a gynecologist who has left them bruised and performed unnecessary procedures, including hysterectomies."
The Associated Press on Friday sued senior aides to President Donald Trump over a decision by the White House to restrict the news outlet's access to the president and other officials for continuing to refer to the Gulf of Mexico in its coverage.
Reuters report the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., alleges that the White House's decision to bar AP reporters from the Oval Office and Air Force One violates the U.S. Constitution, including First Amendment protections for free speech, by trying to control the language that it uses to report the news.
"The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government," the complaint states.
Responding to questions about the lawsuit posed by conservative commentator Mercedes Schlapp, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking during an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, said: "We feel we are in the right in this position. We are going to ensure that truth and accuracy is present at that White House every single day."
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, in a statement, called the lawsuit "a blatant PR stunt masquerading as a first amendment case."
Trump signed an executive order last month directing the Interior Department to change the name of the body of water long known as the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
The AP, citing editorial standards, said it would continue to use the gulf's established name, while acknowledging Trump's move to change it.
The AP says in its stylebook that the Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years and that it must use identifiers that are easily recognizable for global audiences.
The White House in response barred AP reporters from the Oval Office, where Trump has held several press events since returning to the presidency, and the presidential plane, Air Force One.
This week, numerous prominent news organizations, such as CNN, The Washington Post, and Fox News, sent a letter to the White House, pressing the Trump administration to promptly remove its ban on The Associated Press. The news outlet had been barred from attending several official press events in the preceding week.
According to the White House, it has excluded reporters from The Associated Press because the outlet uses "Gulf of Mexico" in its articles instead of "Gulf of America," as mandated by an executive order issued by President Trump on January 20.
The letter, organized by the White House Correspondents' Association and submitted on Monday, bore the signatures of 40 media outlets. It characterized the barring of The Associated Press as "an escalation of a disagreement that benefits neither the presidency nor the public."
"The First Amendment forbids the government from dictating how news organizations make editorial choices," the letter stated. "Any effort to penalize journalists for those choices constitutes a grave violation of this constitutional safeguard."
The media newsletter Status initially reported on the letter. Among the signatories were mainstream media outlets like The New York Times, NBC, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as conservative outlets such as Fox and Newsmax.
A Newsmax spokesman remarked, "We can empathize with President Trump's vexation, as the media has frequently treated him unjustly, but Newsmax nonetheless upholds The AP's right, as a private entity, to employ the terminology it prefers in its coverage. We are concerned that a future administration might disapprove of Newsmax's content and attempt to prohibit us."
The White House and the White House Correspondents' Association did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
On March 14, 2022, Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall and his crew found themselves in the heart of the war-torn Ukrainian landscape, diligently reporting on the escalating conflict. In a sudden and devastating turn of events, their vehicle was struck by a barrage of Russian missiles, leaving Hall critically injured and the sole survivor of the attack. The harrowing experience and the extraordinary efforts to save his life became the foundation of his bestselling memoir, "Saved," which chronicled the bravery and dedication of those who risked everything to rescue him from the brink of death.
Now, in his latest literary endeavor, "Resolute: How We Humans Keep Finding Ways to Beat the Toughest Odds," Hall delves into the arduous journey of his physical and emotional recovery following the near-fatal incident. The book serves as a testament to the indomitable human spirit, exploring the resilience and determination that propel individuals to overcome even the most daunting challenges. Through vivid storytelling and introspective reflection, Hall offers readers an intimate glimpse into the trials he faced and the unwavering resolve that carried him through the darkest of times.
In an exclusive interview with CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Seth Doane, Hall opens up about the profound significance of conflict reporting and the vital role it plays in shedding light on the realities of war. He emphasizes the importance of journalists who brave dangerous conditions to bring untold stories to the forefront, ensuring that the world remains informed and engaged. With candor and vulnerability, Hall also shares the enduring impact of the tragedy that claimed the lives of his colleagues, a burden he carries with him as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made in pursuit of truth.
