Bad Bunny Says Even Fox News Is Happy About Super Bowl Gig

Bad Bunny opened Season 51 of “Saturday Night Live” with a bilingual monologue, highlighting his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show and addressing the conservative backlash to his casting.

“I’m very happy,” he said of the gig. “And I think everyone is happy about it. Even Fox News.”“SNL” then aired a satirical supercut of Fox News clips, where the network had criticized the NFL for choosing a Spanish-language artist, focusing on Bad Bunny’s comments about avoiding U.S. tour stops due to ICE-related concerns for his fans. 

The edited clips humorously rearranged anchors’ words to say: “Bad Bunny is my favorite musician, and he should be the next president.”

Bad Bunny on SNL trolling Fox News. pic.twitter.com/zl8UKTXLca

— Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) October 5, 2025

Switching to Spanish, Bad Bunny expressed gratitude to those excited for his Super Bowl performance, particularly Latinos and Latinas in the U.S. who’ve paved the way. “It’s more than a win for myself, it’s a win for all of us,” he said. “Our footprints and contributions in this country can never be erased.”

Back in English, he quipped: “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”

Trump in Talks for 60 Minutes Interview

President Donald Trump is negotiating with CBS News for a potential 60 Minutes interview, signaling a possible détente following a $16 million legal settlement in July 2025. 

The settlement resolved Trump's 2024 lawsuit accusing CBS of manipulatively editing a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, which he claimed constituted election interference. The suit centered on a segment about Harris' comments on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. CBS, while denying wrongdoing, agreed to pay for Trump's legal fees and a donation to his presidential library, and committed to releasing unedited transcripts for future candidate interviews. 

The talks were first reported by Semafor on October 2, 2025, citing sources close to the discussions.

Trump’s relationship with 60 Minutes has been fraught. In 2020, he walked out of an interview with Lesley Stahl over a dispute about COVID-19 coverage, labeling it “fake news.”

The White House originally aimed to schedule the interview during Trump’s late September 2025 New York visit for the U.N. General Assembly and Ryder Cup, with correspondent Bill Whitaker (who conducted the 2024 Harris interview) set to lead. A scheduling conflict delayed it, and no new date is confirmed, though talks continue.

Trump’s team insists the interview air unedited, reflecting distrust in CBS’s editing practices. This aligns with CBS’s new “live-to-tape” policy and full transcript releases for major interviews, adopted after the settlement.

The talks occur amid CBS’s transition under Skydance Media’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount in August 2025. Skydance reportedly plans to acquire The Free Press for $150 million, with its founder, Bari Weiss, a media bias critic, potentially becoming CBS News editor-in-chief. This shift toward conservative-leaning content may facilitate smoother relations with Trump’s administration.

Mark Sanchez Released From Hospital, Next Stop Jail

Former NFL quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez was released from the hospital and arrested in Indianapolis following a stabbing incident early Saturday, according to reports. 

The altercation, involving a dispute with a 69-year-old food delivery truck driver, led to Sanchez’s arrest on misdemeanor charges of battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication, per Indianapolis police.

The Victim

TMZ reported that Sanchez, who was in town to cover the Colts-Raiders game for Fox, has been discharged from the hospital and is now being processed through jail, with his $300 cash bond paid by his attorney. Graphic images shared by Fox59 anchor Angela Ganote revealed the driver’s injuries, including a deep cheek laceration and bloodied face and neck.

Police allege Sanchez threatened, followed, and attacked the driver, who responded with pepper spray before stabbing him in self-defense.

The Marion County Prosecutor's Office announced Sunday that Sanchez, 38, is charged with battery causing injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle. An initial court hearing is set for Tuesday.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated, "This incident should not have escalated to violence or serious injury. What started as a dispute between a former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man will now be addressed through the legal process, guided by the facts and the law."

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by CBS News, the incident began as a parking dispute near Loughmiller's Pub & Eatery in downtown Indianapolis around 12:30 a.m. Saturday. The altercation turned violent, resulting in Sanchez being stabbed in the upper torso. 

