The House Energy & Commerce Committee is summoning the head of NPR before Congress to answer accusations the outlet has a left-wing bias despite receiving federal funds, reports Fox News Digital.
"The Committee has concerns about the direction in which NPR may be headed under past and present leadership. As a taxpayer funded, public radio organization, NPR should focus on fair and objective news reporting that both considers and reflects the views of the larger U.S. population and not just a niche audience," Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., wrote to NPR CEO Katherine Maher.
She led Morgan Griffith, R-Va., chair of the subcommittee on oversight, and Bob Latta, R-Ohio, chair of the subcommittee on communications and technology, in asking Maher to publicly testify before Griffith’s panel next week.
Katherine Maher
"You are requested to appear before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee for a hearing on May 8, 2024, to explain the allegations of political and ideological bias rampant at NPR," they wrote.
The lawmakers also sent Maher a list of questions, including about the political affiliations of registered voters working in the newsroom and whether any concerns were raised in recent years by NPR’s board of directors about political diversity in their workplace.
The committee also asked for any internal written materials regarding a lack of viewpoint diversity within NPR.
Conservatives have long accused NPR of reporting with a left-wing bias while some of its funding is provided through federal grants and other government-backed dollars.
Those concerns were recently magnified when former NPR editor Uri Berliner asserted in an op-ed that the outlet mishandled critical stories that stemmed from Hunter Biden’s laptop hard drive and COVID-19 lab leak theories, among others, and that registered Democrats were vastly overrepresented in the newsroom, 87-0.
The Museum of Broadcast Communications announced today the selection of the RADIO HALL OF FAME 2024 nominees. The 24 nominees were chosen by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, with input from the radio industry and listeners.
Voting for inductees begins Monday, May 20, 2024, and runs through Monday, June 3, 2024. The top six vote recipients will gain induction as part of the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame Induction class. The two additional inductees that will make up the eight-person induction class will be selected by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.
More than 900 industry members will receive a ballot on Monday, May 20th, to cast votes for up to six nominated individuals. The confidential ballot will be conducted by Votem.com, and overseen by Miller Kaplan‘s Andrew Rosen.
The total of eight Radio Hall of Fame inductees for 2024 will be announced on Monday, June 17th, and will be honored at the 2024 Radio Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday, September 19th at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, TN. Information on tickets for the event will be available soon.
Nominees for 2-24 to be voted on by Industry Voting Panel:
Bert Weiss
Big D & Bubba
Big Tigger
Bob and Sheri
Bob Stroud
Crook & Chase
Dede McGuire
Diane Rehm
Free Beer and Hot Wings
Funkmaster Flex
Jaime Jarrin
John & Ken
Johnny Magic
Kid Leo
Larry Elder
Laurie DeYoung
Lee Harris
Lincoln Ware
Mary McCoy
Matt Siegel
Mojo in the Morning
Phil Hendrie
Richard Blade
Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart
Dennis Green, Co-Chairman of the Radio Hall of Fame, stated: “It is an honor to nominate this amazing class of talented individuals and shows that have made their mark on the radio. The 2024 nominees to the Radio Hall of Fame represent one of the most diverse group of talents we have honored with the highest level of recognition one can achieve from the radio industry. Kudos to the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee for recognizing this year’s class of nominees whose careers only add to the special place radio holds in the hearts and minds of generations of listeners across the country."
Kraig T. Kitchin, Co-Chairman, Radio Hall of Fame, commented: “Congratulations to our 2024 nominees for induction! I encourage each industry member receiving a confidential ballot to participate in the selection of this years’ inductees. It’s an honor and a privilege to see well-established on-air careers recognized with an induction; every vote makes a difference in the outcome.”
The Radio Hall of Fame was founded by the Emerson Radio Corporation in 1988. The Museum of Broadcast Communications took over operations of the Hall in 1991.
Nielsen, a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics, announced Tuesday that it will market Edison Research’s Share of Ear® and Edison Podcast MetricsTM services to advertising agencies.
