Tallahassee Radio: Joe Bullard Abruptly Exits WHBX-FM

Joe Bullard, a beloved Tallahassee radio personality known as “The Almighty,” unexpectedly left 96.1 Jamz (WHBX-FM), an urban contemporary station owned by Cumulus Media, last month, after nearly 30 years of service since joining in August 1997. 

As the program director and midday host (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays), Bullard was a cornerstone of the station, celebrated for his engaging style and deep community ties. 

His departure was unplanned and described as “bittersweet” by his family, who stated, “While his departure was unplanned on his part and ultimately bittersweet for us all, we as a family have enough faith to know that God makes absolutely no mistakes, even in this.” 

They noted that Bullard, an “at will” employee without a contract, would now have time to focus on family and friends, leaving open the possibility of future radio endeavors by saying he is “listening to God” regarding his career.

Joe Bullard

No official reason for his exit was provided by Cumulus Media, who declined to comment on employee matters, only confirming Bullard’s departure. 

Bullard’s career spans over five decades, beginning in the 1960s at WOBS 1530 in Jacksonville, followed by stints in Orlando at WOKB and Tallahassee at WANM, the city’s first Black radio station, starting in 1974. He also served as a promotional manager for Columbia Records before its acquisition by Sony in 1990. 

His iconic voice has been the soundtrack for Florida A&M University’s Marching 100 since 1975, a role he plans to continue, marking his 50th anniversary in 2025.Bullard’s contributions earned him accolades, including induction into the National Black Radio Hall of Fame in 2022 as one of the Original 13 Black Radio Award recipients and keys to the cities of Tallahassee and Quincy. 

Akron Radio: Morning Host Spatz & Casey Out At WONE-FM

Matt Spatz and Amanda Casey, the morning show hosts for Spatz & Amanda in the Morning on Rubber City Radio Group’s Classic Rock 97.5 WONE-FM in Akron, Ohio, departed the station on July 1, 2025. Spatz, who also served as the station’s Program Director since December 2021, and Casey, a co-host, had been leading the morning show since January 2021. 

Spatz, a Berea, Ohio native and Otterbein University graduate, was a veteran broadcaster with prior stints at WONE from 1994 to 1997 and other stations like WROV in Roanoke, VA, and WNCD and WYFM in Youngstown, OH. 

He was known for his passion for classic rock, citing bands like Rush, AC/DC, and Queen as favorites, and was a dedicated Cleveland sports fan. Casey, a Firestone High School graduate with deep ties to Akron, had previously worked at WONE from 2007 to 2010 and returned after roles at stations like WQAL in Cleveland and WQGR in North Madison, OH.

Their morning show was a staple of WONE’s lineup, highlighted by events like their annual broadcast from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The duo hosted a special countdown of WONE’s 40 favorite songs to celebrate the station’s 40th anniversary on January 1, 2025, featuring listener picks and contributions from current and former personalities

No replacement plans for the morning show or Spatz’s Program Director role have been announced by WONE

Radio History: July 3

➦In 1913...Dorothy Mae Kilgallen born (Died – November 8, 1965). She was a journalist, radio host  and television game show panelist.

She started her career shortly before her 18th birthday as a reporter for the Hearst Corporation's New York Evening Journal. In 1938, she began her newspaper column "The Voice of Broadway", which eventually was syndicated to more than 140 papers. In 1950, she became a regular panelist on the television game show What's My Line?, continuing in the role until her death.

Kilgallen's columns featured mostly show business news and gossip, but ventured into other topics, such as politics and organized crime. She wrote front-page articles on the Sam Sheppard trial and later the John F. Kennedy assassination.

Diddy Trial: Jury Verdict. Combs Guilty on Two Counts

10:21 AM UPDATE: as deliberations concluded on July 2, 2025. 

The jury found Combs:

• Count 1 (Racketeering Conspiracy): Not guilty.
• Count 2 (Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion of Casandra Ventura): Not guilty.
• Count 3 (Transportation to Engage in Prostitution of Casandra Ventura): Guilty.
• Count 4 (Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion of Jane): Not guilty.
• Count 5 (Transportation to Engage in Prostitution of Jane): Guilty

BREAKING: Sean "Diddy" Combs has been found not guilty on racketeering and sex trafficking, guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Watch on ABC. Follow live updates: https://t.co/mIXR7JpZdM pic.twitter.com/x3i9K0aMet

— ABC News (@ABC) July 2, 2025

Earlier.....