"Resolute" not only chronicles Hall's personal odyssey but also weaves in compelling narratives of others who have triumphed over adversity, drawing parallels between their experiences and his own. From soldiers wounded in battle to civilians caught in the crossfire of conflict, the book celebrates the universal human capacity for resilience and the countless ways in which people find the strength to persevere. Through his powerful prose and unflinching honesty, Hall invites readers to contemplate the depths of their own fortitude and the remarkable ability of the human spirit to endure and overcome even the most unimaginable hardships.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finds himself increasingly isolated within President Donald Trump’s inner circle, with few—if any—remaining advocates willing to champion his cause. The fraying relationship between the two leaders, long marked by strain, now threatens to undermine Kyiv’s leverage in critical peace negotiations with Russia, casting a shadow over Ukraine’s strategic position on the global stage.
The fragile rapport between Trump and Zelensky, which had been teetering for months, erupted into outright animosity this week following a series of provocative exchanges. The tipping point came when Zelensky flatly rejected a U.S. proposal that would have required Ukraine to cede 50% of its lucrative rare earth element reserves—vital resources for advanced technology and defense industries—as repayment for billions in military aid provided by Washington. Compounding the rift, Zelensky publicly criticized Trump’s emissaries for engaging in back-channel discussions with Russian diplomats without his involvement, a move he branded as a betrayal of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Trump, never one to shy away from a counterpunch, unleashed a scathing rebuke. In a fiery statement, he labeled Zelensky a “dictator,” falsely asserting that the Ukrainian leader’s domestic approval rating had plummeted to a mere 4%. He went further, baselessly suggesting that Zelensky’s actions had provoked Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelensky fired back, accusing Trump of inhabiting a “disinformation space” detached from reality and questioning the U.S. president’s grasp of the war’s complexities. The war of words has laid bare a deepening chasm between the two, with potentially seismic implications for U.S.-Ukraine relations.
On Friday, President Trump joined The Brian Kilmeade Radio Show to discuss the latest on the war in Gaza after Hamas falsely claimed it released the body of Shiri Bibas and his take on the war in Ukraine amid growing tension with Zelenskyy.
One of Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers filed a motion to withdraw from the mogul's defense team.
Anthony Ricco did not provide a reason for his request, in which he wrote, "under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs," according to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
A judge will need to grant Ricco's motion before he is officially removed from the case. Combs would still have five other attorneys defending him in his federal sex trafficking case, including lead counsel Marc Agnifilo.
In the affidavit, Ricco says he did not want to divulge information protected by attorney-client privilege when explaining why the request was so brief. He did note that he came to his decision after speaking to Agnifilo.
"This motion for withdrawal of counsel, if granted, will not result in a delay of the present schedule for the commencement of jury selection and trial, or the present schedules for briefing of pretrial legal issues," Ricco wrote. "As a result, there will be no lapse in representation, as Sean Combs will continue to be represented by five other attorneys of record."
Combs currently is behind bars as he awaits his trial on federal charges. In September, the Bad Boy Records founder was indicted on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution in the Southern District of New York. He has pleaded not guilty.
Three different federal judges have denied Combs bail, citing concerns about potential witness tampering.
Combs is currently behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His trial is scheduled for May 5.
NASCAR’s Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Speedway Motorsports’ Performance Racing Network (PRN) have joined forces to create the NASCAR Racing Network (NRN), a new radio broadcasting initiative specifically dedicated to covering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
This collaboration, announced on Friday, marks a significant development in NASCAR’s radio landscape, aiming to enhance the audio experience for fans of the Truck Series, which is the third tier of NASCAR’s national racing series, behind the Cup Series and Xfinity Series.
The NASCAR Racing Network officially launched its coverage with the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season opener, the Fresh From Florida 250, on February 14, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway, where driver Corey Heim emerged victorious. The NRN is set to provide flag-to-flag coverage of all Truck Series races through the season finale on October 31, 2025, at Phoenix Raceway. The next scheduled broadcast is the Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, airing today, February 22, 2025, at 1:30 PM ET.
Background on MRN and PRN
Motor Racing Network (MRN): Known as “The Voice of NASCAR,” MRN has been a cornerstone of NASCAR broadcasting since its founding in 1970 by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and broadcaster Ken Squier. As a wholly owned subsidiary of NASCAR, MRN has provided award-winning play-by-play coverage for over 50 years, primarily focusing on the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series at tracks owned or leased by NASCAR, such as Daytona and Talladega. It also traditionally covered the entire Truck Series season. MRN’s broadcasts reach approximately 500 radio stations nationwide, in addition to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) and various digital platforms like MRN.com, NASCAR.com, and the NASCAR Mobile App.