He was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition but was later reported stable. The 69-year-old man, a truck driver, claimed self-defense, stating he pepper-sprayed Sanchez after feeling threatened. When Sanchez allegedly continued advancing, the man stabbed him "two or three times," believing his life was in danger. 

The driver also reported being thrown against a dumpster during the confrontation.

Court documents indicate the man acted in self-defense. Sanchez told police at the hospital he could not recall who stabbed him, according to detective Christopher Edwards' affidavit.

Fox Sports gave a brief statement Sunday, Oct. 5, in the wake of the arrest of Fox NFL analyst Mark Sanchez, who faces three misdemeanor counts in the wake of an altercation early Saturday.

"Friday night in Indianapolis, one of our team members, Mark Sanchez, was involved in an incident that we're still trying to wrap our heads around," Charissa Thompson said during pregame NFL coverage. "At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, his family, and all of those involved."

Taylor Swift Culture Impact Reaches Iconic Status

Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, was released on Friday, accompanied by a major promotional campaign featuring midnight sales at Target, a global movie theater release party, and pop-up events in New York and Los Angeles. 

Following the success of The Tortured Poets Department, which topped the Billboard 200 and sold 8 million equivalent albums in the U.S. (per Luminate), the new album is expected to resonate strongly with Swift’s global fanbase, despite mixed reviews from critics. It became Spotify’s most-streamed album of 2025 in under 11 hours.

Swift collaborated again with producers Max Martin and Shellback, known for her hits 1989 and Reputation. The 12-song album, featuring a title track with Sabrina Carpenter, was praised by Rolling Stone for its “fresh echelon of superstardom” (five stars) and by the BBC as a “triumphant pop victory lap.” However, The Financial Times (two stars) called it charismatic but lacking sparkle, and The Guardian found it “dull razzle-dazzle.”

Tatiana Cirisano of MIDiA Research noted Swift’s rare ability to unite a massive, loyal fanbase, predicting chart-topping success. The Recording Industry Association of America recognized Swift as the first female artist to surpass 100 million album sales. Google Trends reported surges in searches for new songs like “Opalite,” “Ruin the Friendship,” and “Actually Romantic.” 

Academics compare Swift’s cultural impact to icons like Elvis and Michael Jackson, citing her influence on NFL viewership and voter registration drives.

Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl’ Film Collects $33M At the Cinema

“The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” an 89-minute promotional film for Taylor Swift’s latest album, grossed $33 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters from Friday to Sunday, topping the box office, per Comscore. Screened in 3,702 theaters, the feature—more a DVD bonus collection than a traditional movie—drew an 88% female and 70% white audience, per PostTrak. 

Swifties gave it an A+ in CinemaScore polls, though critics didn’t review it. The film added $13 million overseas; production costs were undisclosed.

Swift’s theatrical return, following 2023’s “The Eras Tour,” outshone Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.), which earned $11.1 million in its second weekend, reaching a $42.8 million domestic total. A24’s “The Smashing Machine,” a $40 million sports drama starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, directed by Benny Safdie, took third with a disappointing $6 million. 

Despite strong Oscar buzz for Johnson and warm reviews, it scored a B-minus in CinemaScore polls. A24 called it a “creative achievement” with lasting impact.

Swift’s one-weekend-only release, announced with just two weeks’ notice, boosted struggling theaters still recovering from the pandemic’s blow to the industry, which saw its worst summer since 1981 (inflation-adjusted, excluding pandemic years). However, her minimal marketing—relying on social media and news coverage—frustrated some Hollywood executives, who typically spend millions on promotion for wide releases.

WaPo Adds Three Conservative Opinion Writers

The Washington Post's new opinions editor, Adam O'Neal, announced the hiring of three conservative-leaning writers—Kate Andrews, Dominic Pino, and Carine Hajjar—to join the section next month. 

They will report to deputy opinion editor James Hohmann and contribute bylined columns, unsigned editorials, social videos, and appearances on the Post's opinion podcast network. This move comes amid O'Neal's push to "diversify viewpoints" at a paper he described as having an "overwhelmingly liberal" readership, following recent "tough staffing decisions" that included the departure of several high-profile liberal columnists. 

