Because it takes billions, and they can only draw the money from strike and pension funds.
The problem of monopolization of the media, started with the Telecommunications Act of 1996
Not to be confused with the Fairness doctrine or equal time rule.
Fairness doctrine was created by Truman in 1949 and repealed by Reagan in 1987
The Equal time rule ,created in 1927, still remains in effect, and it is the rule that Brendan Carr used to stop the appearance of Talarico from appearing on Stephen Colbert,although it does not apply to variety and talk shows., it does not apply to cable, internet and satellite services, only to over the air broadcasting.
Also, the FCC has jurisdiction over licenses of individual stations, not networks.
I privately suggested to Thom that he contact the Soros organization. In 2024, Soros Fund Management, an investment firm founded by George Soros, became the majority shareholder in Audacy, Inc., which is the second-largest radio company in the United States.
Of course I have heard of leveraged buyouts, I have a masters in finance, but but they can only engage in leveraged buyouts to save jobs, prevent hostile takeovers by outside firms, or gain ownership in response to concessions. not to become a profit center themselves.
You really are arrogant, Daniel, you apparently share one thing in common with Trump, you think that you know everything
And then you expect a talk show host to do the grunt work, because you ask him, That is not his forte, and he has no more clout than you. You are ridiculous
Just a side note...The Trump regime thought their super rich sycophants buying out all the big news media sources would result in restricting what we see and hear. He thought he could just regurgitate all the Trump BS & puke and we would buy it.
But we have independent news sources, like yourself, that we can count on to give us the straight scoop on what’s going on. So, if he thinks he has a monopoly on the news, he’s got another think coming!
Unfortunately, MSM still dominates and produces MAGA propaganda.
The closest thing we have to "straight scoop" that reaches the public airwaves is Canadian broadcasting, which is limited. While Canadian networks rely heavily on U.S. programming, the reverse is not true; American audiences generally have low exposure to Canadian-produced television, though some content gains traction through streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu.
Wikipedia
The FCC limits maximum power for commercial AM radio stations to 50,000 watts (50 kW), a standard established by the 1938 Wheeler Resolution to manage signal interference and protect "clear-channel" stations. This cap ensures broad coverage for Class A stations, while smaller stations are often required to reduce power at night.
Once upon a time companies set up stations in Mexico that powered more than 1 million watts:
Key Border Blaster Stations
XER/XERA (Villa Acuña, across from Del Rio, TX): Founded in 1931 by Dr. John R. Brinkley, this was the first major "border blaster," initially running 50,000 watts and later up to 500,000 watts to promote his "goat-gland rejuvenation" surgery and other services.
XERF-AM (Ciudad Acuña): Replacing XERA in 1947, it became one of the most famous, often running at 250,000 watts and featuring popular DJs like Wolfman Jack.
XENT (Nuevo Laredo): Operated by Norman Baker, a notorious proponent of fraudulent cancer cures.
XEG (Monterrey): Ran a 150 kW signal at night, broadcasting R&B and entertainment content from the 1960s through the 1980s.
XERB (Rosarito Beach/Tijuana): Branded as "The Mighty 1090," it was famously used by Wolfman Jack and bragged "50,000 watts of Boss Soul Power," though it often boasted a much stronger, wider range.
Ray Davies, the voice of Bluegrass, was on a blaster station.
I also keep asking whether Canada could increase its wattage to permeate US radio?
We watch a lot of those. My wife goes to Zev and Lev first, but we also watch a lot of British stuff, Malcolm Nance, Ukranian stuff, and even Tousi etc. We have given up on "entertainment."
I am in discussion groups every day -- some filled with MAGATs -- some in Spanish. I get emails daily from some of my former colleagues who are on top of esoteric stuff.
Yesterday, my UM discussion group spent a lot of time on the death penalty and Cuba. Apparently, the rest of the country is oblivious to what is happening here in Baghdad By the Sea.
We don't talk much politics in my Spanish group. I'm writing about Latin Jazz.
Billionaires own and influence much of our media. Murdoch, Sinclair and Ellison, and Musk are just 4 and yet they influence so much here, and around the world.