Performance Racing Network (PRN): Operated by Speedway Motorsports, LLC, a major player in motorsports promotion, PRN has been a key broadcaster for NASCAR events at Speedway Motorsports-owned or -leased tracks, such as Atlanta Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway. While PRN primarily covers the Cup Series and Xfinity Series races at these venues, it has now expanded its scope through this partnership. Like MRN, PRN distributes its programming to a wide network of affiliates and is also available on SiriusXM and online platforms.
Historically, MRN and PRN have operated as separate entities, splitting NASCAR radio coverage based on track ownership—MRN for NASCAR-affiliated tracks and PRN for Speedway Motorsports tracks. This division remains intact for the Cup and Xfinity Series, but the creation of the NRN unifies their efforts specifically for the Truck Series.
How Fans Can Listen: The NRN’s broadcasts are accessible through multiple channels:
A nationwide network of affiliate radio stations, many of which already carry MRN or PRN programming.
SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90), which airs all NASCAR races across the three national series.
Online streams via MRN.com, NASCAR.com, the NASCAR Mobile App, and individual affiliate station websites, often in partnership with platforms like TuneIn.
While specific details about new voices or operational changes (e.g., which announcers from MRN or PRN will helm the broadcasts) remain sparse, the initiative promises continuity in quality with potential fresh perspectives for longtime Truck Series listeners.
Jon Burnett, a former KDKA talk show host and weather forecaster, has died at 71 from complications related to suspected chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
In February 2024, Burnett chose to share his condition publicly, saying, “My disease is so apparent now that I couldn’t conceal it any longer. I had to let the world know something was wrong with me—it wasn’t something I could keep broadcasting while hiding.” He also made the decision to donate his brain to the National Sports Brain Bank, which studies CTE using donated brains to advance research on the neurodegenerative disease.
Burnett’s career at Pittsburgh’s KDKA-TV began in 1982 when he was brought on as the co-host of Evening Magazine. “We explored the world together,” recalled co-host Liz Miles. “Jon always said we took viewers both around the globe and just around the corner.”
In 1985, Burnett expanded his role, co-hosting Pittsburgh 2Day. “It felt like working with a brother,” said co-host Patrice King Brown. “He was someone you could tease endlessly, and he’d give it right back—to me, the staff, everyone. I’ve never laughed as much as I did during those years with Jon.”
When Pittsburgh 2Day and Evening Magazine concluded in the early 1990s, Burnett returned to his original expertise as a weather forecaster at KDKA. “Seeing Jon on screen, you’d think, ‘That’s a guy I’d love to have in my living room in person,’” said Dennis Bowman, a former KDKA meteorologist. For nearly three decades, Burnett remained a reliable and beloved figure at the station.
Burnett retired in 2019 after facing significant health challenges, including memory loss and neurological issues. Doctors eventually diagnosed him with suspected CTE, likely linked to his football days—first as a young child and later as a collegiate player at the University of Tennessee.
After receiving news of former KDKA-TV talk show host and weather forecaster Jon Burnett's passing, @MartyGriffinKD reflected on his illness and life. Take a look: pic.twitter.com/05Mpfa3Azv
Reflecting on his life, a former KDKA colleague said, “Life is unpredictable, and Jon embraced it fully.” His legacy endures through his contributions to Pittsburgh broadcasting and his final act of donating his brain to science.
➦In 1857...German physicist Heinrich Hertz was born (Died January 1, 1894). He was first to conclusively proved the existence of the electromagnetic waves theorized by James Clerk Maxwell's electromagnetic theory of light. The unit of frequency – cycle per second – was named the "hertz" in his honor.
The first successful radio transmission was made by David Edward Hughes in 1879, but it would not be conclusively proven to have been electromagnetic waves until the experiments of Hertz in 1886. For the Hertz radio wave transmitter, he used a high-voltage induction coil, a condenser (capacitor, Leyden jar) and a spark gap—whose poles on either side are formed by spheres of 2 cm radius—to cause a spark discharge between the spark gap’s poles oscillating at a frequency determined by the values of the capacitor and the induction coil.
