Meredith Wilson (far left) and band at KPO Studios, San Francisco
Meredith Wilson
➦In 1902...Composer/bandleader/radio personality Meredith Willson was born in Mason City, Iowa.
Besides his celebrity as the creator of the Broadway smash, ‘Music Man.’ Willson was a giant in radio.
In San Francisco, Willson was concert director for radio station KFRC, and then as a musical director for the NBC radio network in Hollywood. His on-air radio debut came on KFRC in 1928 on Blue Monday Jamboree.
His work in films included composing the score for Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator (1940) (Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score), and arranging music for the score of William Wyler's The Little Foxes (1941) (Academy Award nomination for Best Music Score of a Dramatic Picture).
During World War II, he worked for the United States' Armed Forces Radio Service. His work with the AFRS teamed him with George Burns, Gracie Allen and Bill Goodwin. He would work with all three as the bandleader, and a regular character, on the Burns and Allen radio program. He played a shy man, always trying to get advice on women. His character was ditsy as well, basically a male version of Gracie Allen's character.
He suffered heart failure and died June 15, 1984 at age 82.
➦In 1934...‘The Hour of Charm’ debuted, beginning an intermittent 14-year run on the CBS and NBC radio networks. The musical half-hour featured Phil Spitalny and his All-Girl Orchestra.
➦In 1942...radio’s espionage adventure drama 'Counterspy' premiered on the Blue Network/ABC. The 30-minute show with the distinctive theme (Love of Three Oranges) would last on radio for 15 years, including runs in the 1950s on NBC and Mutual.
➦In 1966...there was a Top 40 battle in Denver between KIMN 950 AM and KBTR 710.
Listeners were tuning in to hear Gary Todd, Robert E. Lee, Jim O’Brien, Chuck Buell, Hal Moore, JayMack, Johnny Presley, George Michael.
KEWB Playlist - circa 1960
➦In 1966...KEWB 910 AM San Francisco switched from Top40 to easy listening. The station was probably anticipating the arrival of Drake-formatted KFRC 610 AM. KEWB switched its call letters to KNEW and mimicked sister station WNEW in NYC.
In Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial, pop singer Dawn Richard testified on Friday that she frequently witnessed Combs physically assault his then-girlfriend, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, during their 11-year relationship. Richard described a 2009 incident at Combs’ Los Angeles home where he beat Ventura, dragged her upstairs by her hair, and later screamed and assaulted her again in front of others. The next day, Combs allegedly gave Richard and other witnesses flowers, warning that their careers would suffer if they reported the incident.
Combs, 55, faces five felony charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and prostitution-related offenses, with a potential sentence of 15 years to life if convicted. He has been detained in a Brooklyn jail since his arrest in September and has pleaded not guilty.
Casandra "Cassie" Ventura's Testimony: Ventura, Combs' former girlfriend and a central witness, concluded her testimony after nearly 20 hours over four days. On this final day, she faced cross-examination from Combs' defense attorney, Anna Estevao, who focused on Ventura's relationship with Combs, highlighting affectionate and sexually explicit text messages to suggest mutual consent in their activities, including the "Freak Offs" (drug-fueled sex parties).
Ventura testified that Combs was sometimes kind, but these periods were fleeting, and she reiterated instances of physical abuse, including a 2016 hotel assault captured on surveillance video where Combs dragged and kicked her.
She clarified that Combs' controlling behavior, such as taking her phone or passport when angry, persisted. Ventura also addressed drug use, noting both she and Combs used drugs heavily, but she could not confirm if Combs was in a "blackout" during the 2016 incident. The defense suggested Ventura encouraged some "Freak Offs," but she countered that Combs' texts often implied demands for such events, which she felt compelled to follow due to their long relationship dynamics.
After her testimony, Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, read a statement outside court where she thanked supporters and vowed to never forget Combs’ alleged actions, emphasizing her testimony aimed to empower other survivors. Her husband, Alex Fine, commended her bravery in a statement also read by Wigdor.
Dawn Richard’s Testimony: Dawn Richard, a former member of Diddy Dirty Money and Danity Kane, testified about witnessing Combs violently assault Ventura in 2009 at his Los Angeles home. Richard recounted seeing Combs attack Ventura, hitting her in the head, kicking her while she was in a fetal position, and dragging her upstairs amid yelling and breaking glass. She described Combs swinging a skillet at Ventura and demanding his phone and eggs. Richard said she was scared for both Ventura and herself, which prevented her from intervening or calling the police. She further testified that the next day, Combs summoned her and another woman, Kalenna Harper, to his home, gave them flowers, and warned that speaking about the assault would harm their careers. Richard’s testimony was briefly interrupted for a sidebar discussion regarding a defense objection to her description of Combs’ threats.
Special Agent Yasin Binda’s Testimony: Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Yasin Binda, who handled logistics for Combs’ arrest on September 16, 2024, at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan, testified about evidence recovered during a search of Combs’ hotel room. Jurors were shown photos of items including two Ziploc bags containing Johnson’s baby oil and Astroglide lubricant found in an entryway closet, additional bottles of baby oil and lubricant in the bathroom and on a nightstand, and a device for “mood lighting,” which Ventura had previously linked to "Freak Off" settings. Binda also presented a pill bottle containing clonazepam under the alias “Frank Black,” which Ventura testified Combs used, and glassine bags with pink powder testing positive for ketamine and MDMA. The jury examined these exhibits, which prosecutors tied to the "Freak Off" allegations.
