Liberal talk radio

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Liberal talk radio (also called progressive talk radio) has been around a long time. Many people have heard of the launch and subsequent ups and downs of the Air America Radio network, but there are many other less well-known but still significant players on the stage. Conservative talk radio currently enjoys a 9:1 advantage over liberal talk radio in air time, which has led to talk of reviving the Fairness Doctrine. [1]

Contents

[edit] Personalities

This is a brief overview of liberal talk radio personalities that various RationalWiki editors are familiar with. Times for shows given are when they run live, and in their local time zone.

[edit] Peter B. Collins

Peter B. Collins broadcasts his three hour daily show "Live from the Left Coast", which is a mix mostly consisting of interviews with a wide range of guest experts early in the show, followed with as many calls from as many kinds of people as he can fit in. Often the guests and callers are able to interact when technology permits. Peter B. has been in radio since the 70's, working many talk time slots at many stations. His style is low-key and non-confrontational, even when arguing with people who strongly disagree with him.

[edit] Alan Colmes

The Alan Colmes show has been on the radio since the 1980s and was unabashedly liberal back then; indeed, one of the few liberal voices on the radio during the early 1990s. His show included a segment called Radio Graffiti, which was sampled (some might say in an anti-Semitic dig at Colmes, who is Jewish) by the rap group Public Enemy on their 1990 album Fear of a Black Planet. Since 1996 he has come under increased criticism for playing "token liberal" on the Fox News Channel opposite Sean Hannity, and since there are now much stronger liberals on talk radio there is no reason to listen to Colmes any more, although during the darkest days of the 1990s he was a refreshing change from the all-Limbaugh-all-the-time format, and in some markets the only game in town.

[edit] Jon Elliott

Jon regularly reads the names and ranks of every soldier to die in the Iraq War the previous month on his first show of each month. Elliot alleged that Randi Rhodes was "mugged" by "right wing(ers),“ questioning whether the incident was 'an attempt by the right-wing, hate machine to silence one of our own?...Are we threatening them? Are they afraid that we’re winning? Are they trying to silence intimidate us?” while substituting for Rhodes during her absence. Elliott later issued an apology for his on-air comments of speculation without evidence, "I shouldn't have speculated based on hearsay that Randi Rhodes had been mugged and that it may have been an attack from a right-wing hate machine,I apologize for jumping to conclusions." [1]


[edit] Jeff Farius

[edit] Thom Hartmann

Thom is a well-spoken, mild mannered host with a wealth of historical knowledge in his grasp. His show, like many others, features well-informed guests from across the political spectrum, and listener telephone calls.

He is also a prolific author. Thom's books, lifted wholesale from his website:

  • Screwed
  • Walking Your Blues Away
  • Ultimate Sacrifice
  • We The People
  • What Would Jefferson Do?
  • Unequal Protection
  • Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight
  • The Edison Gene
  • ADHD Secrets of Success
  • The Prophet's Way
  • Healing ADD
  • Greatest Spiritual Secret
  • Complete Guide to ADHD
  • A Different Perception
  • ADD Success Stories
  • Beyond ADD
  • Focus Your Energy

[edit] Jim Hightower

[edit] Tom Leykis

Tom Leykis was an unabashedly political liberal during the 1990s and used to advertise himself as "the talk show not hosted by a conspiracy theorist or a convicted felon". He has since turned into something more like a shock jock and less political than he once was.

[edit] Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow PhD, has been a regular part of Air America Radio since its inception. Formerly one of three hosts of "Unfiltered," in AAR's original morning line-up (along with Lizz Winstead and Chuck D), she now has her own show and evening time slot. She also appears regularly as a guest speaker on Keith Olbermann's Countdown and other television shows, and now has her own MSNBC show. Rachel focuses on reporting humorous right-wing absurdities in the news and features guests rather than takes calls from the public.

  • 6 - 8 pm EST on AAR.

[edit] Mike Malloy

Mike Malloy has been broadcasting his particular brand of insightful analysis, listener conversation and disgust with the Bush crime family (and those who should, but do not oppose them), from a secret location near Atlanta since (find date). His wife and producer, Kathy Bay also joins in on air, and does a very credible Laura "Pickles" Bush impression. Much to his pain and disgust, she also does a good Sarah Palin.

His regular bumper music consists of orchestral versions of Pink Floyd classics to open each hour.

"Rage, rage, against the Flying Monkey Right".

[edit] Stephanie Miller

"Mama" Stephanie Miller's three hour daily show is more of a sketch and outrage liberal comedy show, also featuring her producer, Chris Lavoie, and "voice diety" Jim Ward. Many regular features are repeated every day, such as Right Wing World, Stand Up News, and Tinsel Talk.

Jim Ward has professed belief in 9/11 conspiracy theories on the air on several occasions. Miller tends to quickly dismiss his arguments when he does this.