Heinrich Hertz
To prove there really was radiation emitted, it had to be detected. Hertz used a piece of copper wire, 1 mm thick, bent into a circle of a diameter of 7.5 cm, with a small brass sphere on one end, and the other end of the wire was pointed, with the point near the sphere. He bought a screw mechanism so that the point could be moved very close to the sphere in a controlled fashion. This "receiver" was designed so that current oscillating back and forth in the wire would have a natural period close to that of the "transmitter" described above. The presence of oscillating charge in the receiver would be signaled by sparks across the (tiny) gap between the point and the sphere (typically, this gap was hundredths of a millimeter).
In more advanced experiments, Hertz measured the velocity of electromagnetic radiation and found it to be the same as light’s velocity. He also showed that the nature of radio waves’ reflection and refraction was the same as those of light and established beyond any doubt that light is a form of electromagnetic radiation obeying the Maxwell equations.
Hertz's experiments triggered broad interest in radio research that eventually produced commercially successful wireless telegraph, audio radio, and later television.
➦In 1907...Radio, TV actor & producer Sheldon Leonard (died: January 11, 1997 at age 89) was born in New York City. He was part of the cast of voice actors on the Damon Runyon Theatre radio show (1948-1949). He was part of the ensemble cast of the Martin and Lewis radio show. He also appeared frequently on The Adventures of the Saint, often playing gangsters and heavies. Leonard was also a regular on the radio comedy series The Adventures of Maisie in the 1940s. During the 1950s, Leonard provided the voice of lazy fat cat Dodsworth in two Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoons directed by Robert McKimson.
➦In 1910...Radio actor, announcer Ken Roberts was born Saul Trochman in New York City (Died from pneumonia at age 99 – June 19, 2009). He was known for his work during the Golden Age of Radio, especially on The Shadow, It Pays to Be Ignorant, Quick as a Flash & Easy Ace, sand for his work announcing the daytime television soap operas The Secret Storm, Texas and Love of Life, each for a two-decade span.
Ken Roberts
His first announcing job was at WMCA in New York lasting three weeks. Next at WLTH in Brooklyn. In an interview for the book The Great American Broadcast, Roberts told Leonard Maltin that he had started at the Brooklyn station in 1930, where his responsibilities included answering phones and sweeping the floors, in addition to on-air roles playing piano and reading poetry.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Roberts' voice appeared widely in live programming to introduce programs, moderate game shows and do live reads for commercials. Despite his Errol Flynn-like good looks and the frequent broadcasts featuring his voice, as often as several times each day, few listeners knew who he was or would have recognized him in public radio historian Jim Cox described Roberts' voice as neither "Yankee, Southern, Western or anything else". It was a voice that didn't "irritate anybody" and that "you just naturally liked to hear", making him "one of the leading lights of radio". Steve Beverly of The Daily Game Show Fix described Roberts as having "what executives called a golden throat", with a familiar voice that was one of broadcasting's most-recognized anonymous voices. He also found time to narrate dozens of theatrical movie trailers and "intermission" segments for traditional and drive-in theaters during the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1935, Roberts was one of the founders of the American Guild of Radio Announcers and Producers, one of the predecessors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).
➦In 1918...Longtime announcer Dominick George "Don" Pardo was born in Westfield, MA (Died– August 18, 2014 at age 96). His career spanned more than seven decades.
Don Pardo
Pardo was hired for his first radio position at NBC affiliate WJAR in Providence in 1938.
He joined NBC full-time as an in-house announcer in 1944, remaining on the network staff for 60 years. The radio programs on which he worked as an announcer include Barrie Craig, Confidential Investigator, the sci-fi shows X Minus One and Dimension X. During World War II, Pardo worked as a war reporter for NBC Radio.
For more than 30 years, Pardo was one of the rotating announcers on the KFOG San Francisco radio show "Ten at Ten", appearing at 10 a.m. and in syndication with Dave Morey on KFOG HD Radio.
In the early 1950s, he served as announcer for many of RCA's and NBC's closed-circuit color television demonstrations.
Pardo made his mark on game shows for NBC as the voice of the original The Price Is Right from 1956 until it moved to ABC in 1963. Pardo's next show was Jeopardy!, which he announced from 1964 until the original version of the series ended in 1975. This early version was hosted by Art Fleming. The current syndicated version of Jeopardy! has been hosted by Alex Trebek and since 1984 has been announced by prominent long time announcer, Johnny Gilbert. Pardo also announced New York–based NBC game shows such as Three on a Match, Winning Streak, and Jackpot!, all three of which were Bob Stewart productions.