Separately, Justin Bieber’s representative clarified that Bieber is not a victim of Combs but supports victims seeking justice, according to TMZ and People.
In a scathing speech at the 2025 Media Institute Communications Forum in Washington, DC, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a 2023 Biden appointee, accused the agency of being “weaponized to chill speech and punish the press” without directly naming its Trump-appointed chair, Brendan Carr.
Gomez condemned the FCC’s recent actions as a “dangerous precedent,” transforming an independent regulator into a tool of political censorship.
Gomez criticized Carr’s moves to target media outlets unfavorable to President Donald Trump, including investigations into PBS and NPR’s sponsorship practices, a reopened CBS probe for alleged “news distortion,” complaints against ABC over a Trump-Harris debate, and new inquiries into NBCUniversal and Disney’s diversity policies.
“This FCC will go after any news outlet that dares to report the truth if it’s unfavorable to this administration,” she said, praising past FCC chairs who resisted using licensing authority as a weapon.
As the sole Democrat on the five-member commission after Commissioner Geoffrey Starks’ upcoming resignation, Gomez vowed to speak out against the government’s use of regulatory tools to violate the First Amendment.
She warned that some media outlets are yielding to government pressure, citing CBS News and “60 Minutes” as examples. CBS’s parent, Paramount Global, is reportedly considering settling a Trump lawsuit alleging “60 Minutes” manipulated a Harris interview, amid pressures tied to a merger with Skydance Media requiring FCC approval. This has led to editorial changes, with “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens resigning in April, citing a loss of independence, and host Scott Pelley noting Paramount’s new content oversight.
“Pardon my language, but that is a B.F.D.,” Gomez said of the “60 Minutes” situation, emphasizing that a free press requires independent journalists. She concluded by pledging to uphold her duties, even if it leads to her removal: “If I’m removed, it’s because I insisted on doing my job.”
Over 20 conservative organizations and individuals, spearheaded by Heritage Action for America, sent a joint letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, pressing for a major overhaul of outdated broadcast ownership regulations from the 1940s. The coalition argues these rules stifle local radio and TV broadcasters’ ability to compete in today’s digital media environment.
“These rules may have served the public interest in last century’s marketplace,” the letter reads, “but they are now antiquated and harmful, curbing investment and innovation in broadcasting.”
The groups urge the FCC to eliminate the 39% national television ownership cap, local TV duopoly restrictions, and local radio ownership limits. Such changes, they claim, would enable broadcasters to gain the scale and efficiencies needed to compete in a fragmented media market and attract critical investment. The letter highlights regulatory disparities, noting that broadcasters face strict audience reach limits while tech giants like YouTube and Facebook operate without similar constraints.
National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt welcomed the support, stating, “Arbitrary regulations are hampering local TV and radio stations’ ability to compete with Big Tech. We applaud the call to modernize these outdated rules to level the playing field, ensuring broadcasters can deliver trusted news, sports, and entertainment.”
The letter praises Carr’s prior dissent against upholding the rules, quoting his view that the FCC ignores evidence of a vibrant media market and treats broadcast radio and TV as isolated sectors. This push aligns with recent appeals from over 70 House members, 22 Senators, and various community groups advocating similar reforms.
The coalition warns that without modernization, local broadcast services—vital for trusted information and emergency communications—could vanish, jeopardizing access for communities.
Newly released audio from Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interview with then-President Biden, first published by Axios, reveals memory lapses that contradict earlier White House denials.
In the recording, Biden struggles to recall the year his son Beau died of brain cancer, requiring prompts from his lawyers present during the session.
Despite the transcript’s release, Biden aides, including then-White House spokesman Ian Sams, maintained that the president did not forget the year of Beau’s death.
The audio intensifies debates among Democrats and observers about whether there was a deliberate effort to conceal Biden’s declining mental sharpness and if this contributed to the party’s 2024 election loss.
WATCH: Fox’s @JoeConchaTV reacts to new Biden-Hur tapes audio showing the president’s mental decline: “This is the biggest story in modern American political history, and that's not hyperbole.”
“We had a commander in chief, a sitting US president, whose brain turned to apple… pic.twitter.com/1aOTyKYsIw
Recent books have also shed light on what some insiders reportedly knew about Biden’s condition.
🔥 Fox News’ @greggutfeld: “The Dems and the media are in the same sinking boat, but I think it's worse for the media, and I'll tell you why.”
“It's the Democrats' job to protect their guy even if the guy's losing his mind. So that means they're gonna lie and they're gonna spin,… pic.twitter.com/XtaWANCb2c
The interview, conducted over two days in October 2023, spanned more than five hours as part of Hur’s probe into Biden’s retention of classified documents from his vice presidency. In his final report, Hur described Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory,” citing these interviews as evidence.
Before NPR’s formation, U.S. public radio consisted of decentralized stations airing educational content. For example WHA in Wisconsin may have shared 4-H club updates and dairy price reports, while KPFA in Berkeley, California, broadcast Beat poets and civil rights leader interviews, according to a story concerning the history of NPR funding.