10 AM UPDATE:  Jurors reached a final verdict in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex-trafficking trial Wednesday in Manhattan.

They agreed to a verdict on four of the five charges Tuesday against the disgraced hip-hop mogul.

Diddy, 55, is accused of using his fame and fortune to run a decade-long criminal enterprise in which he controlled and manipulated his longtime girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, 38, and others using violence and threats — forcing them into acting out his sick, twisted fantasies with drug-fueled “freak-off” sex marathons that went on for days.

The rapper has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Earlier Story...

The jury in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan Tuesday reached a partial verdict after approximately 12 to 13 hours of deliberation over two days. They announced unanimous decisions on counts 2, 3, 4, and 5, which include two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, related to Combs’ ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura and another woman identified as "Jane."

Paramount Settles With Trump For $16M

Paramount, CBS News' parent company, has settled a lawsuit from Donald Trump for $16 million, stemming from his claims of election interference during last year’s presidential campaign. 

The Washington Post reports the settlement, announced late Tuesday, followed months of negotiations. Trump filed the suit in Texas federal court in October, alleging CBS damaged his electoral prospects by airing two versions of a Kamala Harris interview response on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation.” Trump’s team called the settlement a victory against “Fake News media,” with funds designated for his future presidential library, not him or co-plaintiff Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas). Paramount will not issue an apology.

The dispute centered on a “60 Minutes” interview where Harris discussed Biden’s influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A concise version aired on “60 Minutes,” while a longer, less coherent one appeared on “Face the Nation.” Trump’s lawyers claimed CBS deliberately distorted the news to favor Harris, who lost the election. 

CBS countered that the edits were for time, not manipulation, and released internal footage and transcripts in February to support this, following an FCC demand.

As part of the settlement, Paramount will release future “60 Minutes” presidential candidate interview transcripts post-broadcast, with redactions for legal or national security reasons. The deal also resolves a separate, unspecified threatened defamation action. Shari Redstone, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, backed the settlement but recused herself from talks. 

The agreement may smooth Paramount’s pending merger with Skydance Media, under FCC review led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr. Paramount insists the settlement is unrelated to the merger and will continue defending its case legally.

Although Paramount and CBS have resolved Trump’s lawsuit, they faced opposition from network insiders, federal lawmakers, and California State Senate Democrats urging them not to settle. 

These groups, along with legal experts, argued the lawsuit was baseless and without merit.

Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, and California Senate Democrats cautioned Shari Redstone that settling to gain regulatory approval could potentially violate federal anti-bribery laws. However, legal experts consulted by TheWrap downplayed the likelihood of bribery charges, calling it a “non-case,” while not entirely ruling out other legal challenges related to the settlement.

CBS News Staffers Don't Like Settlement

Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, settled a lawsuit with President Donald Trump on July 1, 2025, for $16 million over the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which aired in October 2024. 

Trump’s lawsuit, initially filed for $10 billion and later amended to $20 billion, alleged that CBS deceptively edited Harris’s responses to favor her campaign, claiming it violated Texas consumer protection laws and caused “mental anguish” and diverted attention from his Truth Social platform. The settlement, which directs funds to Trump’s future presidential library and includes no apology from Paramount, has sparked significant concern among CBS News staffers, particularly those at “60 Minutes,” who fear it undermines the program’s journalistic integrity and sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom.

The settlement has caused internal turmoil at CBS News, with staff morale described as “very low” due to fears that Paramount’s decision to settle a lawsuit widely viewed as meritless signals capitulation to political pressure. “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley warned that a settlement would be “very damaging to CBS, to Paramount, to the reputation of those companies.” The controversy led to the resignations of two key figures:

• 
  Bill Owens, the longtime “60 Minutes” executive producer, stepped down in April 2025, citing a loss of editorial independence and stating he could no longer run the show objectively due to pressure from Paramount leadership.
• Wendy McMahon, CBS News President and CEO, resigned on May 19, 2025, after disagreements with Paramount over the company’s direction, particularly its willingness to settle with Trump.