Pardo squeezed in many other assignments at NBC, including the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (until 1999), WNBC-TV's Live at Five and NBC Nightly News.
Pardo was the on-duty live booth announcer for WNBC-TV in New York and the NBC network on November 22, 1963, and he was the first to announce to NBC viewers that President John F. Kennedy had been shot in Dallas, Texas.
Best remembered as the announcer for the first 39 years of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ he uniquely scored a 70 year career as announcer for NBC Radio & TV. He made weekly flights from his Arizona retirement home to New York to work live on SNL.
First Control Room
➦In 1922...WOR-AM signed on. WOR began broadcasting on February 22, 1922, using a 500-watt transmitter on 360 meters (833 kc.) from Bamberger's Department Store in Newark, New Jersey. Louis Bamberger's sale of radio sets to consumers explained their affiliation with the station. The WOR call sign was reissued from the U.S. maritime radio service.
The station initially operated limited hours, sharing time with two other stations, WDT and WJY, which also operated on 833 kc. WOR changed frequency to 740 kc. in June 1923 and shared time with WJY until July 1926, when WJY signed off for good and WOR received full use of the frequency. In December 1924, WOR acquired a studio in Manhattan.
On June 17, 1927, as a result of General Order 40, WOR moved to 710 kc., the channel it currently occupies (unlike most stations, it was not affected by NARBA in 1943). Later in 1926, WOR moved from its New York City studio on the 9th floor of Chickering Hall at 27 West 57th Street to 1440 Broadway, two blocks from Times Square.
Jerry Butler’s baritone combined the soaring ecstasy of church, the rumbling rhythms of Chicago and the soul of his native Sunflower, Mississippi. Warm and plush but also cool, it won him the nickname “Iceman.”
The songs of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer became a soundtrack for the 1950s and 1960s. He achieved fame as a member of The Impressions and later as a solo soul artist. His songs have been sampled by others including Missy Elliott, Snoop Dogg, Method Man and The Game.
The Chicago resident went on to a 32-year political career as a member of the Cook County Board, helped by backing from Mayor Harold Washington.
Butler, whose voice was stilled by Parkinson’s disease, died Thursday night at home, according to The Sun-Times.
“He’s one of the great voices of our time,” said Motown legend Smokey Robinson, who said he’d admired Mr. Butler since Robinson was a young singer and heard The Impressions’ “For Your Precious Love” for the first time. “It sweeped through ‘the hood.’ I have known Jerry Butler way back, since the Miracles and I first got started, around 1958. He’s a great person, and I love him.”
In 1942, when he was 3 years old, his sharecropper parents moved the family from Mississippi for Chicago. His religious mother Arvelia Agnew Butler used to call the radio stations that played the blues “devil stations.” But young Jerry was allowed to watch TV’s “Hit Parade.”
He learned how to write songs by reading Hit Parade magazine, which “printed out the sheet music of the hits performed on the show,” he wrote. “It helped us learn how not only to sight read but how to structure songs.”
In 1953, 13-year-old Jerry visited the Traveling Souls Spiritualist Church of Rev. Annabelle Mayfield. He joined her gospel group, the Northern Jubilee Singers, and met her grandson, someone he wrote had “a great tenor voice.” That was Curtis Mayfield.
Before they climbed the music charts as The Impressions, young Jerry attended Washburne Trade School, studying to be a chef — which gave him skills that made him popular on the road
He and Mayfield went on to form The Impressions, with Butler as lead singer, according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, into which the group was inducted in 1991. Mr. Butler said their manager suggested the group’s name because they left a good impression.
Their first hit was 1958’s “For Your Precious Love.” Rolling Stone said it was based on a poem Butler wrote in high school. In 2003, the magazine ranked the song No. 335 on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
“The Impressions traversed the sounds of the Fifties and Sixties as well as old and new social attitudes,” according to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “Their music was the sound of the Civil Rights Movement.”
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that challenges the autonomy of the country's key trade, communications, and financial regulatory bodies, potentially paving the way for a Supreme Court battle that could grant him substantially greater influence over these agencies' decisions, budgets, and leadership.
The executive order, signed at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, is the latest in a string of executive actions he has taken since resuming office, promoting a wide-ranging and contentious view of executive power.
The White House has already asserted that Trump possesses unilateral authority to significantly reduce the federal workforce, spending, and programs, and effectively dismantle entire agencies without congressional consent.