In the 1960s, Congress developed the Public Television Act, initially focused on television. Lobbyists from the University of Michigan’s radio station persuaded lawmakers to include radio, physically taping “and radio” onto the legislation’s title, renaming it the Public Broadcasting Act. This 1967 law established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). NPR was founded shortly after and launched its flagship program, All Things Considered, in 1971.
NPR’s network of stations expanded, funded through a straightforward model: Congress allocated funds to the CPB, which then supported NPR’s program production. By the 1980s, however, NPR faced financial turmoil due to President Ronald Reagan’s push to slash public media funding. Congress cut CPB funding by 20%. “We literally couldn’t pay the rent,” recalled Jack Mitchell, NPR’s first employee and former programming head. “The phones were nearly cut off. We faced going off the air.”
NPR secured a $7 million bailout from the CPB, restructuring its funding model. Instead of direct payments, the CPB directed most funds to local stations, which then purchased NPR programs—an arrangement still in place today. Mitchell noted this shift aligned with the philosophy that public broadcasting should represent the entire nation, while also appeasing Republicans who favored local control over centralized funding.
Currently, NPR receives about 1% of its budget directly from federal sources. Additional revenue comes from donations, endowment returns, and corporate sponsorships. Approximately 30% of NPR’s funding derives from program fees paid by its 246 member stations, which, in turn, receive about 13% of their budgets from CPB grants, with significant variation among stations.
Efforts to eliminate federal funding for public media recur periodically. In the 1990s, House Speaker Newt Gingrich targeted public media budgets. More recently, on May 1, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order halting federal funding to NPR and PBS, aiming to block direct funds to NPR and prevent member stations from using federal money to support NPR’s programs.
CBS News, a division of Paramount Global, has undertaken a discreet reduction in its workforce, signaling broader challenges within the parent company as it braces for significant layoffs.
According to a report from the New York Post Friday, CBS News "quietly trims staff" in anticipation of what is expected to be a "mass layoffs" event this summer. This move contradicts earlier assumptions that CBS and its news division were insulated from cuts ahead of Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media.
The initial trimming at CBS News involved the termination of three high-level positions, including two bureau chiefs—North Bureau Chief Andre Rodriguez and Southern Region Bureau Chief Maryhelen Campa—and a senior executive. These cuts were reported as part of a strategic reduction ahead of larger workforce adjustments.
Paramount Global has been undergoing a significant restructuring, targeting a 15% reduction in its U.S. workforce, which translates to approximately 2,000 jobs. This follows earlier layoffs in 2024, including 800 jobs cut in February and additional rounds throughout the year, as part of a $500 million cost-cutting initiative.
The layoffs are closely tied to Paramount’s pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, expected to close in the first half of 2025. The merger has prompted cost-saving measures and restructuring, including the consolidation of teams like the U.S. TV and streaming distribution units, which resulted in additional staff cuts.
Paramount has faced declining revenue in its linear TV business, prompting aggressive cost-cutting measures. The company’s efforts to streamline operations include shutting down its TV studio in August 2024 and integrating streaming and TV distribution teams.
Paramount is navigating a high-profile $20 billion lawsuit from President Donald Trump over CBS News’ handling of a "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris. The lawsuit, combined with scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over broadcast license transfers needed for the Skydance merger, has added complexity to Paramount’s restructuring efforts.
The merger between Charter Communications and Cox Communications, valued at $34.5 billion, is driven by several strategic and economic reasons, primarily aimed at addressing challenges in the cable and broadband industry.
Pressure from Streaming and Wireless Providers: The cable industry faces significant threats from streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max, as well as broadband offerings from wireless carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Consumers are increasingly cutting the cord on traditional pay-TV for cheaper streaming alternatives, and wireless providers are attracting broadband customers with aggressive plans.
Merging allows Charter and Cox to combine resources, creating a larger entity with over 38 million customers and a network spanning 46 states, better positioned to compete against these rivals by offering bundled broadband and mobile services.
The merger enables the combined company to achieve greater scale, which is critical for competing with national and global competitors like Comcast, Verizon, and tech giants encroaching on advertising and video markets. Charter expects approximately $500 million in annual cost savings within three years of closing, driven by operational efficiencies and consolidated resources. This scale also enhances their ability to invest in advanced technologies, AI, and network upgrades to improve product offerings and customer service.
Expanding Mobile and Broadband Footprint: Charter, with 31.5 million customers, and Cox, with 6.5 million, have complementary regional networks, with Charter operating in 41 states and Cox in 18.
The cable industry is undergoing consolidation as it grapples with subscriber losses.
The merger is structured to avoid significant regulatory hurdles, as Charter and Cox operate in different geographic markets, reducing concerns about reduced competition.
Searching “Adderall” on Spotify’s podcast platform reveals a mix of legitimate content—health podcasts discussing ADHD, addiction recovery shows, and comedy podcasts mentioning the drug—alongside deceptive pages posing as podcasts.
These fake pages often link to potentially illegal and dangerous online pharmacies selling drugs like Adderall, Oxycodone, Vicodin, Methadone, and Ambien, sometimes claiming no prescription is needed, which violates U.S. law.