Staffers have expressed frustration over what they perceive as Paramount’s prioritization of business interests—specifically, securing FCC approval for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media—over journalistic principles. Some believe the settlement could embolden further attacks on the press, with veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl telling The New Yorker that conceding to Trump would be a “travesty.” 

Trump’s lawsuit, filed in October 2024 in Texas federal court, centered on a “60 Minutes” interview where Harris was asked about the Biden administration’s influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Two versions of her response aired: a concise version on “60 Minutes” and a longer, less coherent one on “Face the Nation.” Trump’s legal team argued this constituted “malicious, deceptive, and substantial news distortion” to mislead voters. CBS maintained the edits were standard for time constraints, releasing unedited transcripts in February 2025 to support this claim, following an FCC demand.

The settlement, finalized through mediation, includes:

• A $16 million payment to Trump’s presidential library, covering legal fees and costs, though some sources like Twitchy inaccurately reported a potential $30 million payout.
• A commitment from Paramount to release full transcripts of future “60 Minutes” interviews with U.S. presidential candidates after airing, subject to redactions for legal or national security concerns, dubbed the “Trump Rule” by some.
• A release of all claims against CBS reporting through July 1, 2025, including a separate threatened defamation action.CBS and its legal team consistently called the lawsuit “completely without merit,” arguing it was an attack on First Amendment rights. Media advocacy groups, including the Writers Guild of America East, which represents “60 Minutes” journalists, condemned the settlement, stating it “threatens journalists’ ability to do their job reporting on powerful public figures.”

2Q TV Ratings: FOX News Channel Closes in on Broadcast Networks

FOX News Channel (FNC) continued to close in on the broadcast competition, overtaking ABC and NBC in viewers during the second quarter of 2025 and crushing CBS for the month of June in both categories, according to Nielsen. 

During 2Q’ 2025, FNC delivered 3,015,000 viewers and 350,000 in the 25-54 demo, ahead of ABC (2.977 million viewers) and NBC (2.704 million viewers). The quarter marked FNC’s second highest-rated second quarter in network history with weekday total day viewers, behind only 2020’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In total day, FNC saw 1.8 million viewers and 223,000 in the 25-54 demo, finishing with its top 10 highest quarter ratings of all time. FNC continued to occupy more than half the cable news share, commanding 62% of the audience in total day and 63% in primetime. FNC is the fastest growing network on all of television among total viewers and 25-54 demo during primetime as the network remained number one among Hispanic and Asian viewers with total day.  

Courtesy of The Wrap

During the second quarter, FNC was the go-to channel for all breaking news events, further cementing itself as the dominant network in all of television. FNC is the leading source for developments out of the Middle East and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran with trailblazing reporting from correspondents in the region and stateside. 

Last week, FNC finished as the highest-rated network in all of television during breaking news coverage of the United States’ strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. During the week, FNC delivered 3.3 million viewers in primetime, beating NBC (2.4 million viewers), CBS (2.1 million viewers) and ABC (1.9 million viewers). FNC was also dominant in the 25-54 demo, securing 425,000 viewers ahead of NBC (406,000 25-54 viewers), ABC (392,000 25-54 viewers) and CBS (325,000 25-54 viewers). The network was also the ratings leader during breaking news of the death of Pope Francis in April, the Army 250 parade and more.

For the month of June, FNC drew 3.1 million viewers and 370,000 in the 25-54 demo in primetime. FNC crushed CBS across the board (2.1 million viewers and 341,000 25-54 demo) and beat NBC (2.4 million viewers) in total viewership. In total day, FNC averaged 1.7 million viewers increasing year to year (+27%) and 220,000 (+38%) in 25-54. This marked FNC’s second highest rated June ever with total viewers and 25-54 demo behind only June 2020.