The hires signal owner Jeff Bezos's reported shift toward emphasizing "free markets and personal liberties" in the paper's editorial voice.

The New Hires:

• 
  Kate Andrews: U.S. deputy editor at The Spectator (a British conservative magazine) and a contributor to The Telegraph. Andrews, a British citizen based in the U.S., is known for sharp critiques of progressive policies; in a recent column, she warned that a win by Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in New York would leave the "whole country... suffer[ing] from nightmares."
• Dominic Pino: Economics editor at National Review, a leading conservative outlet. Pino is a prominent advocate for free-market policies and a frequent critic of Democratic economic initiatives. O'Neal praised him as "one of the most astute writers on the economy in the country," noting his recent guest contributions to the Post.
• Carine Hajjar: A member of The Boston Globe's editorial board and a regular Fox News commentator. A Harvard alum and former National Review reporter covering higher education and Iran nuclear talks, Hajjar focuses on national security, elections, immigration, and transgender issues. She recently eulogized Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk (following his fictionalized murder in reports) as a "generational conservative voice" and one of the era's most influential figures.

The announcement, detailed in an internal memo from O'Neal, has been framed as part of a broader rightward pivot at the Post, especially after losing liberal voices.

R.I.P.: Belva Davis, Pioneering San Fran Journalist

(1932-2025)

Belva Davis, a pioneering African American journalist widely regarded as the first Black woman hired as a television reporter on the U.S. West Coast, passed away on September 24, 2025, at her home in Oakland, California. She was 92 years old and had been battling a long illness. Her death was confirmed by family members and multiple Bay Area news outlets, including KPIX, KQED, and KRON4, where she had worked during her nearly 50-year career.

Davis's passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, public figures, and the journalism community, celebrating her as a trailblazer who shattered racial and gender barriers in broadcast news. 

KQED President and CEO Michael Isip called her death "a great loss for the Bay Area," highlighting her unflappable demeanor and mentorship role. The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), which inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2008, mourned her as a barrier-breaker whose legacy would endure.

The Early Years

Born Belvagene Melton on October 13, 1932, in Monroe, Louisiana, Davis grew up amid poverty and racism in the Jim Crow South. Her family fled to Oakland in the early 1940s, where they squeezed into a cramped two-bedroom apartment—eleven relatives in all—before moving to a West Oakland housing project. Despite these hardships, she graduated from Berkeley High School in 1951 and, without a college degree, broke into journalism as a freelancer for Jet magazine in 1957.

Her radio career began in the early 1960s at Oakland's KDIA, where she hosted The Belva Davis Show, interviewing celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Bill Cosby. In 1967, she made history at KPIX-TV (CBS affiliate in San Francisco) as the West Coast's first Black female TV reporter, facing overt discrimination—such as being ejected from press conferences—but persisting with poise and professionalism. She later worked at KRON4, KTVU, and KQED, hosting the acclaimed public affairs show This Week in Northern California for nearly two decades until her retirement in 2012.

Over her career, Davis earned eight Emmy Awards and covered landmark stories, including the 1968 Republican National Convention (where she and her crew were physically attacked by segregationists), Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., the Patty Hearst kidnapping, Fidel Castro in Cuba, and the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Tanzania.

Radio History: Oct 6

➦In 1866...Reginald Aubrey Fessenden born (Died at age 65 – July 22, 1932). He was a Canadian-born radio pioneer, who did a majority of his work in the United States and also claimed U.S. citizenship through his American-born father.  During his life he received hundreds of patents in various fields, most notably ones related to radio and sonar.

Reginald Fessenden

Fessenden is best known for his pioneering work developing radio technology, including the foundations of amplitude modulation (AM) radio. His achievements included the first transmission of speech by radio (1900), and the first two-way radio-telegraphic communication across the Atlantic Ocean (1906). In 1932 he reported that, in late 1906, he also made the first radio broadcast of entertainment and music, although a lack of verifiable details has led to some doubts about this claim.