A CNN investigation this week found dozens of these sham podcasts, with blatant titles like “My Adderall Store” appearing among the top 50 search results. These pages typically include episode descriptions with links to dubious websites peddling controlled substances. Spotify’s rules prohibit such illegal and spam content, and the company is now racing to remove these pages. After CNN flagged 26 offending podcasts on Thursday, Spotify promptly deleted them, but more remained on the platform by Friday morning.
“We are continuously working to identify and remove content that violates our policies,” a Spotify spokesperson told CNN.
The issue has sparked concern amid broader calls from parents for tech companies to curb online sales of illicit drugs, especially after teen overdose deaths linked to pills bought online. The proliferation of fake podcasts, likely fueled by AI’s ability to generate content quickly, also highlights gaps in Spotify’s content moderation.
This week, Lauren Balik, a tech stock blogger, publicly urged Spotify CEO Daniel Ek on X to tackle the issue. A Business Insider report on Thursday noted that hundreds of similar fake podcasts were flagged and removed by Spotify, underscoring the scale of the problem.
Bob Kelly, a beloved Toledo radio personality known for his five-decade career, passed away on his 84th birthday, Thursday, after a 14-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Born Norman Plumer, Kelly was a household name in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, celebrated for his humor, kindness, and quick wit.
He began his radio career in Alliance, Ohio, in 1961 and moved to Toledo in 1965, where he became a morning fixture on stations like WCWA, WXKR, WTOD, and WRQN. His most iconic role was co-hosting the “Kelly and Staples” morning show with Dennis Staples on WRQN 93.5, a program cherished for its warmth and community spirit. After Staples’ retirement in 2006, Kelly paired with Becky Shock until his retirement in June 2011.
He was inducted into the Ohio Radio and Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2006, reflecting his influence on the industry. Colleagues like Tom Waniewski and WTOL 11 news anchor Jerry Anderson praised his gentle nature and mentorship, with Anderson crediting Kelly as his inspiration for entering broadcasting.
Listeners and peers remembered him for his ability to make daily segments, like reading the “Mary Worth” comic strip, fresh and funny. His legacy is evident in the outpouring of tributes, with Toledoans calling him an “icon” whose voice shaped generations.
➦In 1903...comic actor Artie Auerbach was born in New York City. He became famous as “Mr. Kitzel”, first on the Al Pearce radio show in 1937, then as a regular on Jack Benny‘s radio & television shows for 12 years. He suffered a fatal heart attack Oct. 3, 1957 and died at age 54.
➦In 1938...the Radio quiz show "Information Please!" premiered on the NBC Blue Network
Information Please was one of the most popular radio shows in the 1930s and 1940s. Oscar Levant, Franklin P. Adams and John Kieran were regulars with Clifton Fadiman acting as host. RKO produced a series a films of the radio show and most of them have been lost.
➦In 1939...nearly 1800 fans crowded into the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York to attend an unusual dual-network dance remote radio broadcast of the suddenly very popular Glenn Miller and His Orchestra that was aired on both NBC and Mutual.
➦In 1943...The Jack Kirkwood Show made its NBC debut, after 5 years locally on San Francisco radio. Kirkwood would eventually become second-banana on the Bob Hope radio show, and continue with his own various network radio features through early 1953.
➦In 1971...In the NYC Market, Country WJRZ 970 AM became Top40 WWDJ..The station was hampered by a directional signal that covered Manhattan and parts of New Jersey well but suffered in the rest of the five boroughs and was virtually non-existent on Long Island and western New Jersey. Eventually, FM competition from WCBS-FM and adult top 40 station WXLO (now WEPN-FM), and an evolution to adult Top 40 by WNBC (now WFAN), began to eat into WWDJ's ratings.
According to traxandgrooves.blogspot.com, the station first began as WAAT in Jersey City around the late 1920's (it was once at 940 kHz, shifted to 970 around 1941; relocated to Newark around the mid-'40's). In 1958, WAAT and its FM sister (94.7 MHz) were sold to National Telefilm Associates, which changed the call letters to WNTA. In 1961-62 NTA sold the stations to Bergen Broadcasting; '62 was when the WJRZ calls were first used. (The 94.7 frequency would end up going by the calls of WFME, now Entercom's WNSH.) WNTA also had a TV outlet (previously WATV) which NTA unloaded around the same time as it sold the AM and FM stations; the TV station is today PBS outlet WNET/13. It was around 1969 that Pacific & Southern Broadcasting took over WJRZ.Beatles, Beatles, and more Beatles.
WJRZ played all Beatle songs for a few days before becoming WWDJ top 40.When WWDJ started, it looked like it would fill the AM gap left by the demise of WMCA and in many ways it was (especially to those who only had AM in their cars). Although 97DJ was no 'MCA, they still played more of a variety music than 77 WABC. Unfortunately, as in the case of WMCA, it was another AM station with signal problems.
They were directional 5 kw both day and night.WWDJ was owned by Pacific & Southern, who also operated KKDJ about the same time in Los Angeles, which was an FM station. KKDJ used the same jingle package as its sister station WWDJ. Another problem that DJ had an idenity crisis in that it did not know whether to be a New York station or a New Jersey station.