Several of FNC’s programs continued to overtake broadcast programs throughout the quarter. At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s The Five continued to make cable news history as the first non-primetime program to be the most watched for 15 consecutive quarters. Delivering nearly 4 million viewers and 410,000 in 25-54 demo, the program grew its demo by 52% year over year. Notably, The Five surpassed broadcast programs including CBS Evening News, NBC’s Americas, ESPN’s NBA Playoffs and more.  

FNC’s premier newscast Special Report with Bret Baier at 6 PM/ET garnered the largest audience in its timeslot with nearly 3 million viewers and 360,000 in 25-54 demo. Year-over-year Special Report, more than doubled his 25-54 demo audience and surged 35% in overall viewership, led by key bookings. Special Report beat CBS Evening News in the 25-54 demo on Monday, June 23rd (584,000 25-54 viewers vs. 542,000 25-54 demo) and remains highly competitive with the broadcast program, winning head-to-head in more than 20 key markets including Washington D.C. Chief political anchor Bret Baier’s world exclusive interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached an audience of 30 million across linear, streaming and social media platforms. According to Brandwatch, the interview and commentary around it reached more than 21 million across social media from June 15-17th. Combined with the 4.1 million across FOX News Media airings, and streaming and digital airings, the world exclusive had a combined audience of 30 million, including 5.5 million video views across YouTube, according to Emplifi.

For the second quarter of 2025, FNC delivered 14 of the top 15 shows in cable news with viewers, posting increases every hour year-over-year. At 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle topped the competition with 2.7 million viewers and 317,000 in 25-54. Jesse Watters Primetime at 8 PM/ET scored 3.4 million viewers and 396,000 in 25-54. Hannity (weeknights, 9 PM/ET) dominated the competition and with 2.9 million viewers and was 342,000 in the 25-54 demo. Sean Hannity was the highest-rated host for the month of June in 25-54 demo with 434,000 younger viewers. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night saw 1.6 million viewers and 228,000 in 25-54.

Late-night’s highest-rated program, Gutfeld! continued to soar notching 3 million viewers and 365,000 in 25-54 during the 10 PM/ET hour. In addition to the cable news competition, Gutfeld! outpaced all broadcast and late-night television, including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS’ After Midnight and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

For Monday – Sunday total day, FNC averaged 1,632,000 viewers (+25%) and 202,000 (+31%) in the 25-54 demo, posting double-digit increases year-over-year. During primetime from 8 – 11 PM/ET, FNC delivered 2,633,000 viewers (+25%) and 304,000 in 25-54 demo (+34%). In contrast, CNN and MSNBC saw declines across the board in both total day and primetime. CNN saw its worst quarter in history with just 71,000 younger viewers in total day and 105,000 in primetime. FNC has now marked 94 consecutive quarters as the most-watched cable news network in primetime, a feat dating back to 2002.

From 9-11 AM/ET, America’s Newsroom with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer dominated its timeslot with 1.9 million viewers and 212,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus helmed by Harris Faulkner drew the largest audience in its hour at 11 AM/ET with 1.9 million viewers and 219,000 in 25-54. The Faulkner Focus also closed the gap with ABC’s The View during the second quarter, while ensemble program Outnumbered also topped cable news at 12 PM/ET with over 2 million viewers and 241,000 in 25-54. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith was the most-watched program with 1.9 million viewers and 227,000 in 25-54. The Story with Martha MacCallum drew the largest cable news audience at 3 PM/ET, averaging 1.9 million viewers and 229,000 in 25-54. At 4 PM/ET, FNC’s newest program The Will Cain Show averaged 2.2 million viewers and 265,000 in the 25-54 demo, a 40% increase with viewers over the yearly 4 PM/ET average. Each daytime program surpassed CBS Mornings (1,918,000 viewers), NBC’s Today Third Hour (1,704,000 viewers), ABC’s GMA3 (1,226,000 viewers) and NBC’s Today with Jenna & Friends (1,144,000 viewers). 

The FOX & Friends franchise remained cable news’ most-watched morning shows throughout the quarter. FOX & Friends (6-9 AM/ET) delivered 1.4 million viewers and 185,000 in 25-54 and beat ABC’s GMA3, NBC’s Jenna and Friends, NBC’s Kelly Clarkson Show and more. From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends FIRST outpaced the competition with 600,000 viewers and 101,000 in 25-54 as FOX & Friends Weekend averaged 1.4 million viewers and 170,000 in the key demo.