After studies at Bishop University, Fessenden went to work for Thomas Edison, then the Westinghouse labs and the US Weather Service. In 1902, he started his own company to develop his superheterodyne discoveries, and in 1906 accomplished the first two-way radio voice transmission between Scotland and his shore station at Brant Rock Massachusetts.

That Christmas he broadcast the world’s first public program of music and voice transmitted over long distances, from Brant Rock to the ships at sea. He had over 300 patents, and was awarded $2.5 million by the US Radio Trust for his inventions, many of which were used by the US in World War I without his permission.

➦In 1949...Japanese-American broadcaster, Iva Toguri D'Aquino (Tokyo Rose, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $10,000 for treason.

Tokyo Rose

Tokyo Rose was a name given by Allied troops in the South Pacific during World War II to all female English-speaking radio broadcasters of Japanese propaganda. The programs were broadcast in the South Pacific and North America to demoralize Allied forces abroad and their families at home by emphasizing troops' wartime difficulties and military losses. Several female broadcasters operated under different aliases and in different cities throughout the Empire, including Tokyo, Manila, and Shanghai.  The name "Tokyo Rose" was never actually used by any Japanese broadcaster, but it first appeared in U.S. newspapers in the context of these radio programs in 1943.

Tokyo Rose ceased to be merely a symbol in September 1945 when D'Aquino, an American-born Japanese disc jockey for a propagandist radio program, attempted to return to the U-S.  Toguri was accused of being the 'real' Tokyo Rose, arrested, tried, and became the seventh person in U.S. history to be convicted of treason.  Toguri was eventually paroled from prison in 1956, but it was more than 20 years before she received an official presidential pardon for her role in the war.

U.S. President Gerald Ford pardoned Toguri in 1977.

➦In 1953...Rocky Fortune, an American radio drama, debuted on NBC Radio beginning in October 1953. The series ended its run in March 1954 after 25 episodes. The program was created by George Lefferts. Frank Sinatra voiced the title role of Rocky Fortune for the entire series.

Rocky Fortune aired Tuesday nights on NBC at 9:35pm Eastern, immediately following Dragnet (and a five-minute John Cameron Swayze newscast). It was a sustaining series, meaning that NBC presented the program without corporate sponsorship.

➦In 1976...“Disco Duck” by Memphis radio personality Rick Dees (and His Cast of Idiots) was certified as a Gold Record.

Radio History: Oct 5

➦In 1912...Tony Marvin was born (Died at age 86 – October 10, 1998). He was a staff announcer for CBS, and later became most known as the long-time announcer for Arthur Godfrey. He was also the original voice of 'Tony the Tiger'.

Tony Marvin

Marvin's first job in radio was at WNYC in New York City. From there, he went to CBS as a staff announcer, beginning October 1, 1939. A 1959 article in Radio and Television Mirror reported that at CBS "Tony did everything from daytime serials to symphonies and in 1946, when the Arthur Godfrey morning show was sustaining, Tony was assigned to it." When Godfrey's activities expanded from Arthur Godfrey Time to include Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and Arthur Godfrey and his Friends, Marvin did the announcing for those shows as well.

Marvin branched out in 1958, adding a two-hour, Monday-Saturday disc jockey show on WABC to his other duties.  In 1961, Marvin became host of My True Story, a radio drama that moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System after having been on ABC and NBC for a total of 17 years. That same year he became a newscaster for Mutual.

In his later years, Marvin had two more stints with programs on local radio stations. In 1976, he had a four-hour afternoon show, "Tony's Time," on WATR in Waterbury, Connecticut.  Beginning in 1977, Marvin had a show on WDJZ in Bridgeport, Connecticut, which at the time was one of the first radio stations playing the "Music of Your Life" format, consisting primarily of music from the big band era. In 1981, Marvin came out of retirement to do "The Tony Marvin Show," a one-hour program broadcast live from the Palm Beach Hilton on WKAO. He said, "I want to bring back live radio." The show originated in the hotel's dining room and featured an orchestra.