In November 1973 it was ranked 15th in the Arbitron ratings.WWDJ changed format to Religious on April 1, 1974.
➦In 2004...actor Tony Randall, who began in radio as “Reggie” on I Love a Mystery, then starred in TV’s Mr. Peepers & The Odd Couple, and was an entertaining guest on hundreds of TV talk shows, died of pneumonia following heart surgery at age 84.
➦In 2006...NYC and Philadelphia radio personality Long John Wade died at the age of 66.
On Thursday at the Sean Combs sex-trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan federal court, the day marked the fourth day of proceedings and featured significant testimony from Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend and a key prosecution witness
Cassie Ventura, eight months pregnant, underwent cross-examination by Combs’ defense team, primarily led by attorney Anna Estevao. This followed her earlier direct testimony, where she detailed allegations of physical and sexual abuse by Combs from 2007 to 2018, including beatings, rape, and coercion into drug-fueled “Freak Off” sex parties.
Defense Strategy in Cross-Examination: The defense adopted a measured, gentle approach to avoid alienating jurors, aiming to undermine Ventura’s credibility as a victim. They questioned her about explicit messages, her drug use, and alleged infidelity to suggest she was a willing participant in the relationship and the “Freak Offs,” not coerced.
They introduced an incident where Ventura allegedly assaulted a security guard, attempting to portray the relationship as mutually volatile. Other incidents, like a bar fight or a knife-related event, were raised to suggest Ventura was not solely a victim.
The defense highlighted Ventura’s multimillion-dollar settlement in a 2023 civil suit against Combs, implying financial motives might influence her testimony.
Jurors were shown photos of bruises Ventura claimed were caused by Combs’ abuse, but the defense argued these did not necessarily prove sex trafficking or racketeering, framing the incidents as part of a “toxic, loving” relationship.
Ventura remained composed during much of the cross-examination, though she became emotional when discussing the impact of the alleged abuse. Her pregnancy added a layer of sympathy, noted by observers, though the defense avoided aggressive tactics that could backfire with the jury. Impact: The defense aimed to plant seeds of doubt about Ventura’s coercion claims, a critical blow to the prosecution’s case, which relies heavily on her testimony to establish a pattern of abuse and trafficking.
Combs himself appeared engaged, interacting with his legal team and occasionally making gestures like a heart sign to his family, aligning with the defense’s effort to humanize him as a “loving family man” rather than a criminal mogul.
The court was presided over by Judge Arun Subramanian, who maintained a “dark” (no-session) schedule on Thursdays for other weeks, but May 15 was an active trial day due to the ongoing testimony.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced on Thursday that it has launched a criminal investigation into allegations of rape and sexual assault against Motown legend Smokey Robinson.
In a statement, the department’s Special Victims Bureau confirmed it is “actively investigating criminal allegations” against Robinson but noted the investigation is in its early stages, withholding further details.
The probe follows a lawsuit filed last week in Los Angeles Superior Court by four former housekeepers, who allege Robinson repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped them during their employment between 2007 and 2024. The lawsuit seeks at least $50 million in damages.
Robinson’s attorney, Chris Frost, did not immediately comment on the criminal investigation but had previously dismissed the allegations as “vile” and “false,” describing the lawsuit as an attempt to extort money from the 85-year-old music icon. Frost also claimed the accusations “defy credulity” and contain inconsistencies.
The accusers’ attorneys, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, welcomed the Sheriff’s Department’s involvement, stating, “Our clients are committed to cooperating fully with LASD’s investigation to seek justice for themselves and others potentially harmed by him.” Harris labeled Robinson a “serial and sick rapist” who must be held accountable.
The four women, whose identities remain confidential, allege Robinson assaulted them when alone with them at his Los Angeles home. One accuser, employed from 2012 to 2024, claims at least 20 assaults, while another, working from 2014 to 2020, reports at least 23 incidents. All say they quit due to the assaults and delayed reporting out of fear of retaliation, public shame, and immigration concerns.
Charter Communications and Cox Communications, two leading U.S. cable providers, have agreed to merge in a landmark deal, creating one of the largest cable entities in the country.
Valued at $34.5 billion on an enterprise basis, the transaction includes $21.9 billion in equity and $12.6 billion in net debt and other obligations, aligning with Charter’s 2025 estimated EBITDA multiple. Charter, the second-largest publicly traded cable company after Comcast, saw its stock rise in premarket trading from its prior close of $419.57. Cox, privately held by the Cox family, ranks among the top cable providers.
Post-merger, Cox Enterprises will hold approximately 23% of the combined company’s fully diluted shares. Within a year of closing, the merged entity will adopt the Cox Communications name, with Charter’s Spectrum brand serving as the consumer-facing identity for cable, broadband, mobile, and other services.
The combined company will maintain Charter’s Stamford, Connecticut, headquarters but retain a significant presence in Cox’s Atlanta base. Charter CEO Chris Winfrey will continue as president and CEO, while Cox Enterprises’ chairman and CEO, Alex Taylor, will chair the new board. Another Cox executive will join the board, and the Cox family will secure two board seats.