Tuesday's order further implies that Trump's authority extends to directly controlling agencies like the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, which, according to legislation passed by Congress and signed by Trump's predecessors, are intended to maintain a degree of independence.
Trump has already taken additional measures to assert greater control over independent officials and agencies by dismissing more than a dozen inspectors general, replacing senior ethics officials, and removing the heads of other agencies responsible for protecting federal employees and investigating agency misconduct.
While courts have blocked or restricted the scope of some of Trump's executive actions, legal experts anticipate that the conservative-leaning Supreme Court may be receptive to expanding presidential power in at least some of these cases. The justices are currently deliberating a case concerning the extent of Trump's authority over independent agencies, and Tuesday's executive order appears certain to trigger further legal challenges.
"This executive order, unlike many others we've seen, which seem unprepared for serious scrutiny, reads as if it was meticulously crafted over an extended period," remarked Deborah Pearlstein, a constitutional scholar at Princeton University. "It is intentionally raising a significant constitutional law question that will be reviewed by the Supreme Court."
Trump and his advisors have expressed optimism that the Supreme Court, bolstered by three justices appointed by Trump, will ultimately endorse his unilateral governing approach, permanently broadening the scope of presidential authority.
ESPN's coverage of Major League Baseball games will conclude at the end of the 2025 season, it was announced on Thursday.
There was a March 1 deadline for MLB and ESPN to opt out of the final three years of their contract. The sides agreed to a seven-year deal in 2021 that averaged $550 million per season.
"We are grateful for our longstanding relationship with Major League Baseball and proud of how ESPN's coverage super-serves fans," the network said in a statement. "In making this decision, we applied the same discipline and fiscal responsibility that has built ESPN's industry-leading live events portfolio as we continue to grow our audience across linear, digital and social platforms.
"As we have been throughout the process, we remain open to exploring new ways to serve MLB fans across our platforms beyond 2025."
ESPN has carried MLB games since 1990 but cut back its coverage in the current contract to 30 regular-season games -- mostly on Sunday night -- and the wild-card postseason series. ESPN also had the Home Run Derby and 10 spring training games.
The previous eight-year deal, which ran from 2014 through 2021, saw ESPN broadcast up to 90 regular-season games. ESPN also stopped airing the daily "Baseball Tonight" highlights and news show in 2017.
MLB's Rob Manfred
Front Office Sports reports the current seven-year rights pact, paying the league $550 million per year, was set to run through 2028, but will now expire after the upcoming season after the two sides were unable to come to terms on a revised relationship. The mutual opt-out had been a source of growing tension for months.
ESPN had long objected to its fee, particularly in light of separate MLB rights deals with Apple and Roku that are worth $85 million and $10 million, respectively, per year. Recent talks between the two sides did not produce any sort of revised agreement, and the pact is now set to expire after the 2025 season. ESPN will still broadcast MLB events such as Sunday Night Baseball, the Home Run Derby, and the wild-card round of the playoffs this season, as planned.
A source told CNN that ESPN opted out of the contract and was surprised by Commissioner Rob Manfred’s note to MLB owners that the league and network had mutually agreed to end their relationship. The source noted that ESPN had an opt-out clause in the contract and decided to exercise it on Thursday.
ESPN is still open to pursuing a deal with a reduced rights fee after seeing deals struck with Apple and Roku. Apple pays $85 million per season for a Friday night package it has aired since 2022, while Roku's deal for Sunday afternoon games is worth $10 million per year.
"Unfortunately in recent years, we have seen ESPN scale back their baseball coverage and investment in a way that is not consistent with the sport's appeal or performance on their platform," MLB said in a statement. "Given that MLB provides strong viewership, valuable demographics, and the exclusive right to cover unique events like the Home Run Derby, ESPN's demand to reduce rights fees is simply unacceptable. As a result, we have mutually agreed to terminate our agreement."
"We will be exploring those opportunities for a new agreement which would start in the 2026 season following the conclusion of ESPN's agreement at the end of this year," the league said.
MLB receives an average of $729 million from Fox and $470 million from Turner Sports per year under deals that expire after the 2028 season.
CBS News is scrapping a recent revamp of its “Evening News” just weeks after replacing anchor Norah O’Donnell with a “60 Minutes”-inspired format featuring lesser-known anchors, sources told The NY Post. The retreat comes as ratings plummet and the network’s news chief faces mounting pressure.