➦In 1921....the first World Series to air on radio got underway between the New York Yankees and Giants. KDKA Pittsburgh and WJZ New York broadcast direct from the Polo Grounds, while WBZ Springfield and announcer Thomas Cowan recreated the games in their studios from reports phoned in from the stadium.

➦In 1925...WSM-AM in Nashville signed-on.

WSM is primarily associated with country music through its weekly Saturday night program, the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in history.

The Opry began as the WSM Barn Dance in 1925, but after only about a year on the air, the program's host, "Judge" Hay, referred to the programming as being "Grand Ole Opry" in contrast to the preceding grand opera program on NBC.

In 1932, WSM boosted its power to 50,000 watts, becoming Tennessee's first clear-channel station.

In addition to its vast nighttime coverage area, the station boasts one of the largest daytime coverage areas in the country. It provides at least grade B coverage as far east as Chattanooga, as far north as Evansville, Indiana, as far west as Jackson, Tennessee and as far south as Huntsville, Alabama. Under the right conditions, it can be heard in nearly all of Tennessee and much of Kentucky, and can be picked up as far away as the fringes of the St. Louis area.

The station traditionally played country music in the nighttime hours, when listeners from around the United States would tune in.

Ex-QB, FOX Analyst Mark Sanchez Facing Charges

Mark Sanchez

Former NFL Quarterback Mark Sanchez, 38, was involved in a violent altercation in downtown Indianapolis near Senate Avenue and West Washington Street, outside Loughmiller's Pub & Eatery. He was in town to broadcast FOX's Sunday NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium but will miss the assignment.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), officers responded to a "physical disturbance" between two adult males (neither local residents). One man suffered lacerations to his face, and the other sustained stab wounds consistent with Sanchez's injuries. The incident appears isolated and not random.

Reports indicate it stemmed from a parking dispute with a food delivery driver (the other man). The driver claims self-defense, alleging Sanchez was the aggressor—approaching aggressively, leading to the driver deploying pepper spray before pulling a knife and stabbing Sanchez in the chest. The suspect was detained at the scene but not formally charged as of October 4; police are investigating both sides, and Sanchez has not yet been interviewed due to his condition. 

According to FOX59/CBS4 sources, Sanchez wasn’t cooperative with responding police officers.

The second individual involved in the incident reportedly told police he was making a food delivery when Sanchez told him to leave and that he couldn’t park in the alley. The victim claimed Sanchez became aggressive and used pepper spray. This is when the individual claimed to stab Sancehz in self-defense.

Social media speculation, including on Reddit and X, has amplified unverified claims of Sanchez's aggression or even CTE-related behavior, but these remain unsubstantiated rumors.

TMZ first reported Sanchez was rushed to the hospital in "critical condition" with "severe" injuries shortly after the incident. However, FOX Sports issued an update later that morning: 

"Mark Sanchez was injured in Indianapolis on Saturday and is currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition. We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that everyone please respect his and his family's privacy during this time."

He led college football in yards passing and touchdowns while leading Southern Cal to a Rose Bowl win during the 2008 season. He went on to become the fifth pick in the 2009 NFL Draft to the New York Jets, where he was a four-year starter and 4-2 in playoff games.

Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was arrested Saturday on assault and public intoxication charges after he was stabbed in the chest during a brawl with a food delivery driver in Indianapolis early Saturday, according to reports and authorities.

Sanchez was charged with battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication, in connection with the brawl near Loughmiller’s Pub & Eatery in downtown Indianapolis, cops said.

Radio Joins The PR Blitz For 'Showgirl'

Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, released at midnight Thursday night, via Republic Records. Co-produced by Max Martin and Shellback, the 12-track upbeat pop record draws from Swift's Eras Tour experiences, her engagement to Travis Kelce, and industry reflections. It debuted with massive promotion, including midnight listening parties, a theatrical film event (The Official Release Party of a Showgirl in cinemas October 3–5), and lyric billboards worldwide.

Major U.S. radio networks amplified the launch through airplay, contests, and interviews, treating it as a cultural milestone. Coverage focused on the album's "joyful" vibes, fan engagement, and Swift's personal anecdotes.