Edison’s Share of Ear is a highly regarded and widely cited service that provides deep insights about the complete audio landscape, including broadcast radio, streaming, podcasting, downloaded audio, smart speakers and other sources of audio content. Edison has conducted Share of Ear studies in multiple waves each year since 2014. Edison Podcast Metrics measures persons-based listening estimates using frequently updated surveys to provide a complete view of the rapidly growing podcast audience.
Nielsen Tuesday released the launch of The Record, a quarterly insight into audio listening behaviors and market share of average daily usage of ad-supported audio in the U.S.
According to the inaugural report with data from the first quarter, ended March 31, consumers spent nearly 70% of their daily ad-supported audio time listening to radio, 20% listening to podcasts, and the remainder with streaming audio (music services) and satellite radio (select channels).
The data, which is tracked from both Nielsen and Edison Research, most radio listening occurs during the day while away from home, with more than 80% of in-car ad-supported audio time going to radio in Q1 2024. Across both over-the-air and streaming radio, the leading radio formats among listeners 18+ during the same period were News/Talk (10.8%), Adult Contemporary (8.6%), and Classic Hits and Country (5.9% each).
From a streaming-only perspective, News/Talk radio stations accounted for 21.7% of listening among audiences 18+, followed by All Sports stations at 8.6% of all streaming station listening
“The audio portion of consumers’ daily media diet is significant, and these new insights will serve as an important tool for advertisers, broadcasters and podcasters alike to better understand and ultimately reach their intended audience,” Rich Tunkel, managing director, Nielsen Audio, said in a statement.
Five employees from KYW Newsradio were among dozens laid off by parent company Audacy last week. Sources tell The Philadelphua Business Joural that among those impacted are KYW News Director Kevin McCorry and longtime reporter Hadas Kuznits.
Audacy Philadelphia Market Manager David Yadgaroff confirmed that five KYW (103.9 FM/1060 AM) employees were laid off but declined to confirm names. He said existing staff will pick up the duties of those departing.
“We have a pretty robust staff so while it is sad to see jobs eliminated, it will not have a meaningful impact for listeners,” Yadgaroff said. Audacy declined to disclose the number of employees at KYW.
Yadgaroff said no other employees from the company's six local stations were impacted.
Audacy said last week that it had laid off what it terms was less than 2% of its more than 3,400 employees. A spokesman said those impacted work in the audio content provider’s local markets and corporate operations, which are centered at its headquarters at 2400 Market St. in Philadelphia. He declined to say how many corporate roles in Philadelphia were impacted.
“As we continue to make large investments and drive enhancements across our business, we are simultaneously implementing some difficult but necessary decisions that will impact less than 2% of our workforce to best position our company for long-term growth,” the spokesman said in a statement.
McCorry joined KYW in February 2022 from WHYY, where he was managing editor. He oversaw newsroom operations and reported to KYW Brand Manager Kristina “Luca” Koppeser, who replaced Alex Silverman in that role in 2022 and joined the company in 2021 from New York-based Hearst Television. Koppeser oversees the station’s content strategy, talent, operations and branding.
According to her LinkedIn page, Kuznits joined KYW since 2002 and covered a variety of stories including the local impact of the Israel-Hamas war, the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the Eagles' 2018 Super Bowl victory. She won an Edward R. Murrow in 2022 for breaking news on a tragic Philadelphia fire that killed 12 people including 8 children, as well as a Murrow award for her work covering civil unrest in Philadelphia after the 2020 murder of George Floyd.
FNC Leads CNN and MSNBC Across All Dayparts During Ongoing Coverage of Former President Trump’s Trial
During the week of April 22-28, FOX News Channel (FNC) continued to lead all of basic cable with total day viewers for the 16th consecutive week. In cable news, FNC led CNN and MSNBC across all dayparts during ongoing coverage of the trial of former President Donald Trump.
In primetime (8-11 PM/ET), FNC earned 1,930,000 viewers and 194,000 A25-54, commanding cable news in all categories. In total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC posted 1.3 million viewers and 154,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing all of cable with viewers.
Notably, the network garnered 69 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the week.
Additionally, FNC secured the top six cable news programs for the week in terms of viewers and top seven in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s daytime programs including The Faulkner Focus, Outnumbered, America Reports, The Story and Your World all saw week over week growth in the 25-54 demo during coverage of the trial.