The overhaul swapped O’Donnell for Maurice DuBois and Jeff Dickerson in a bid to transform the third-place broadcast into a news magazine with longer, reported segments. But after missteps like leading with a six-minute feature on student literacy last week—while major stories like Elon Musk’s White House visit and Russia’s release of a U.S. prisoner dominated the news cycle—CBS is shifting back to a harder news focus.
Norah O'Donnell
“They can’t pretend the news isn’t happening,” an industry insider said of the struggling program. “You can’t ignore the flood of headlines coming out of Washington.”
The revamp was spearheaded by CBS News president and CEO Wendy McMahon, who tasked “60 Minutes” producer Bill Owens with reimagining the broadcast. She replaced O’Donnell, a five-year veteran of the anchor chair, with DuBois and Dickerson—cheaper hires who’ve drawn sharp criticism from CBS insiders.
“Dickerson looks lost on air,” one source said, while another dismissed DuBois, a former WCBS anchor, as “a nobody outside New York.” A former news executive added: “Anchors need likability or gravitas. DuBois and Dickerson bring neither—beyond some political reporting chops for Dickerson.”
Adding to the turmoil, McMahon’s deputy Adrienne Roark left the network Wednesday, fueling speculation of an exodus as the merger looms.
This year’s CRS research presentation unveiled new perspectives on how Country music fans find fresh tunes, interact with radio, and view the genre’s ongoing transformation. As ever, authenticity and relatability remain the heartbeat of what pulls listeners into the fold.
The study, conducted by NuVoodoo with 1,500 Country music enthusiasts, spotlighted evolving listening trends and painted a picture of a shifting landscape for country radio and streaming. Carolyn Gilbert, President of the analytics firm, and Leigh Jacobs, EVP of Research, delivered the findings.
Key Takeaways:
While older fans still lean on FM/AM radio, younger audiences are flocking to digital platforms. The research pinpointed YouTube, streaming services, and broadcast radio as the top trio for uncovering new country tracks.
For the 45-54 age group, 59% stick with radio to scout new songs, but among 18-24-year-olds, streaming and YouTube take the reins. Even so, radio holds its ground as a vital channel for concert buzz, with 41% of fans naming it their go-to for live show updates.
Opinions split on the genre’s trajectory: nearly half of those surveyed feel country music has gotten better lately, while just 16% think it’s taken a downturn. Longtime listeners—those with a decade or more under their belts—are the most divided, with 22% sensing a decline and 42% seeing progress.
In-car listening still crowns radio king, with 61% of fans dialing into AM/FM on the road, though streaming dominates at home and work. Younger crowds are ditching traditional radio, favoring Spotify, Apple Music, or Pandora instead. Across the board, gripes about radio include spotty signals, ad overload, and playlists stuck on repeat.
40% of respondents said they tune in primarily for the music, with less interest in on-air personalities. Among the hosts who received positive mentions, Bobby Bones, Cody Alan, Kix Brooks, Lon Helton, and Big D & Bubba stood out. Listeners valued traits like humor, a lighthearted approach, and entertainment value most highly.
Yet, even with streaming’s surge, radio’s ace in the hole remains its on-air voices. Close to half of country radio fans prize their station’s personalities for their community ties and entertainment chops. Humor, realness, and a deep well of country know-how topped the list of cherished host traits. Morning shows, especially, keep reeling listeners in.
Still, 36% of fans noted their favorite DJs have been axed in recent years, sparking worries that staff slashing might be dimming the connection with audiences.
Newsmax host Ed Henry, a former Fox News anchor, claimed this week that James Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch’s son and the probable successor to the Fox News empire, is “an avowed leftist.”
Speaking to Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt, Henry revealed that the elder Murdoch recently lost a significant legal battle over his trust, resulting in three of his liberal-leaning children—led by James—gaining control over the network’s future.
James Murdoch
Henry explained to Schmitt that while Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan maintain conservative leanings, Newsmax has been gaining traction amid growing uncertainty about Fox News’ direction. “Over at Fox, there’s deep concern,” Henry remarked.
Even before the Murdoch family’s legal disputes became public, Fox News had faced backlash for shifting leftward on major issues. In recent years, the Murdoch media conglomerate, including Fox News, has increasingly supported climate change narratives, even launching Fox Weather, a sister channel aligned with the climate agenda.