[edit] Bill Press

[edit] Randi Rhodes

A stalwart of liberal radio since the 1980s, Randi regularly beat major conservative talk hosts in her home Florida market on WJNO before commuting to New York (she still calls Florida home) to work at Air America from its founding on March 31, 2004. Ms. Rhodes has particular credibility on defense topics as a former Air Force aircraft mechanic.

On some unspecified date in 2007, Rhodes had a drinking-related accident, which Jon Elliot claimed was in some way related to the "internet hate machine".[2]

  • 3 - 6 PM EST on AAR
    • Rhodes was suspended by AAR on April 3 2008 over a personal appearance in which her performance included controversial material
    • Rhodes terminated her contract with AAR on April 9 2008
  • She returned to the airwaves on April 14, 2008
  • 3 - 6 PM EST on NovaM, and probably many of your "favorite" AAR affiliates.
  • http://www.therandirhodesshow.com

[edit] Ed Schultz

A former sports radio announcer turned political talk radio host. Ed broadcasts from North Dakota and supports the Democratic Party. He used to frequently describe himself as a "gun-totin', red meat-eatin' Democrat", but more recently has begun describing himself as a progressive. Schultz went to Moorhead State University (now Minnesota State University - Moorhead) on a football scholarship. After playing one season of professional football in Canada, Schultz moved to Fargo, North Dakota as a radio sports reporter. He is currently the #1 progressive liberal radio talk show host in the U.S.

[edit] Sam Seder

An initiate into talk radio hosting with the genesis of Air America Radio on a show he co-hosted with Janeane Garaofolo, "Majority Report", Sam developed a style all his own, and proved himself to the manner (or manor) born. After Janeane left to pursue her acting career, and to get away from Sam's stutter, he carried the three hour "Sam Seder Show" himself for a year or so. He is one of the few talk radio hosts who will stay with an angry "oppositional" caller and just keep on arguing with them. When AAR 2.0 launched, the bean counters relegated him to the 4-7 (EST) slot on Sundays - a surefire way to build ratings in the (northern hemisphere) summer (not). As of May 2008 the Seder on Sundays show has ceased operation, perhaps due to Sam wanting Sundays off.

Maybe it's just that opening bumper music that gets me - The Clash's version of "Pressure Drop".

Seder seems to be the gadfly of liberal talk radio -- by 2008 he was the substitute host of choice whenever Randi Rhodes or Mike Malloy were unavailable. The result of this is that sometimes he gets more airtime in a week than any other host.

[edit] Bernie Ward

Bernie Ward, formerly known as the "Lion of the Left", broadcast from San Francisco for nearly two decades, and has been a contributor to Democracy Now, CommonDreams, and was for a period nationally syndicated from his radio home at KGO 810 AM. Recently, Ward has been indicted on child pornography charges, having been caught passing such materials during sex-chats in which he described molesting his own children.[3] Now he is known amongst his fan base as, alternately, "Former Catholic Priest" or "Victim of Bushco Hit Job", depending on who you're reading.

[edit] Networks

[edit] NovaM Radio

NovaM was founded in 2006 by the original founder of Air America Radio, Sheldon Drobny (sp.?). So far their reach is small, but their syndicated hosts are often found mixed in with AAR shows on some affiliates.

[edit] H.O.R.N.

The Head On Radio Network is an internet-only broadcast, sponsored by a labor union, featuring a very "down home chat" style of discussion, usually between a two "hosts". Not currently known if these people are affiliated with the "apply directly to forehead" folks, let's hope not.

[edit] Air America Radio

Air America Radio was founded in March of 2004[citation needed], with a roster of well-known and lesser-known hosts, ranging from long time liberal talk radio hosts to celebrities with moderate to liberal tendencies. Its imminent bankruptcy and dissolution is gleefully and prematurely announced by some conservative at least once a year.

The network was relaunched the week of May 21, 2007 under the new ownership of brothers Stephen and Mark Green with a greater emphasis on political and cultural celebrities.[4]

[edit] Jones Radio Network

A long-time provider of music programming for "automated" stations, Jones now also offers progressive radio talk shows, including Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz and Bill Press.

[edit] Democracy Now

A daily TV/radio one-hour news and analysis program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. A must-hear for anyone who wants news and commentary from outside the usual mainstream and corporate sources.

[edit] Local stations

These are all AM stations unless otherwise specified:

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ↑ Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio
  2. ↑ http://gawker.com/news/developing/was-talk-show-host-randi-rhodes-jumped-by-14-ketel-ones-311453.php
  3. ↑ http://www.nbc11.com/download/2008/0214/15305344.pdf
  4. ↑ "Relaunch for US left-of-centre radio network" Ed Pilkington, The Guardian, Retrieved May 22, 2007
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