The Five averaged 3.1 million viewers and 267,000 in the 25-54 demo, making it the most-watched show in cable news. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier drew 2 million viewers and 200,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle at 7 PM/ET scored 2 million viewers and 195,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime was the most-watched primetime program in cable news, delivering 2.6 million viewers and 223,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity posted 2.2 million viewers and 213,000 with A25-54. At 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night secured 1.1 million viewers and 163,000 in the 25-54 demo.
At 10 PM/ET, FNC’s late-night offering Gutfeld! averaged 2,027,000 viewers and 270,000 in the 25-54 demo, making it the most-watched cable news program in the younger demo. Gutfeld! topped all of the broadcast competition with viewers outpacing ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1,856,000 P2+) and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show (480,000 P2+).
She rises from Assistant Program Director for KIX96, a role she has held since 2014. Hamilton, who joined Cumulus Savannah and KIX96 in 2014 as an on-air personality, will continue to be heard on-air weekdays from 9:00am-3:00pm. She is also heard on Cumulus Savannah sister Classic Rock station I-95/WIXV-FM on weekends, and across the U.S. as On-Air Personality for Westwood One’s WWO Hits Now/Hot AC.
Sarah Hamilton
Eric Mastel, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Savannah, said: “I am pleased to announce the promotion of Sarah Hamilton in recognition of her outstanding dedication and contributions to WJCL and Cumulus over the past decade. Known for her unwavering commitment and exceptional talents, Sarah has proven herself to be an invaluable asset to our team. Throughout her tenure, she has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, a keen attention to detail, and a remarkable ability to adapt to various roles within the organization.”
Mastel noted: “As an Assistant Program Director (APD), Sarah has seamlessly stepped into the role of Promotions Director when needed, showcasing her versatility and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure the success of our endeavors. Her proactive approach and can-do attitude have significantly enhanced our operations, earning her the respect and admiration of her colleagues. We are confident that she will continue to excel in her new role and lead the station to even greater heights in the years to come."
Hamilton commented: "I am honored to be given this opportunity to become Program Director for KIX96. I have worn many hats in my 10 years here at Cumulus Savannah and look forward to this next challenge, not only to guide KIX but to continue to serve the people of the Savannah and Lowcountry area that have been so wonderful to me. I am thankful to VP/Market Manager Eric Mastel for his belief in me over the years and this promotion to KIX96 Program Director."
“ABC World News Tonight” and “Good Morning America” meteorologist Rob Marciano has been fired after 10 years with the network following alleged complaints, multiple outlets confirmed Tuesday.
“Multiple staffers had made complaints about Marciano’s behavior over the years and he was at least temporarily barred from main GMA set in NYC,” according to Puck’s Dylan Byers, who first reported the firing.
No additional details about the nature of the complaints was given.
SCOOP @PuckNews: Rob Marciano, the ABC News & Good Morning America meteorologist, has been fired from the network, per sources familiar. Multiple staffers had made complaints about Marciano’s behavior over the years and he was at least temporarily barred from main GMA set in NYC.
In recent months, the weatherman had been moved off weekend episodes of “GMA” and to nightly news program while still appearing on the morning show on weekdays. He previously worked as a meteorologist for CNN and as an “Entertainment Tonight” anchor.
A longtime familiar voice on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 won’t be heard by loyal listeners moving forward.
The Boston Herald reports Kim Tunnicliffe, who has been with the Boston radio station for more than a quarter century, announced that she has gotten the boot from the iHeartMedia station.
“Some personal news to share. After 26 yrs at WBZ Radio, I’ve been let go due to corporate budget cuts,” Tunnicliffe posted on Monday. “Quite the shock, but I’m taking some time for me, & spending lots of qt w/my pets. They love having me home & honestly, I don’t miss the hellish Boston commute….
Kim Tunbicliffe
“I’m taking time to decide what I want to do next, but in meantime, I want to thank all the ppl I’ve interviewed over the years, esp the everyday folks who welcomed me into their homes as if I were family,” the reporter added. “Thank you for trusting me w/your stories. It’s been an absolute honor!”