FNC also continued to excel against the competition throughout the weekend for the quarter, outpacing CNN and MSNBC combined across both total day and primetime with viewers. 

On Saturdays, The Big Weekend Show from 6-8 PM/ET led the quarter in viewers with 1.5 million and 164,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News Live (Saturday, 10 AM – 2 PM/ET) was the top show in the demo with 172,000 in 25-54 and 1.4 million overall viewers . At 8 PM/ET, Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) commanded 1.379 million viewers and 115,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) averaged 1.2 million viewers and 138,000 in 25-54 demo. The newest addition to the lineup, My View with Lara Trump  at 9 PM/ET secured 1.371 million viewers and 121,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX Report with Jon Scott (1.1 million viewers and 136,000 25-54 demo) and The Journal Editorial Report (937,000 viewers and 122,000 25-54 demo) both were in the top 10 most-watched programs for the day.

On Sundays at 10 AM/ET, Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures was the top-rated show across the board, garnering 1.9 million viewers and 225,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11 AM/ET, MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz, delivered 1.3 million viewers and 151,000 in the 25-54 demo. In primetime, Sunday Night in America (Sunday, 9 PM/ET) averaged 1.7 million viewers and 179,000 in the 25-54 demo while Life, Liberty & Levin saw 1.6 million viewers and 167,000 in the 25-54 demo.. One Nation with Brian Kilmeade at 10 PM/ET, commanded 1.6 million viewers and was second in the 25-54 demo with 186,000 viewers.  

S-F Talk Legend Ronn Owens Defends Use of GoFundMe Account

Ronn Owens, a Bay Area radio icon known for hosting The Ronn Owens Program on KGO 810 AM for nearly five decades until his retirement in 2021, has faced significant health and financial challenges, prompting a GoFundMe campaign to support him. 

Owens took to social media Tuesday to deny allegations that funds raised through the campaign were being used to cover legal expenses for his daughter, Laura Owens, who is embroiled in a high-profile legal case.

Owens, now 79, revealed in a New Year’s Eve 2024 Facebook post that he has been battling Parkinson’s disease since 2001, along with four bouts of cancer (most recently colon cancer) and serious heart issues. These health struggles have led to significant medical expenses, overwhelming his finances despite his long career. Friends and family launched a GoFundMe campaign in January 2025 to help cover these costs, initially aiming to raise $60,000 but later increasing the goal to $140,000. As of June 2025, the campaign had raised over $125,000, with contributions from notable figures like former KGO colleague Leo Laporte and state Senator Jerry Hill.

Owens, a National Radio Hall of Fame and Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame inductee, was a prominent voice in San Francisco, hosting influential discussions with figures like Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. His show drew over 500,000 listeners at its peak. 

After moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2021, Owens expressed gratitude for the community support but noted the embarrassment of publicly asking for help.

Laura Owens

The GoFundMe campaign has faced scrutiny due to the legal troubles of Owens’ daughter, Laura Owens, 35, who was indicted in May 2025 in Maricopa County, Arizona, on seven felony counts, including fraud, perjury, forgery, and evidence tampering. These charges stem from a paternity lawsuit she filed against Clayton Echard, a former star of The Bachelor, claiming he impregnated her with twins in 2023. Echard denied the allegations, stating their encounter involved no intercourse. 

A June 2024 court ruling found Laura’s claims baseless, with evidence of fabricated documents, including altered ultrasound images and a fake pregnancy video. She was accused of wearing a fake pregnant belly to court, and the case was referred for criminal prosecution.The timing of the GoFundMe campaign, launched shortly after a January 2025 police raid on Owens’ Scottsdale home related to Laura’s case, sparked speculation that the funds were being used for her legal defense. 

Ronn Owens addressed these concerns on social media, explicitly stating that the GoFundMe donations were not being used to pay Laura’s legal bills. The San Francisco Chronicle reported this statement, though some criticized the coverage as “lazy journalism” for relying solely on Owens’ word without further evidence. 