Buying their influence in news, and entertainment, social networks, media and it’s been going on for at least 35 years by billionaire “conservatives” who influence MAGAats and their beliefs.
I want to know what Thom considers to be mainstream media. I mostly watch CNN and MS NOW and they consistently pelt the republicans. Paul Krugman appears there frequently blasting the administration's handling of the economy....
Can the media do its job right and not have a "liberal bias"? Because to support and defend the ideals of democracy, justice, and the Constitution is to be suspicious of authoritarian institutions and processes like business, religion, and the military, which are inherently conservative.
To suppress the media into useless docility is to do the same to us. There is no neutral ground for the media to occupy and report from dispassionately; that is a fiction.
There is an obvious trend in the MSM to report MAGA news almost to the exclusion of liberal news. I have posted before that the news today focuses on infotainment to attract an audience which helps their sponsors thrive. Thus, headlines are normally clickbait. "FLASH: Here is Trump's latest outrageous remark/edict/act/event..."
My daily news summary makes it obvious that the ratio of Trump noise to Democrat noise in the MSM is about 8 to 1. Trump uses social media to rule the world. No democrat has ever done that. Trump issues orders on X and Truth Social. It isn't even illegal as long as formal paperwork exists in the system. Trump's control of the MSM has turned our democracy into an aristocracy in one year. That would make Adolf Hitler blush with envy were he still alive.
Today, only Democrats want to govern "for the people," but cannot because the Republicans really like RULING for the rich. Our president is not only amoral, but he also lacks dignity and honor. He has insulted every national leader in public and on TV. We have no allies, as Hormuz has demonstrated. Trump leaves China alone simply because they can hit back. They only support America when it is in their nation's interest by coincidence. Western Europe now views America like it viewed the Soviet Union - A nation of selfish thugs.
Thom: I'm sure you know who it was, that taught the Republican party to accuse the Democratic party and others of what they themselves are guilty of, and to keep pounding the drum.
Take TDS for example.
When I first encountered the term I thought it described MAGAts, then I leanred that MAGAts accuse us of TDS.
Someone in their propaganda department, knew that Trumps cult was deranged so they created the phrase and applied to Trump's cult opponents.
Look what they did to antifascism, but there the left was too clever for itself, creating a meme antifa separated it from antifascism, and now Trump and his fascists use antifa, as a euphemism for terrorism and enemies of the state, thus confirming that the state is already fascist, except the hopeful liberal can't wrap their head around that. By the time that they do, it will be too late to really fight back.
I disagree with Thom's analysis. The "mainstream" media are owned by obscenely wealthy billionaires.they have concentrated their ownership to having 90 percent ownership of the "mainstream" media belonging to six corporations. The obscenely wealthy want us all to be ignorant slaves with no access to real information. The addiction to wealth and power of these mega wealthy people is the greatest threat to Democracy in the U.S. and all life on Earth! It is the wealthy owners not the Republicans who have made the press so rightwing oriented.
Great advice, but 30 years too late. If not before, the bias has been obvious since tRump rode down his escalator in 2015 declaring his run for the presidency and the “main-stream-media” spent more time telling their audience that Hillary was crooked and tRump was a legitimate candidate.
If democracy is to be defended, we’ll need Democratic leadership more interested in defending it than in controlling who gets admitted to the club. The necessary housecleaning will require aggressive, courageous, relentless dedication, a willingness to both guide and listen to the electorate, and a focus on working the constitutionally feckless media.
I keep asking why unions and others haven't bought a major TV network?
Because it takes billions, and they can only draw the money from strike and pension funds.
The problem of monopolization of the media, started with the Telecommunications Act of 1996
Not to be confused with the Fairness doctrine or equal time rule.
Fairness doctrine was created by Truman in 1949 and repealed by Reagan in 1987
The Equal time rule ,created in 1927, still remains in effect, and it is the rule that Brendan Carr used to stop the appearance of Talarico from appearing on Stephen Colbert,although it does not apply to variety and talk shows., it does not apply to cable, internet and satellite services, only to over the air broadcasting.
I guess you never heard of leveraged buyouts.
Also, the FCC has jurisdiction over licenses of individual stations, not networks.