“I love my job and enjoy traveling all over New England…meeting not only the newsmakers but the every day people who have their own stories to tell!” her LinkedIn page reads.
About 4 years ago, there was an onslaught of iHeartMedia layoffs across the country.
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is not only reinvigorating the conversation around Black artists and country music with her new album, "Cowboy Carter,"; she's also inspiring young listeners to venture deeper into country music, according to a new study.
The Tennessean reports SeatGeak, a popular ticketing technology platform, surveyed 3,300 music fans to explore the most anticipated country tours and favorite artists of the summer. The study also examined the influence Beyoncé’s new music has had on a new generation of fans.
According to its findings, more than one-third of Gen Z respondents (ages 18-27) have explored country music and other country artists as a direct result of Beyoncé’s "Act II" project.
The study also revealed 23% of country music fans were counting down the days for the album's release.
“Beyoncé's impact on country music has been revolutionary, introducing a whole new demographic of fans to its beauty and depth — all while reshaping the perception of what country can be,” said Kendyl Dunn, leader of entertainment strategy at SeatGeek.
"Beyoncé’s trail-blazing achievements reflect not just her talent but also her ability to bend and blend genres, setting her apart as a true musical icon.”
As fans know, Beyoncé first announced the new project during a surprise Super Bowl commercial on Feb. 11 just before releasing her first two singles "16 Carriages" and "Texas Hold 'Em." The two songs instantly broke the internet. And, "Cowboy Carter," also took the internet by storm once it was released March 29.
Futuri has announced that its revolutionary AI platform, SpotOn, has won the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2024 Product of the Year Award.
SpotOn received the coveted award for its groundbreaking end-to-end platform, which streamlines the creation and production process for broadcast media professionals.
SpotOn, designed for both radio and television industries, harnesses advanced AI technology to enable broadcasters to produce high-quality spec spots in seconds, a process that would otherwise take hours. SpotOn instantly creates scripts of any length and then voices them using cloned human voices or a selection from hundreds of synthetic voices—with the option for multiple languages, accents, and dialects.
Spec spots are produced using a library of over 3 million royalty-free music options. This award comes at a time when Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig has been urging media executives to lead from the front in their use of AI within their operations.
NYPD cops stormed onto Columbia University’s campus on Tuesday night to oust a pro-terror mob that illegally took over an academic building – and to clear out an anti-Israel encampment after the school finally gave them the green light. Hundreds of officers swooped inside the gates of the Morningside Heights school shortly after 9 p.m. and set their sights on historic Hamilton Hall, the building that was taken over by rogue rioters in a drastic escalation of the protests that have plagued the campus for weeks.
But when dozens of Emergency Service Unit officers got to the building, they were blocked from entering the front doors which had been barricaded by the unruly mob. Several protesters appeared unbothered as they stood in the doorway with only a glass pane between them and the officers — as their comrades on the streets shouted “Pigs!” The NYPD then brought in its Mobile Adjustable Ramp System vehicle and scores of riot-gear clad cops carrying zip-tie handcuffs entered Hamilton Hall through the second-floor window in a dramatic scene.
Fox News' Alexis McAdams reports that the NYPD has cleared protesters out of Hamilton Hall and the Gaza Camp. pic.twitter.com/KIo8wNHp54
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 1, 2024
According to officials, cops used four distraction devices — described by Assistant Commissioner Carlos Nieves as a “very loud bang to distract people” — to infiltrate the academic building. Within about an hour, the academic building was cleared out and dozens of the occupiers were arrested, according to police sources. The protesters — many of whom covered their faces with surgical masks or keffiyehs — were walked out of Hamilton Hall and loaded onto three NYPD buses.
➤JUDGE FINES TRUMP $9K: A judge fined Donald Trump $9,000 and threatened to throw him in jail for repeatedly violating a gag order. Justice Juan Merchan had prohibited the former president from making statements about likely witnesses in his hush-money trial, as well as prosecutors, court staff or their families.