SoCal Radio: KBBY, KRUZ Personality Dave Randall Retiring

Dave Randall

After an extraordinary career spanning more than four decades, beloved 95.1 KBBY and 103.3 KRUZ radio personality Dave Randall announces his retirement from radio. His final broadcast will be at the end of July, marking the close of a storied chapter in Southern California radio. Randall is currently On-Air Host of Cumulus Media’s Adult Contemporary station in Ventura, 95.1 KBBY, airing weekdays from 2:00pm-6:00pm. He also hosts the “D.R. Daily” morning show on sister Classic Hits station 103.3 KRUZ weekdays from 6:00am-10:00am.

Randall’s journey in broadcasting began over 40 years ago and includes notable time on-air at KRTH 101.1 (K-Earth 101) in Los Angeles, one of the most iconic Oldies stations in the country. His voice, professionalism, and connection with listeners made him a trusted presence not only across Ventura County, but throughout Southern California.

Born in Los Angeles, CA, Randall was destined to be in the entertainment industry. He got his start in radio with internships at KNX Radio in Los Angeles as well as Cal State Long Beach University Campus’ Radio KSUL. He then moved on to work in various markets throughout Southern California, including KLON in Long Beach, KWLT-KKYY in San Diego, KCAQ Q-105 in Oxnard and K-Earth 101 in Los Angeles, where he was on-air for 20 years.

Since joining Cumulus Media, Dave has been a staple on both 95.1 KBBY and 103.3 KRUZ, winning over listeners with his easy charm, music knowledge, and steady presence.

Dave Randall shared: "I'm humbled to have entertained over this medium. The true fruit of one's work is in the response, years down the line, when people say they enjoyed listening. More than anything, it's gratifying, and I am thankful for that."

Sommer Frisk, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Media Ventura, said: “Dave Randall is one of the most professional and steadfast people I’ve ever worked with. Through every format shift, ratings book, and challenging moment—he showed up with grace, heart, and an unwavering commitment to doing the job right. He’s not just a great broadcaster—he’s a great man. And while we’ll miss his voice, we’ll miss his presence even more.”

Dave Daniels, Operations Manager, added: “D.R. is the consummate radio professional and has delivered day in and day out for our team. I am grateful to have had the privilege to work alongside him and wish him nothing but a wonderful, relaxing retirement! It has been a pleasure.”    

Connect with Dave Randall at:  Daverandall2@gmail.com.

AI Overviews Blamed For Loss Of Traffic To News Sites

Since Google introduced its AI Overviews feature in May 2024, major news websites have experienced significant declines in web traffic, with some reporting drops of up to 40% or more.

This feature, which provides AI-generated summaries at the top of search results, often answers user queries directly, reducing the need to click through to original news sites. 

According to data from  cited by The Wall Street Journal, organic search traffic to HuffPost has fallen by over 50% in the past three years, with a similar decline at The Washington Post. Business Insider reported a 55% drop in organic search traffic from April 2022 to April 2025, leading to a 21% staff reduction in May 2025, with CEO Barbara Peng citing "extreme traffic drops outside of our control." 

Other reports, such as from The New York Post, indicate that some top news sites have seen traffic decreases of around 40% due to Google's AI-driven search changes.

The shift from traditional link-based search results to an "answer engine" model, where AI provides concise summaries, has disrupted the referral traffic that news publishers rely on for revenue. A Semrush study of 10,000 informational keywords found that AI Overviews significantly reduced both organic and paid click-through rates, with Moz research estimating organic traffic losses ranging from 18% to 64% for informational content sites. 

The Daily Mail’s vice chair, Rich Caccappolo, noted that AI Overviews are "unraveling the traffic" that supports digital revenue models. Some publishers, like DotDash Meredith, are preparing for a "Google Zero" scenario, anticipating further traffic declines as AI tools dominate search.

While Google claims AI Overviews drive "higher-quality" traffic, with users spending more time on sites they visit, they have not provided data to support this. Posts on X and various reports, including from The Atlantic and TechCrunch, highlight the broader impact, with newsrooms facing layoffs and forced to rethink digital strategies. For instance, a niche publication editor reported a traffic drop from 100,000 to 60,000 daily visits after AI Overviews were introduced. 