I privately suggested to Thom that he contact the Soros organization. In 2024, Soros Fund Management, an investment firm founded by George Soros, became the majority shareholder in Audacy, Inc., which is the second-largest radio company in the United States.
Why do you comment when you have no clue?
Of course I have heard of leveraged buyouts, I have a masters in finance, but but they can only engage in leveraged buyouts to save jobs, prevent hostile takeovers by outside firms, or gain ownership in response to concessions. not to become a profit center themselves.
You really are arrogant, Daniel, you apparently share one thing in common with Trump, you think that you know everything
And then you expect a talk show host to do the grunt work, because you ask him, That is not his forte, and he has no more clout than you. You are ridiculous
Grunt work. It's a lead.....
Every major lawfirm has an M&A department. You are so full of shit.
Just a side note...The Trump regime thought their super rich sycophants buying out all the big news media sources would result in restricting what we see and hear. He thought he could just regurgitate all the Trump BS & puke and we would buy it.
But we have independent news sources, like yourself, that we can count on to give us the straight scoop on what’s going on. So, if he thinks he has a monopoly on the news, he’s got another think coming!
Unfortunately, MSM still dominates and produces MAGA propaganda.
The closest thing we have to "straight scoop" that reaches the public airwaves is Canadian broadcasting, which is limited. While Canadian networks rely heavily on U.S. programming, the reverse is not true; American audiences generally have low exposure to Canadian-produced television, though some content gains traction through streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu.
Wikipedia
The FCC limits maximum power for commercial AM radio stations to 50,000 watts (50 kW), a standard established by the 1938 Wheeler Resolution to manage signal interference and protect "clear-channel" stations. This cap ensures broad coverage for Class A stations, while smaller stations are often required to reduce power at night.
Once upon a time companies set up stations in Mexico that powered more than 1 million watts:
Key Border Blaster Stations
XER/XERA (Villa Acuña, across from Del Rio, TX): Founded in 1931 by Dr. John R. Brinkley, this was the first major "border blaster," initially running 50,000 watts and later up to 500,000 watts to promote his "goat-gland rejuvenation" surgery and other services.
XERF-AM (Ciudad Acuña): Replacing XERA in 1947, it became one of the most famous, often running at 250,000 watts and featuring popular DJs like Wolfman Jack.
XENT (Nuevo Laredo): Operated by Norman Baker, a notorious proponent of fraudulent cancer cures.
XEG (Monterrey): Ran a 150 kW signal at night, broadcasting R&B and entertainment content from the 1960s through the 1980s.
XERB (Rosarito Beach/Tijuana): Branded as "The Mighty 1090," it was famously used by Wolfman Jack and bragged "50,000 watts of Boss Soul Power," though it often boasted a much stronger, wider range.
Ray Davies, the voice of Bluegrass, was on a blaster station.
I also keep asking whether Canada could increase its wattage to permeate US radio?
These are the ones I follow (including God). They may not be perfect, but…
* The Hartmann Report (aka RawAmerica or Thom Hartmann, (www.hartmannreport.com)
* Robert Reich Substack (robertreichsubstack.com)
* Bryan Tyler Cohen (YouTube)
* MSNOW (tv newscast and opinion programs)
* “God” on Facebook (the godpod@substack.com)
* ProPublica: propublica.org (independent nonprofit
* Politifact: politifact.com) and Snopes: snopes.com (fact checkers)
* Politico: www.politico.com
* Newsweek: www.newsweek.com
* Reuters: https://www.bbc.com/news (global news)
* The Guardian: theguardian.com (British news site)
* Axios: www.axios.com (open AI news with human review)
* The Atlantic News: (https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/?after=MjAyNi0wMy0xMCAwOTowMDowMC0wNDowMHw2ODYzMDI%3D)
* The Bulwark Podcast: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/bulwarkpodcast
We watch a lot of those. My wife goes to Zev and Lev first, but we also watch a lot of British stuff, Malcolm Nance, Ukranian stuff, and even Tousi etc. We have given up on "entertainment."
I am in discussion groups every day -- some filled with MAGATs -- some in Spanish. I get emails daily from some of my former colleagues who are on top of esoteric stuff.