Here is a summary of activity based on reports:

✔iHeartMedia: Contests, Late-Night Spins, and Local Fan HypeiHeartMedia, the largest U.S. radio owner (reaching 90% of listeners), leaned into Swift's pop dominance with immediate airplay on Top 40 stations like Z100 (New York) and KIIS-FM (Los Angeles). Pre-release teases included orange-themed Eras Tour hints, and stations spun the lead single "The Fate of Ophelia" at midnight. A standout was G105 (Raleigh)'s Instagram sweepstakes for tickets to the album's theatrical release party at AMC Theaters (October 3–5), announced September 29, with winners notified October 3.

This echoes iHeart's history of Swift takeovers (e.g., 1989 in 2014), positioning her as a "global superstar."Audacy: Deep-Dive Specials and App-Integrated Listening Parties

✔Audacy (over 200 stations, including pop/country formats like Chicago's B96) aired Taylor Swift: On The Record, a guided track-by-track special on October 3 at 7 p.m. ET via the Audacy app and stations. Swift narrated inspirations, like tour "fatigue-fueling" sessions for tracks such as "Elizabeth Taylor" (Hollywood scrutiny) and the Sabrina Carpenter-featured title track. Stations hosted fan parties tying into the "showgirl" theme of performance highs/lows, emphasizing the 42-minute album's danceable energy as a "snapshot of my life right now."

Coverage celebrated Swift's master ownership (regained in May 2025) and no immediate tour plans, shared in radio chats.Cumulus Media: Syndicated Features and Country-Pop Crossovers

✔Cumulus (strong in country via Westwood One syndication) featured the album on Nashville's WNSH-FM (The Big 98) and Atlanta's WSTR-FM, blending pop hits with Swift's roots. Post-drop analysis highlighted "Wood" (reliability ode) and "Opalite" (Kelce's favorite), with airplay on hybrids spiking after "Actually Romantic" sparked Charli XCX shade buzz.

Syndicated spots discussed her evolution from country teen to pop icon, promoting Target vinyl exclusives ("It’s Beautiful," "It’s Frightening," "It’s Rapturous"). Cumulus framed the release as "effervescent" amid Swift's milestones, like her engagement.

Other activity included:

Bari Weiss to Join CBS News, What's Next?

Next week, CBS News will welcome Bari Weiss, the 41-year-old founder of The Free Press, as its new editor-in-chief, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously. The announcement could come as early as Monday. 

Weiss, a polarizing figure known for her critiques of progressive orthodoxy, will step into a role once held by journalism giants like Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace, marking a bold pivot for the network.

The LA Times reports David Ellison, 42, chairman and CEO of CBS parent Paramount, spearheaded the move as part of his strategy to overhaul the network following Skydance Media’s $8 billion merger with Paramount. Weiss will report directly to Ellison and collaborate with CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, who joined in February 2025. 

As part of the deal, Paramount will acquire The Free Press—Weiss’ four-year-old digital media venture known for newsletters, investigative reporting, podcasts, and opinion columns—for approximately $150 million in cash and stock.

Weiss’ rapid ascent from a New York Times opinion editor to a leadership role at a legacy TV news organization with over 1,000 employees is unprecedented, especially given her lack of television experience. Her appointment has sparked intense debate in media circles, with questions about whether she’ll reshape CBS News—recently plagued by management turnover and political pressures—in her image. 

Ellison, whose father is Oracle co-founder and Trump ally Larry Ellison, has emphasized repositioning CBS News to appeal to the 70% of Americans identifying as center-left or center-right. Weiss’ arrival could steer the network toward a less ideologically rigid stance, though it risks alienating viewers accustomed to its traditional tone. X posts reflect the divide, with some praising her as a fresh voice and others decrying her as a provocateur unfit for broadcast leadership.

St. Louis Radio: KDHX Ceases Operations

KDHX 88.1 FM was a beloved, independent, non-commercial community radio station, operating for nearly 38 years as a vital hub for eclectic music, cultural programming, and public affairs has ceased operations. 