The judge in Donald Trump's hush money trial has held him in contempt of court, fining him $9,000 for repeatedly violating the limited gag order imposed. The judge warned him if he continues, it could land him in jail. Aaron Katersky has the latest. https://t.co/RFGYzWs7knpic.twitter.com/mfMbxBaGco
In his decision, the New York judge said that prosecutors met the burden of proof for a violation in nine of the 10 recent posts on Trump’s social-media site and campaign website they had flagged. The former president was fined $1,000 for each violation, the maximum amount under state law. Trump has attacked the gag order as an unfair muzzling of his political speech. As the trial resumed, lawyer Keith Davidson testified about how he helped his client, porn star Stormy Daniels, broker a deal with former Trump fixer Michael Cohen shortly before the 2016 election to stay silent about what she said was an affair with Trump. The former president has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty. The trial is set to resume Thursday.
🐶NOEM BACKLASH CONTINUES: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem faced swift backlash after she revealed in a new book that she killed her 14-month-old dog Cricket. And not just from her Democratic critics. A pair of top figures in former President Donald Trump's orbit – Steve Bannon and Donald Trump Jr. – questioned Noem’s judgement Monday on Donald Trump Jr.’s show “Triggered.” Bannon called Noem “a little too based,” using a slang term popular on the right to describe someone who, among other qualities, speaks and acts without fear of being politically correct, and Trump Jr. said shooting the dog “was not ideal.” Trump Jr. brought up the vice presidential selection process at the end of his show.
Noem has long been considered a potential running mate for Donald Trump. The former president's son said he wants to speed up the time frame to select someone so the person can defend Trump in the media while he's in court on charges stemming from hush money payments. Bannon chimed in, saying there are plenty of good vice presidential candidates for Trump to pick from, before adding that he would like to see a female running mate.
➤CHARLOTTE SHOOTER NAMED: Investigation continues after 4 officers killed serving warrant. Four law enforcement officers were killed and four were injured Monday when gunfire erupted at a house in Charlotte, North Carolina, where authorities had arrived to serve a warrant.
Around 1:30 p.m. Monday, officers with the U.S. Marshals Task Force arrived at a home in a suburb of Charlotte to serve several active warrants against 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr., who was wanted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of fleeing to elude, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Police say the gunman who fatally shot four law enforcement officers and left four others injured during a shootout at a Charlotte, North Carolina home on Monday opened fire from an upstairs window as the U.S. Marshals task force attempted to execute an arrest warrant for him. pic.twitter.com/mIFkYZpujD
Armed with a "high-powered rifle," Hughes fired upon the approaching task force officers, striking several of them, police said. Officers called for backup and, as additional law enforcement responded to the scene, "the gunfire continued, striking additional officers," the department said. Authorities eventually shot Hughes, who was pronounced dead on the front lawn. At least 12 Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers fired their weapons during the incident, all of whom are on paid administrative leave, the department said in a statement Tuesday.
FOX Business Network (FBN) ended the month of April besting the competition across business day and total day hours, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Notably, this is the first month FBN has led CNBC with total day viewers since October 2023. For the 26th consecutive month, the network delivered the top two business programs, including Kudlow (weekdays, 4 PM/ET), which outranked CNBC’s Closing Bell for the 31st consecutive month and Varney & Co. (weekdays, 9 AM-12 PM/ET), which soared past Squawk on the Street/Money Movers for the 26th straight month.
FBN held its title as the most watched network for business news throughout April. During the critical market hours (9 AM-4 PM), FBN saw 184,000 viewers. In business day (9 AM-5 PM) FBN averaged 196,000 viewers and in total day (6 AM-6 AM), the network garnered 126,000 viewers.
A group of eight U.S. newspapers, including The New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, and Denver Post, has filed a lawsuit against ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Microsoft.
The newspapers allege that these technology companies have been “purloining millions” of copyrighted news articles without permission or payment to train their artificial intelligence chatbots.
The lawsuit emphasizes the significant investment made by these newspapers in gathering information and reporting news. They argue that OpenAI and Microsoft cannot expand the “Big Tech playbook” by using their work to build their own businesses at the newspapers’ expense.
Other newspapers involved in the lawsuit include MediaNews Group’s Mercury News, Orange County Register, and St. Paul Pioneer-Press, as well as Tribune Publishing’s Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel. All of these newspapers are owned by Alden Global Capital.