Yesterday, my UM discussion group spent a lot of time on the death penalty and Cuba. Apparently, the rest of the country is oblivious to what is happening here in Baghdad By the Sea.
We don't talk much politics in my Spanish group. I'm writing about Latin Jazz.
Billionaires own and influence much of our media. Murdoch, Sinclair and Ellison, and Musk are just 4 and yet they influence so much here, and around the world.
Buying their influence in news, and entertainment, social networks, media and it’s been going on for at least 35 years by billionaire “conservatives” who influence MAGAats and their beliefs.
I want to know what Thom considers to be mainstream media. I mostly watch CNN and MS NOW and they consistently pelt the republicans. Paul Krugman appears there frequently blasting the administration's handling of the economy....
If CNN and MSNOW were resposible, they'd hold Gvt. Republicans to their oaths.
They'd correct Trump, point blank to his face, in front of the other MSM cameras and microphones.
God. Those people are evil incarnate.
Can the media do its job right and not have a "liberal bias"? Because to support and defend the ideals of democracy, justice, and the Constitution is to be suspicious of authoritarian institutions and processes like business, religion, and the military, which are inherently conservative.
To suppress the media into useless docility is to do the same to us. There is no neutral ground for the media to occupy and report from dispassionately; that is a fiction.
There is an obvious trend in the MSM to report MAGA news almost to the exclusion of liberal news. I have posted before that the news today focuses on infotainment to attract an audience which helps their sponsors thrive. Thus, headlines are normally clickbait. "FLASH: Here is Trump's latest outrageous remark/edict/act/event..."
My daily news summary makes it obvious that the ratio of Trump noise to Democrat noise in the MSM is about 8 to 1. Trump uses social media to rule the world. No democrat has ever done that. Trump issues orders on X and Truth Social. It isn't even illegal as long as formal paperwork exists in the system. Trump's control of the MSM has turned our democracy into an aristocracy in one year. That would make Adolf Hitler blush with envy were he still alive.
Today, only Democrats want to govern "for the people," but cannot because the Republicans really like RULING for the rich. Our president is not only amoral, but he also lacks dignity and honor. He has insulted every national leader in public and on TV. We have no allies, as Hormuz has demonstrated. Trump leaves China alone simply because they can hit back. They only support America when it is in their nation's interest by coincidence. Western Europe now views America like it viewed the Soviet Union - A nation of selfish thugs.
OR the FCC could again enforce the Fairness in Reporting Act.
Thom: I'm sure you know who it was, that taught the Republican party to accuse the Democratic party and others of what they themselves are guilty of, and to keep pounding the drum.
Take TDS for example.
When I first encountered the term I thought it described MAGAts, then I leanred that MAGAts accuse us of TDS.
Someone in their propaganda department, knew that Trumps cult was deranged so they created the phrase and applied to Trump's cult opponents.
Look what they did to antifascism, but there the left was too clever for itself, creating a meme antifa separated it from antifascism, and now Trump and his fascists use antifa, as a euphemism for terrorism and enemies of the state, thus confirming that the state is already fascist, except the hopeful liberal can't wrap their head around that. By the time that they do, it will be too late to really fight back.
I disagree with Thom's analysis. The "mainstream" media are owned by obscenely wealthy billionaires.they have concentrated their ownership to having 90 percent ownership of the "mainstream" media belonging to six corporations. The obscenely wealthy want us all to be ignorant slaves with no access to real information. The addiction to wealth and power of these mega wealthy people is the greatest threat to Democracy in the U.S. and all life on Earth! It is the wealthy owners not the Republicans who have made the press so rightwing oriented.
Great advice, but 30 years too late. If not before, the bias has been obvious since tRump rode down his escalator in 2015 declaring his run for the presidency and the “main-stream-media” spent more time telling their audience that Hillary was crooked and tRump was a legitimate candidate.
If democracy is to be defended, we’ll need Democratic leadership more interested in defending it than in controlling who gets admitted to the club. The necessary housecleaning will require aggressive, courageous, relentless dedication, a willingness to both guide and listen to the electorate, and a focus on working the constitutionally feckless media.