Founded in 1987 by the Double Helix Corporation (a nonprofit), it was known for its volunteer-driven shows featuring everything from blues and reggae to Italian folk and global sounds. It also supported local musicians through events like its Folk School, live performances, and an extensive arts calendar, making it a cornerstone of St. Louis's creative ecosystem.

On Wednesday, KDHX "ceased operations," marking the official end of its over-the-air broadcasts on 88.1 FM. The decision aligns with the impending sale of the broadcast license, with the station's call letters changing to KLJT.

The format for KDHX is expected to continue online.  

KDHX faced severe internal conflicts in the 2020s, including accusations of mismanagement, the dismissal of longtime DJs (including co-founder Tom "Papa" Ray), and a sharp drop in donations. On January 31, 2025, the station laid off nearly all its volunteer staff, shifted to automated pre-recorded programming, and effectively went silent in terms of live broadcasts. Double Helix filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 10, 2025, owing about $2 million to creditors.

88.1 FM (41 Kw)

The bankruptcy triggered a bidding war for the 88.1 FM license, which had an estimated market value exceeding $4 million amid declining broadcast values. The winning bidder was Gateway Creative Broadcasting, Inc., a St. Louis-based evangelical Christian nonprofit. 

They acquired the FCC license, broadcast tower, and other assets for $8.75 million in the auction—outbidding EMF by $250,000. already operates two stations in the St. Louis market: JOY FM (KLJY 99.1, adult contemporary Christian) and BOOST Radio (contemporary Christian hits). The group plans to program 88.1 FM with similar content, expanding its local reach.

TV Ratings: Viewership Surges For College Football 2025

The 2025 college football season has kicked off with remarkable viewership gains, driven by the sport’s growing popularity and Nielsen’s new Big Data + Panel audience measurement system, introduced in September 2025. 

This advanced methodology, incorporating millions of data points from set-top boxes and smart TVs, offers a more comprehensive view of audience behavior compared to last year’s panel-only metrics.

Nielsen data shared with Front Office Sports highlights a 10.5% year-over-year increase in average viewership per game, rising from 1.9 million in the first five weeks of 2024 to 2.1 million in 2025, even when applying the new methodology retroactively to last year’s telecasts. 

A standout moment was Alabama’s upset over Georgia, averaging 10.4 million viewers, one of six games this season to surpass 10 million—compared to just one at this point in 2024.

📺Key Viewership Metrics for 2025

✔Demographic Growth: Viewership among 18- to 34-year-olds jumped 15%.
✔Major Audiences: Six games hit 10 million+ viewers, including Alabama vs. Georgia.
✔Sports Consumption: Sports content accounted for 22% of broadcast and cable viewing time among adults 25–54, despite comprising only 15% of programming. This is up from 19% in 2024, which included the Paris Olympics.
✔Season Milestone: The Alabama-Georgia game marked a high point in a season of record-breaking audiences.

Nielsen SVP Brian Fuhrer attributes the surge to fans seeking an “escape” through live sports, with college football leading the charge. “People are gravitating to these moments, and our new measurement system captures that engagement more accurately,” Fuhrer told Front Office Sports.

TV Ratings: September Was a Very Good Month For Fox News

Fox News outperformed CNN and MSNBC in September showing year-over-year viewership growth despite a tough comparison to the 2024 election year. 

Fox News averaged 2.54 million primetime viewers in September (up 1%), while MSNBC dropped 43% to 810,000, and CNN fell 36% to 543,000. 

In total day, Fox News was up 13% to 1.61 million, while MSNBC and CNN saw declines of 44% and 26%, respectively. 

➤Rating Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN

In the 25-54 demo, all networks saw declines, with Fox News down 14% in primetime (280,000) and 7% in total day (179,000), while CNN and MSNBC faced steeper drops. 

Fox News’ The Five led cable news shows with 3.9 million viewers, followed by Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity, Special Report with Bret Baier, and Gutfeld!. In the 25-54 demo, Hannity topped with 391,000 viewers.