This legal battle is part of a broader trend, as OpenAI and Microsoft face multiple copyright lawsuits in both Manhattan’s federal court and San Francisco’s federal court. Tech companies often argue that using publicly accessible internet content to train AI systems falls under the “fair use” doctrine of American copyright law. However, this lawsuit highlights the ongoing tension between technology companies and traditional media outlets regarding intellectual property rights.
Subscription prices for Peacock, Comcast's answer to the streaming wars, will increase by $2 this summer. The price adjustment is a way for Comcast’s NBCUniversal to capitalize on the Summer Olympics in Paris, which will air on NBC’s TV networks and streaming platform.
CNBC reports Peacock’s ad-supported option will increase by $2 to $7.99 a month, and its ad-free offering will rise by the same amount to $13.99 a month. The annual price for Peacock with ads will be $79.99, while the ad-free version will cost $139.99 a year.
The price will rise for new subscribers beginning July 18, while existing customers will get hit with the new pricing on or after Aug. 17. The Summer Olympics begin in late July.
Media companies have looked for ways to make streaming profitable, as most still lose money on the venture. Advertising has been a key part of this strategy, as well as price increases.
This price increase is Peacock’s second in the last year. Effective last August, ad-supported Peacock’s price rose $1 to $5.99, and ad-free went up $2 to $11.99 per month.
While parent company Comcast touted Peacock as a bright spot during its recent earnings call, losses stemming from the streamer have weighed on earnings. Losses were said to have peaked in 2023, and executives expect they’ll narrow in upcoming quarters. Peacock now has 34 million subscribers.
Hunter Biden is preparing to sue Fox News on grounds of defamation. His lawyers plan to take legal action against the network “imminently.” The allegations against Fox News include:
Conspiracy and Defamation: Fox News is accused of engaging in a conspiracy and subsequent actions to defame Hunter Biden. The network allegedly painted him in a false light through its coverage.
Unlawful Exploitation: Fox News is also accused of unlicensed commercial exploitation of Hunter Biden’s image, name, and likeness. Additionally, the network unlawfully published hacked intimate images of him.
Hunter Biden
Legal Representation: Hunter Biden has retained attorney Mark Geragos and his firm to represent him in this litigation effort. This legal move has been in the works for over a year, inspired by the success of other high-profile lawsuits.
Meanwhile, Fox News has pulled down a six-part series in which it staged a mock trial of hypothetical criminal charges against Hunter Biden after the president's son threatened to sue the network.
The series, which was first posted on the cable network's right-wing streaming service back in October 2022, was removed only a day after Biden's legal team publicly made its threat. Biden says the network defamed him, among other accusations.
"We are reviewing the concerns that have just been raised and — out of an abundance of caution in the interim — have taken it down," Fox News Media said in acknowledging the decision Tuesday afternoon.
The media giant's move came just hours after it released a statement denouncing Biden's accusations, describing its coverage of him as within its constitutional rights.
Tuesday, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce held a legislative hearing to discuss the importance of preserving Americans’ access to AM radio in vehicles. The hearing focused on the proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2024.
Here are the key points:
Objective: The legislation aims to ensure that AM radio remains available in new vehicles sold in the United States. This is crucial for maintaining access to emergency alerts and critical information during unforeseen events.
Challenges: The issue primarily affects electric vehicles (EVs) due to electromagnetic interference caused by AM radio signals. While AM radio interference exists in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, it becomes significantly worse in EVs.
House Energy and Commerce Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee Chair Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) delivered the following opening remarks..
Jim Acosta astounded Americans think Trump presidency a success . . . CNN host Jim Acosta on Monday was astounded by a poll this week showing a majority of Americans perceive former President Donald Trump’s term as successful.