The merger follows Charter’s February 2025 approval to acquire Liberty Broadband in an all-stock deal, streamlining cable magnate John Malone’s holdings.
Nearly 200 public broadcasting officials from radio and television stations across the United States converged on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Thursday to lobby lawmakers to preserve federal funding for public media.
The effort was a direct response to aggressive moves by President Donald Trump and his allies to eliminate financial support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which partially funds National Public Radio (NPR), the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and approximately 1,500 local public media stations nationwide.
Approximately 190 officials from local public radio and television stations, representing a broad cross-section of the country, gathered at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., to strategize before meeting with lawmakers. These officials aimed to emphasize the critical role of public media in their communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The primary goal was to convince Congress to maintain the $535 million annual federal funding allocated to the CPB for fiscal year 2025, which supports local stations, NPR, and PBS. The officials highlighted the value of public media in providing free, nonpartisan news, educational programming, and emergency alerts, especially in areas with limited access to other media sources.
NPR CEO Katherine Maher
The officials met with members of Congress to share data on their stations’ audience engagement and community impact, stressing that federal funds are essential for their operations. They underscored the loyalty of their audiences, who are often engaged voters, to appeal to lawmakers’ political interests.
Trump and GOP lawmakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Sen. Tom Cotton, accused NPR and PBS of liberal bias, citing coverage of issues like COVID-19 origins, transgender topics, and Hunter Biden’s laptop. At a March 2025 House oversight hearing, Greene and others grilled NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger, claiming their programming was partisan.
CPB, NPR, and PBS rejected the executive order as “blatantly unlawful,” citing the 1967 Public Broadcasting Act, which forbids government control over CPB or its grantees. CPB planned to ignore the order, and both NPR and PBS vowed to challenge it in court, arguing it violated First Amendment rights and congressional intent.
Fox News achieved a significant win this week in its defense against a defamation lawsuit brought by Smartmatic, an electronic voting systems company.
On Tuesday “Smartmatic’s dreams of a big settlement payday from Fox News suffered a big blow when a New York judge ordered the company to produce real evidence it suffered any actual economic harm from the allegedly disparaging remarks made by on-air Fox News talent after the 2020 elections.”
On Wednesday, a New York appeals court reversed a lower court decision, granting Fox access to materials from a 2024 federal bribery indictment involving several Smartmatic executives.
On Thursday, Fox filed a 156-page brief supporting its May 1 motion for summary judgment.
In August 2024, three Smartmatic executives, including co-founder and president Roger Piñate, were indicted for an alleged bribery scheme in the Philippines. The Justice Department claims Piñate and a colleague paid over $1 million in bribes to the Philippines’ electoral commission chairman to secure and maintain business for the 2016 Philippine elections. All defendants have pleaded not guilty, and Smartmatic denies the allegations.
Fox argues that the indictment materials are critical to its defense against Smartmatic’s lawsuit, which stems from false 2020 election fraud claims aired by Fox News hosts. The network contends that Smartmatic’s reputation was primarily harmed by its controversial foreign dealings, not by Fox’s 2020 election coverage.
“We are pleased with the Court’s ruling that materials about Smartmatic executives’ indictments are ‘plainly relevant’ to its lack of damages. The evidence shows Smartmatic’s business and reputation were suffering long before any claims by President Trump’s lawyers on Fox News,” Fox stated Wednesday.
Meanwhile on Thursday, the company’s summary judgment brief, filed with the New York Supreme Court, argued among other things that Smartmatic’s business had already “cratered” before the 2020 election and that audited financial statements show “no profit record to serve as a basis for projecting millions of dollars in future profits.”
FOX News Digital finished April with its third best month ever with total digital multiplatform unique visitors reaching 130,758,000 people, delivering year-over-year growth and surpassing CNN which drew 89,224,000 visitors, according to Comscore.*
During April, FOX News Digital secured 3.9 billion total multiplatform minutes (up 31% over April 2024) and 1.9 billion total multiplatform views (up 26% over April 2024).*
Notably, FOX News Digital surpassed broadcast network NBC News and ABC News across the board during April.
While FOX News saw double-digit increases year-over-year across all key performance indicators, CNN saw double-digit declines across the board with multiplatform views (down 18% vs. April 2024), multiplatform minutes (down 17% vs. April 2024) and total digital unique multiplatform visitors (down 16% vs. April 2024). Notably, this was the lowest month for CNN with total digital multiplatform unique visitors since 2016. The FOX News Mobile app drew 6.4 million viewers during the month of April. **
Additional highlights include: On YouTube, FOX News drove 326 million video views more than doubling its April 2024 performance****. FOX Business was the top business channel on YouTube for the 40th consecutive month with 69.9 million video views*****.
FOX News was once again the most engaged brand on social media in the competitive set in April, with 75.4 million total social interactions, up 203% from the year prior, according to Emplifi. FOX News drove 53.9 million interactions on Facebook (up 532% year-over-year), 18 million Instagram interactions and 3.4 million X interactions, according to Emplifi. Additionally, FOX News drove 17.9 million interactions on TikTok. FOX Business drove 488,000 social media interactions during April.
