Good Morning! This Is the Pulse For Monday, March 23

Radio Broadcasting

The U.S. radio broadcasting industry is reeling:   It's facing a period of rapid transformation, led by the decision from CBS News to shut down the CBS News Radio Network after nearly 100 years, a move that is disrupting hundreds of stations and signaling a broader shift away from traditional radio news.

The network will cease operations in May 2026 as part of layoffs affecting about 6% of staff, ending a service that supplied national news to roughly 700 affiliate stations nationwide. The shutdown reflects economic pressures and changing audience habits, as listeners increasingly turn to digital platforms, podcasts, and streaming for news.

The immediate impact is being felt across local radio markets, where stations that depended on CBS for top-of-the-hour updates are now scrambling to replace national newscasts or rework programming strategies. Industry analysts say the disruption could accelerate consolidation and force stations to seek new syndication partners or expand in-house news operations.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr has signaled a more aggressive regulatory approach: He includes the possibility of speeding up license reviews and raising the prospect of revocation in certain cases. The stance has heightened tensions between regulators and media organizations, with critics warning of potential political pressure on broadcasters.

Media Industry

A major legal ruling has reshaped the landscape for the Voice of America: A federal judge ordered the reinstatement of more than 1,000 employees at Voice of America, finding that efforts to dismantle its parent agency were unlawful. The decision restores operations at one of the nation’s most prominent international broadcasters and underscores ongoing tensions over government control and the independence of publicly funded journalism.

U-S News

ICE To Man Airport Security Checkpoints: The Trump administration has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist at security checkpoints amid staffing shortages caused by a partial government shutdown. The move is intended to ease long lines as Transportation Security Administration workers continue to operate without pay, but it has sparked criticism from lawmakers and raised concerns about passenger safety and the expanded role of immigration enforcement in civilian travel spaces. The deployment comes as negotiations in Congress over funding the Department of Homeland Security remain stalled, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid and airports under increasing strain.

Sweet 16 Set: The biggest upset so far saw ninth-seeded Iowa defeat defending champion and No. 1 seed Florida on a last-second shot, eliminating one of the tournament favorites and reshaping the bracket. Other teams punching their tickets to the Sweet 16 include Arizona and Alabama, both advancing with strong performances, while St. John’s captured national attention with a buzzer-beating win to reach its first Sweet 16 in decades. These results have intensified excitement around March Madness as the tournament heads into its second weekend.