Jim Acosta
The CNN poll found that 55% of Americans believe Trump’s presidency was a success, while the same percentage of voters said in January 2021 that it was a failure. Acosta said on “CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta” that it was “extraordinary” that some voters look back fondly at Trump’s presidency, citing the number of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021
Most Americans support mass deportations . . . Fifty-one percent of Americans say in a new survey that they’re in favor of mass deportations of illegals, and oddly enough, a sizable share of self-identified Democrats are among those who agree. And with that — this: “Trump pledges that as president he would immediately launch ‘the largest domestic deportation operation in American history,’” The Washington Post — and plenty of other media — reported a couple of months ago. President Biden, beware. Beware the elections. Consequences for open border actions are coming. Cheryl Chumley in the
US says Israeli troops violated human rights . . . The US State Department has found five units of the Israeli military responsible for gross violations of human rights in individual incidents but says they will continue to receive US military backing. All the incidents involved took place outside of Gaza before the current war. Israel took corrective action in four units, giving "additional information" on the fifth, the department says. This means all the units remain eligible for US military assistance.
➦In 1907...Kate Smith born in Greenville, VA (Died – June 17, 1986). She was considered to be The First Lady of Radio, best-known for her rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America". She had a radio, television, and recording career spanning five decades, which reached its pinnacle in the 1940s. Smith became known as The Songbird of the South after her endearing popularity during World War II.
Smith was a major star of radio, usually backed by Jack Miller's Orchestra. She began with her twice-a-week NBC series, Kate Smith Sings (quickly expanded to six shows a week), followed by a series of shows for CBS: Kate Smith and Her Swanee Music (1931–33), sponsored by La Palina Cigars; The Kate Smith Matinee (1934–35); The Kate Smith New Star Revue (1934–35); Kate Smith's Coffee Time (1935–36), sponsored by A&P; and The Kate Smith A&P Bandwagon (1936–37).
The Kate Smith Hour was a leading radio variety show, offering comedy, music, and drama with appearances by top personalities of films and theater for eight years (1937–1945). The show's resident comics, Abbott and Costello and Henny Youngman, introduced their comedy to a nationwide radio audience aboard her show, while a series of sketches based on the Broadway production of the same name led to The Aldrich Family as a separate hit series in 1940.
Smith continued on the Mutual Broadcasting System, CBS, ABC, and NBC, doing both music and talk shows on radio until 1960.
➦In 1918...Jack Paar born in Canton, OH (Died at age 85 – January 27, 2004). He is best known for his stint as the second host of The Tonight Show from 1957 to 1962.
He first worked near home as a radio announcer at WIBM in Jackson, Michigan, and later as a humorous disc jockey at Midwest stations, including WJR in Detroit, WIRE in Indianapolis, WGAR in Cleveland, and WBEN in Buffalo. In his book P.S. Jack Paar, he recalled doing utility duty at WGAR in 1938 when Orson Welles broadcast his famous simulated alien invasion, The War of the Worlds, over the CBS network (and its WGAR affiliate). Attempting to calm possibly panicked listeners, Paar announced, "The world is not coming to an end. Trust me. When have I ever lied to you?"
Paar was drafted into the military in 1943 during World War II, interrupting his tenure as host of WBEN's morning show The Sun Greeter's Club (he opted not to return to the station at war's end, instead seeking opportunities in network radio and film). He was assigned to the U.S.O. in the South Pacific to entertain the troops. He was a clever, wisecracking master of ceremonies whose impersonations of officers nearly got him into trouble.
After World War II, Paar worked in radio as a fill-in on Don McNeil's Breakfast Club show and appeared as a panelist on The $64,000 Question. He got his big break when Jack Benny, who had been impressed by Paar's U.S.O. performances, suggested that Paar serve as his 1947 summer replacement. Paar was enough of a hit on Benny's show that Benny's sponsor, the American Tobacco Company, decided to keep him on the air, moving him to ABC for the fall season.
➦In 1931...Kate Smith began her radio show on the CBS Radio Network.
➦In 1935...the first radio tube to be made of metal was produced in Schenectady, New York.
➦In 1957...Larry King got his first job in radio. The manager of a small station, WAHR (now WMBM) in Miami Beach, hired him to clean up and perform miscellaneous tasks. When one of the station's announcers abruptly quit, King was put on the air. His first broadcast was on May 1, 1957, working as the disc jockey from 9 a.m. to noon. He also did two afternoon newscasts and a sportscast. He was paid $50 a week.