FOXBusiness.com drove 280 million multiplatform minutes in April, finishing fifth in the business competitive set. Additionally, the business site delivered 158 million multiplatform views and 23.7 million total digital multiplatform unique visitors.***
Doug Montgomery, a veteran in country radio and Townsquare Media’s Country Format Lead since 2017, will retire from the industry effective July 31.
Doug Montgomery
Reflecting on his career, Montgomery said, “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to live my childhood dream, choosing songs and entertaining listeners daily. From my first overnight shift at WJPD in Ishpeming, Michigan, I knew Country Radio was my path. Watching country music soar has been thrilling, and I’m deeply grateful.”
Before Townsquare, Montgomery, based in Grand Rapids, programmed the iconic WBCT/Grand Rapids for 20 years at Clear Channel/iHeartMedia and was the original programmer for their Country Premium Choice service.
Kurt Johnson, Townsquare’s SVP of Content & Programming, praised Montgomery: “Doug is unmatched. His decades as a top programmer and eight years leading our Country team have left a lasting legacy. We’ll miss him, but we’re excited for his next chapter.”
Montgomery added, “Leaving Townsquare’s amazing team was tough, but I’m ready for new adventures—spending less time working and more time in Vegas.”
Netflix showcased key achievements in its upfront presentation this week, highlighting its ad-supported plan, which now boasts over 94 million global monthly active users and surpasses all U.S. broadcast and cable networks in viewership among 18-34-year-olds.
Amy Reinhard, Netflix’s president of advertising, emphasized the high engagement of ad-tier subscribers, who spend an average of 41 hours monthly on the platform. “Compared to competitors, our audience’s attention is consistently higher, with mid-roll ads receiving as much focus as our shows and movies,” she said.
Reinhard underscored Netflix’s unique strength: “We combine cutting-edge technology with must-watch entertainment, a blend that sets us apart. Our engaged, attentive audience makes every advertising dollar spent on Netflix more impactful than elsewhere.”
Marian Lee, Netflix’s chief marketing officer, noted that with over 700 million viewers, Netflix is a prime platform for brands. “Everyone is watching Netflix,” she said, citing that last year, Netflix had more Nielsen Top 10 shows than all other streamers combined, and last week, it claimed eight of the top 20 across broadcast, on-demand, and streaming.
Lee revealed upcoming global co-branded campaigns with Wendy’s, Cheetos, and Booking.com tied to the return of Wednesday, emphasizing partnerships that “bring stories to life in ways we can’t achieve alone.”
Reinhard also spotlighted advancements in Netflix’s ad technology, offering advertisers enhanced opportunities to connect with its audience.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded international broadcasters, laid off more than 500 independent contractors on Friday, affecting editorial, production, and administrative roles at VOA. These layoffs followed a series of legal and administrative developments tied to an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at reducing USAGM operations.
The layoffs targeted personal service contractors (PSCs), including on-air broadcasters (field reporters, news anchors), and behind-the-scenes staff (news photographers, technicians, editors, writers).
Termination notices were issued Friday, nearly two weeks after a May 3, 2025, appeals court ruling partially reversed a lower court decision that had reinstated over 1,000 workers and contractors.
The layoffs stem from a March 14, 2025, executive order by Trump directing USAGM and other agencies to reduce non-essential operations to the minimum required by law. This led to over 1,300 VOA employees being placed on administrative leave in March, with contractors receiving termination notices effective March 31. A federal district court ruling on April 22 briefly restored staff and contractors, but the May 3 appeals court decision (2-1, with Trump-appointed judges in the majority) allowed the Trump administration to proceed with layoffs and funding cuts, citing the district court’s lack of jurisdiction.
The layoffs affected VOA’s ability to deliver news in 49 languages to its 361 million weekly global audience. Some broadcasts shifted to music or reruns, though certain journalists continued working despite uncertainty about pay. The cuts also disrupted VOA’s partnerships with news wires like the Associated Press and Reuters, which Kari Lake, a USAGM senior adviser, estimated would save $53 million.
Major companies, including CVS, Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, and Nestlé, have asked a federal judge in Texas to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s social media platform X, which accuses them of illegally boycotting the platform after Musk’s 2022 acquisition.
The lawsuit, initially filed in August 2024 and expanded in February 2025, claims the companies, through the World Federation of Advertisers’ (WFA) Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), conspired to withhold billions in advertising revenue, violating U.S. antitrust laws.
In August 2024, X sued the WFA and four companies—Unilever, Mars, CVS Health, and Ørsted—alleging they coordinated a boycott through GARM to enforce brand safety standards after Musk’s $44 billion Twitter purchase in October 2022. X claimed the boycott cost it billions and made it a “less effective competitor” in digital advertising.
\On February 1, 2025, X amended its complaint, adding Lego, Nestlé, Tyson Foods, Abbott Laboratories, Colgate-Palmolive, Pinterest, and Shell International as defendants, alleging at least 18 GARM members stopped or reduced ad spending on X between November and December 2022.
GARM, launched in 2019 by the WFA, aimed to prevent ads from appearing alongside harmful content like hate speech. X alleges GARM’s public statements, such as an October 2022 letter urging X to uphold brand safety, constituted a “conspiracy” to boycott.
