As of January 10, 2026, there are several key developments from the past week and ongoing issues continue to shape the industry, particularly around public radio funding, regulatory compliance, AM radio preservation in vehicles, and commercial sector trends.
Major Ongoing Impact: Defunding of Public Broadcasting: The most significant recent event affecting radio is the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides federal funding to NPR, hundreds of local public radio stations, and related services. Following Congress's decision to eliminate approximately $1 billion in funding (influenced by executive actions and political pressures), the CPB board voted to dissolve the organization.
This process began in early January 2026, with most operations winding down and a small transition team handling final obligations through the end of the month. This directly threatens the viability of many noncommercial public radio stations across the U.S., which rely on CPB grants for operations, programming, and community service. While listener donations and some philanthropic support have increased, the long-term future remains uncertain, potentially leading to station closures, reduced local programming, or shifts to alternative funding models.
Regulatory Deadlines for All Broadcasters Today, January 10, 2026, marks a key FCC compliance deadline: All U.S. radio (and TV) stations must place their Quarterly Issues/Programs Lists in the online Public Inspection File. These lists document significant community issues addressed through programming during the last quarter of 2025 (October–December). Failure to comply can result in fines (base amount around $10,000). This is a routine but important public interest obligation for both commercial and noncommercial broadcasters.
AM Radio in Vehicles: The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (bipartisan legislation to mandate AM radio in all new vehicles, including EVs, for emergency alerts and resilience) remains a hot topic. President Trump reiterated strong support in a January 9 interview, calling it important and hinting at forthcoming action. Broadcasters continue pushing for an early 2026 House vote amid automaker resistance to including AM/FM tuners.
Commercial Radio Trends and Activity
- Industry publications like Radio Ink highlight optimism for 2026, focusing on local trust, digital sales growth, and innovation (e.g., AI tools for selling and operations).
- AM/FM radio shows strong engagement in niches like fitness/health clubs, outperforming some digital platforms in reach.
- Personnel notes include Dan Bongino's upcoming return to syndicated radio in February via Westwood One.
At CES 2026 (ongoing/recent), companies like iHeartMedia announced new integrations (e.g., with Google Gemini and fitness tech) to expand radio/podcast access.Overall, the industry faces challenges from public funding cuts and digital shifts but shows resilience through local focus, legislative advocacy, and hybrid broadcasting/streaming models.
➤Awards Season & Events
An arrest warrant has been issued for actor Timothy Busfield on alleged child sex abuse charges involving a boy actor.
Director Paul Haggis has settled a rape lawsuit from his ex-film publicist for $2 million.
Britney Spears stated she will "never perform in the U.S. again" for "extremely sensitive reasons."
Washington National Opera is exiting the Kennedy Center after 50 years amid broader Trump-era changes.
➤Headline News
Escalating Protests in Iran Enter Second Week Amid Crackdown: Nationwide anti-government demonstrations continue in Iran, now in their second week, driven by economic hardships, food prices, and regime policies. Hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed, with internet blackouts persisting, security forces intensifying actions, and international condemnation (including from the US) over protester deaths and arrests. The son of the deposed Shah has urged protesters to prepare to seize city centers.
➤Awards Season & Events
Awards season is ramping up significantly: The 83rd Golden Globes are this weekend, with red carpet preparations featuring a dramatic new staircase setup that's being called the "Met Gala of the West Coast." Predictions favor contenders like Timothée Chalamet, Wagner Moura, Jessie Buckley, and Rose Byrne for top wins, with films such as Sinners and One Battle After Another in strong contention.
- Producers Guild of America (PGA) nominations are out, spotlighting heavy hitters like One Battle After Another, Weapons, F1, and Sinners.
- The AFI Awards lunch celebrated 2025's top 10 American films and TV shows, with Oscar frontrunners including Chalamet, Buckley, Elordi, and Grande in attendance.
Director Paul Haggis has settled a rape lawsuit from his ex-film publicist for $2 million.
Britney Spears stated she will "never perform in the U.S. again" for "extremely sensitive reasons."
Washington National Opera is exiting the Kennedy Center after 50 years amid broader Trump-era changes.
Tom Cherones, the Emmy-winning Seinfeld director and producer, has passed away at 86.
Escalating Protests in Iran Enter Second Week Amid Crackdown: Nationwide anti-government demonstrations continue in Iran, now in their second week, driven by economic hardships, food prices, and regime policies. Hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed, with internet blackouts persisting, security forces intensifying actions, and international condemnation (including from the US) over protester deaths and arrests. The son of the deposed Shah has urged protesters to prepare to seize city centers.
Trump Reiterates US Desire to "Own" Greenland to Counter Russia and China: President Trump has strongly stated that the United States needs to acquire or "own" Greenland as a national security priority to deter Russia and China in the Arctic. Options discussed include potential military involvement ("the hard way"), direct payments to residents for relocation, or other incentives — prompting unease among Greenlanders and diplomatic pushback from Denmark.
Ongoing Fallout from US Actions in Venezuela: Following the US raid and capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month, developments include:Seizure of another Venezuelan-linked oil tanker.
Protests are spreading across US cities following: Release of video showing the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. A separate incident where a Border Patrol agent shot and wounded two people in Portland, Oregon. These events have fueled debates over federal tactics, with backlash against the administration and calls for investigations.
➤Sports Headlines:
College Football Playoff Drama Continues: The Indiana Hoosiers won the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Friday, defeating the Oregon Ducks in a dominant College Football Playoff semifinal matchup. The No. 1 seed Indiana (15-0) routed No. 5 seed Oregon (13-2) with a final score of 56-22 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Hoosiers took control early, scoring on a pick-six interception return on the game's very first play, building a 35-7 halftime lead, and never looking back. Indiana advances to the national championship game on January 19, 2026, against No. 10 Miami in Miami Gardens, Florida—setting up a shot at the program's first-ever national title in one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history.