However, some analyses, like one from GSQi, suggest AI search currently drives less than 1% of traffic to most sites, indicating the immediate impact might be overstated for some, though long-term risks remain.

Weekly TV Ratings: It Was Another Good News Week For Fox News

During the week of June 23-29, FOX News Channel (FNC) averaged 3,258,000 viewers and 425,000 in the 25-54 demo in weekday primetime leading all broadcast networks across the board, including NBC (2.4 million viewers; 406,000 A25-54), CBS (2.1 million viewers; 325,000 A25-54) and ABC (1.9 million viewers; 392,000 A25-54).

In Monday - Sunday total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC posted 1.8 million viewers and 232,000 in the 25-54 demo leading all of cable. In Monday-Sunday primetime (8-11 PM/ET), FNC averaged 2.8 million viewers and 350,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC secured 98 of the top 100 cable news telecasts during the week.

For the week, The Five averaged 4 million viewers and 455,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading cable news with viewers. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 3.2 million viewers and 384,000 in the 25-54 demo. Special Report (584,000 A25-54) also beat CBS Evening News (542,000 A25-54) in demo on Monday during Baier’s exclusive with JD Vance. The Ingraham Angle saw 3.1 million viewers and 413,000 in the 25-54 demo at 7 PM/ET. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 3.7 million viewers and 443,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 3.2 million viewers and 440,000 with A25-54. Gutfeld!, which was guest-hosted throughout the week, saw 3.2 million viewers and led cable news in the 25-54 demo with 460,000 viewers.

During the weekend, Maria Bartiromo’s exclusive interview with President Trump led Sunday Morning Futures to 2 million viewers and 264,000 in the 25-54 demo. On Saturday, Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends 8 PM/ET) was most-watched with 1.5 million viewers.

FOX Business Network Outpaced CNBC During 2Q

FOX Business Network (FBN) crushed CNBC in business day, market hours and total day viewers for the second consecutive quarter in 2Q’25. According to Nielsen Media Research, Kudlow and Varney & Co. continued to rank as the top two business programs.

During the second quarter of 2025, FBN dominated CNBC in business day viewers, nabbing a 17% advantage (216,000 total viewers), market hours with a 9% advantage (207,000 total viewers) and weekday total day with a 15% advantage (137,000 total viewers).

FBN’s 4PM/ET programming, Larry Kudlow’s Kudlow (4PM/ET) continued its reign as the number one program in business news with 308,000 total viewers, an 82% advantage over CNBC’s Closing Bell. This marked the 15th straight quarterly win over its competition. Meanwhile, Stuart Varney’s three-hour market opener Varney & Co. (9 AM/ET-12 PM/ET) secured a 29% lead (263,000 total viewers) over CNBC’s Squawk on the Street/Money Movers, marking the program's 13th consecutive quarterly win.

In FBN’s first Friday 7:30-8PM/ET quarter win since 2020, Barron’s Roundtable (Fridays, 7:30-8 PM/ET) outranked CNBC’s programming with a 25% advantage (71,000 total viewers). Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street (Fridays, 7-7:30 PM/ET) saw a 61% (98,000 total viewers) lead compared to CNBC’s programming.

Maria Bartiromo’s three-hour pre-market program, Mornings with Maria (6-9 AM/ET) delivered its highest rated quarter since 2022 in total viewers, notching 122,000 total viewers and a 3% advantage over CNBC’s Squawk Box. Notably, in the 2 PM/ET hour, Making Money with Charles Payne (2-3 PM/ET) saw its highest rated quarter since 2023 with 165,000 total viewers. Additionally, The Big Money Show (12-2PM/ET) and The Claman Countdown (3-4PM/ET) both scored their highest rated quarters since 2022 with 177,000 and 174,000 total viewers, respectively. 

The network’s post-market programs, The Evening Edit (5-6PM/ET) and The Bottom Line (6-7PM/ET) saw double-digit advantages over CNBC’s programming. The Evening Edit saw a 35% lead over Fast Money 199,000 total viewers, which marked its fifth consecutive win. The Bottom Line had a 36% edge over CNBC’s Mad Money with 164,000 total viewers.