On Wednesday, the defendant companies filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas to dismiss X’s lawsuit. The companies assert X failed to prove they acted with a coordinated plan. They argue their decisions to curtail advertising were independent, driven by concerns over X’s content moderation after Musk fired staff and relaxed safety policies.
Audacy continues its album release program “On the Record” this Sunday, May 18, with Superstar Morgan Wallen. Wallen will host a one-hour special, taking listeners through eleven tracks from his new album “I’m The Problem.”
📻Listeners can tune in to “Morgan Wallen: On The Record” nationwide on-air across Audacy Country stations and on the Audacy app and website at 7:00 p.m. local time.
Audacy’s “On The Record” allows listeners to celebrate their favorite musicians by exploring their creative processes and the stories behind their music in depth. Previous new album release specials include Country stars Blake Shelton, Riley Green, Thomas Rhett and Lainey Wilson, pop artists Billie Eilish and Camila Cabello, and Alternative rock band twenty one pilots.
670 The Score (WSCR-AM), an Audacy Sports station in Chicago, will be airing select Chicago Sky games this WNBA season. All games will also stream on the Audacy app within the Chicago area.
Midday show host Leila Rahimi will serve as color commentator for the game broadcasts. The station will also air pregame, halftime, and postgame shows, all hosted by station contributor Alyssa Bergamini. Experienced broadcaster Kylen Mills will be the play-by-play announcer.
Full list of games that will be broadcast on 670 The Score can be found below.
Thursday 5/22 vs. New York Liberty
Saturday 6/7 vs. Indiana Fever
Monday 7/14 vs. Minnesota Lynx
Sunday 7/27 vs. Indiana Fever
Thursday 8/7 vs. Atlanta Dream
Saturday 8/23 vs. Connecticut Sun
Monday 8/25 vs. Las Vegas Aces
📻Listeners can tune in to 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) in Chicago on air and nationwide on the Audacy app and website. Fans can also connect with the station on social media via X, Facebook and Instagram.
Charles Strouse, the renowned Broadway composer behind the iconic musicals Annie and Bye Bye Birdie, passed away Thursday, at his home in Manhattan, New York City.
He was 96.
The NY Times reports his death was confirmed by his family through a press representative, Jim Byk, though no specific cause was disclosed. Strouse’s seven-decade career left an indelible mark on musical theater, television, and film, earning him three Tony Awards, two Grammys, and an Emmy for his melodic, optimistic scores.
Born on June 7, 1928, in New York City to Jewish parents Ethel and Ira Strouse, Charles Strouse initially aimed to compose "serious music." A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, he studied under luminaries like Aaron Copland at Tanglewood and Nadia Boulanger in Paris.
His Broadway career began unexpectedly when a stage manager pitched a musical about teenagers, initially called Let’s Go Steady, which became Bye Bye Birdie (1960). It was Strouse’s first Broadway hit, with lyrics by longtime collaborator Lee Adams, satirized rock-and-roll culture and Elvis Presley’s draft. Starring Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera, it won four Tonys, including Best Musical, and introduced standards like “Put on a Happy Face” and “A Lot of Livin’ to Do.” Adapted into a 1963 film and a 1995 TV movie, it earned Strouse a 1996 Emmy for the song “Let’s Settle Down.” The show remains a staple in community and high school theaters.
Annie in 1977 was Strouse’s biggest success, created with lyricist Martin Charnin and bookwriter Thomas Meehan, adapted the Little Orphan Annie comic strip. Running for 2,377 performances, it won seven Tonys, including Best Musical and Best Score, and two Grammys for its cast album. Songs like “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” became cultural touchstones, with the latter sampled by Jay-Z in his 1998 hit “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem).” Annie inspired two Broadway revivals, four film/TV adaptations, and global productions in 57 countries.
Strouse’s music, known for its catchy, optimistic melodies, defined mid-20th-century Broadway’s feel-good era. His songs, recorded by artists like Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Jay-Z, permeated popular culture, with “Tomorrow” sung by everyone from Ariana Grande to Kermit the Frog. Annie alone inspired 10,000 productions worldwide since 1990, introducing countless children to theater.
Mark Hahn, a beloved radio personality in Sioux City, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly on May 13, 2025, at the age of 69, following a medical emergency.
His death has deeply affected the Siouxland broadcasting community and listeners who cherished his distinctive voice and engaging presence on air for over 45 years.
Hahn, a Pittsburgh native and avid Steelers fan, arrived in Sioux City in 1980 after a stint in Rapid City, South Dakota. Initially planning to return to Pittsburgh, he was offered a job by KWSL’s Ted Mann and stayed, beginning a long career in Sioux City radio.
Hahn first gained prominence as a rock and roll DJ, becoming a familiar voice to locals, including KSCJ’s Justin Barker, who grew up listening to him. In 2009, shifts in the radio industry led Hahn to join KSCJ and Powell Broadcasting, where he hosted the Drive Time Live Show. Known for his deep, crisp voice, Hahn was a key figure in promoting community and nonprofit events, earning admiration for his dedication to Siouxland.
The Siouxland broadcasting community and listeners mourned Hahn’s passing with heartfelt tributes. Powell Broadcasting announced his death, calling him a “dear friend, colleague, and family member.” KTIV News described him as a “familiar voice” silenced too soon.