Henry emphasized that these shifts at Fox are boosting Newsmax’s audience. “Newsmax is obviously on the rise, and we continue to grow, largely because of concerns about Fox’s direction under James, who, as you pointed out, is an avowed leftist,” he told Schmitt. Henry added, “He and his wife Catherine have donated millions to climate change causes, Biden, and more—you name it, it’s right down the list.”
Four decades ago, the Reagan administration urged PBS to seek alternative funding sources for public television beyond taxpayer support. PBS rose to the occasion by refining its sponsor acknowledgment approach. Rather than simply displaying a corporate logo before programs, PBS permitted underwriters to air messages resembling traditional commercials. This shift bolstered funding for shows like “Nova,” “Masterpiece,” and Ken Burns’ celebrated documentaries.
Now, however, this practice faces criticism from Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed Federal Communications Commission Chairman. Carr contends that these sponsorship spots veer into forbidden commercial territory, reports The LA Times.
In a January 30 letter to PBS and NPR—which also features similar corporate messages—Carr expressed his backing for terminating federal funding to public broadcasting. “For my own part, I see no justification for Congress to keep funneling taxpayer money to NPR and PBS,” he wrote, pointing to the abundance of media options available today.
Conservatives have long pushed to slash funding for PBS and NPR, accusing them of pushing liberal agendas. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has introduced the Defund Government-Sponsored Propaganda Act to eliminate federal support for these outlets. Republican efforts to defund public broadcasting stretch back to the Nixon era, but the current moment—amid the DOGE era, with Elon Musk empowered by President Trump to overhaul the federal budget—lends Carr’s stance heightened significance.
PBS and NPR are merely the latest in Carr’s crosshairs. He has aggressively targeted owners of government-licensed broadcast channels, aligning his moves with Trump’s hostility toward mainstream media critical of the administration. Yet Carr’s January 30 letter offered no concrete instances of PBS or NPR breaching public broadcasting regulations.
PBS President Paula Kerger, in an interview, defended their model: “We’ve always relied on a mix of modest government funding, philanthropy, and corporate support. We’ve collaborated with the FCC to ensure compliance with their expectations.” Likewise, NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher, whose network produces “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” affirmed in a statement that NPR has followed FCC underwriting guidelines.
In January 2025, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced the termination of a fact-checking initiative aimed at curbing medical misinformation and other dubious content on its platforms. Some critics viewed this as an attempt by Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, to placate former President Donald Trump, who had threatened to jail Zuckerberg in 2024.
Similarly, the social media platform once called Twitter discontinued its own fact-checking efforts after Elon Musk acquired and rebranded it as X in 2022.
According to experts interviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the proliferation of misinformation on social media is expected to grow, even as these platforms remain a primary news source for most young Americans. They advise applying the timeless adage: if it seems too good to be true, it likely is.
David Greene, senior staff attorney and civil liberties director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, expressed concern about the declining quality of information on these sites. "However," he added, "it's worth asking whether they were ever reliable sources for health information in the first place."
Greene noted that even before Meta and X shifted from human editors to "community notes" or crowdsourced editing, the platforms were rife with inaccurate and potentially harmful medical and health content.
Laurel Bristow, an infectious disease researcher at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health, explained that much of the health-related content on social media is crafted to promote products. She recommends seeking out profiles managed by experts who aren't pushing supplements or other goods. Bristow herself gained a following of over 400,000 as a science influencer on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic and now hosts a weekly podcast, "Health Wanted," which recently explored the issue of misinformation.
"One of the best actions you can take is to avoid sharing misinformation on social platforms," Bristow advised. "If something seems too good or too bad to be true, pause to verify it. A strong emotional reaction is often a sign that it might not be factual."
A Pew Research Center study found that 86% of U.S. adults "at least sometimes" get news from digital devices like smartphones, computers, or tablets, with 57% doing so frequently.
Among Gen Z—those born between 1996 and 2010—78% get news from social media at least occasionally, and 37% regularly turn to influencers for news, according to Pew. While the study didn’t specify which platforms Gen Z favors, it included TikTok, a Chinese social media site that transitioned to AI-driven content moderation in 2024, as reported by Vice News.
Defined by McKinsey & Company, Gen Z is the second-youngest generation, sandwiched between millennials and Generation Alpha.
