I am a believer. Podcasts are all the rage and are most definitely helping to counter all the influence from the right. BUT, there really is nothing like a live broadcast with up to the minute news interspersed. It makes the listeners feel like they are part of the conversations. In fact, who hasn't yelled or moaned at the radio?
Our progressive channel became oldies a few months ago, but isn't it funny that they decided to keep their conservative channel? Nothing like being obvious right before this election.
I wish some wealthy Dems would listen to your advice like we do, Thom. We have a public service station with a very weak signal that plays your show and Democracy Now. I can use their website to stream it. Love picking-up your show on Free Speech TV Live, and my go to for podcasts is iHeartRadio. All of those are free.
Alis, we haven't had talk radio here for at least 30 years. It was a way to learn what was happening in the community, and I miss it. We now have the Thom Hartmann app on my phone to listen to the show while sitting on the deck or in the car. We watch the show through YouTube on our TV and feel privileged to hear people with different opinions and info converse with Thom.
Thom, you're right about the GOP's media manipulation. In this they are helped by billionaires who've bought control of media outlets and push to get NPR defunded. Follow the money with this interactive map.
Leaving station ownership to the "free market" is like leaving the henhouses to the foxes. It's all part of the right-wing effort to commodify government and civil rights so as to put these things out of the reach of the common people. It's not only through radio, but also TV and newspapers, that our access to the national conversation is being squelched.
It is galling but the current sad situation can be laid in the lap of William Jefferson Clinton who signed the Telecommunications act of 1996, and is it really a mystery why his wife was not elected in 2016, given that Bill is responsible for creating the rust belt.
I held my nose when I voted for her as I will have to again when I vote for Adam Schiff who is AIPAC and actually promoted Republican Steve Garvey to knock Katie Porter out of second place.
If AIPAC was an excuse for voting, then there would be hardly any politicians at all.
Politicians are always in need of funds and take them from wherever they can, and that is the problem with the system. I am an equal opportunity bigot. AIPAC, CAIR and Christians.
My brief against Schiff is that he and Sean Mahoney are responnsible for Congress being in the hands of Republicans. During the 2020 Election, when Sean, who was head of the DCCC, should have been home getting Democrats re elected to congress he and Adam Schiff went off junketeering in Paris and Sean lost his seat as did three other NY Dems.
What I don't like is his narcissism, he gravitates towards the camera like a ball thrown into the air. a publicity hound, that has no substantial record in congress other than votes.
I wanted Katie Porter to be the Democratic choice for Senator, but again the establishment put their thumb on the scale and put up the old tired race horse that paid his dues, padding around the paddock,
I'm here today on this forum because of progressive radio. In 2005 I was introduced to Hartmann's radio program, which at the time was broadcast on am760 out of Denver, CO. I was a daily listener for many years. That station is no longer, for the precise reasons Thom cited in today's post. Though I no longer live in Colorado, I am saddened that other people won't have the same easy access to hopeful and well-reasoned messaging which challenges the loud and prolific waves of unproductive and often times hateful words of the now status quo.
My favorite recollection of Thom’s Air America days was his telling us what topics AM’s right-wing talking heads were going to be pushing that day. By making an appropriate contribution, he was getting the Republican talking points of the day. I checked it out; he was, indeed, correct. Every station I would tune in was promoting the same “agenda.” Too bad they caught on and stopped sending the talking points to him. It was a weird sort of fun while it lasted. I have wondered ever since: Why weren’t billionaire Democrats doing the same kind of thing? And, why not NOW?
These days, podcasts seem to be where the action is for the key young male demographic. Trump is campaigning heavily on the 'bro" podcasts. All we can do is get out our voters. GOTV and let's elect Harris!
Ben: Whenever we travel more than 20 minutes away by car, we take our portable speakers and pair a phone to them so we can listen to podcasts like Al Franken, Michael Moore, Olbermann, Reich's Coffe Klatch, Hartmann's radio show, etc. We don't have an up-to-date car radio to pair to, if there is such a thing.
"I asked him if he’d consider putting a progressive show on any of his stations (they were all 100% conservative talk) and he bluntly told me it was “never going to happen” because, he said, “It’s impossible for a liberal to be a true Christian.”"
What is a "true Christian" according to most of the right wing today? The first requirement is a firm commitment to superstition and the willingness to believe what is taught and preached as the "word of God" ostensibly written in the Bible but always selected and interpreted by certain charismatic leaders and teachers. He was right. While the evangelical Christians of today have no interest in the philosophy Christ is reputed to have taught, they are sold on a fearful conservative version of reality and portions or texts taken from the Bible and conveniently twisted which preclude anything liberal, progressive, or based in rationality and science. Blind obedience and faith in a returning savior from a mythical heaven and his powerful representatives is essential. Democracy is liberal, progressive, rational, and scientific. That is how the choice must be presented. We can make plenty of room for religion. But it must not be allowed to impinge in any way on our political apparatus. Reclaiming the radio airwaves is clearly one extremely effective to change the landscape.
When you have a group of people that can be willingly and willfully brainwashed because they are idiots, who weren't taught any critical thinking skills, it is inevitable the rich will own almost everything and the poor will be fighting over the crumbs. There will be plenty of human suffering. Hunger, violence, drug abuse, crime, mass killings, homelessness, mental illness...
America and the planet is destined to become a third world cesspool. A dystopia. The right will still blame the gays for all of their problems and the minorities and the different religions and non-religions. Nobody in their right mind would want to bring a baby on to this planet! A planet packed with liars and greedy psychopaths, rich and poor. With global warming.
If the GOP does not steal the election, the so-called left needs to win the house and the Senate also big time and make major changes because the billionaires are like a python sucking the air out of their victims, they are relentless and they will not share any of their wealth even if it means billions starve to death.
The only way you can count on surviving as if you become totally self-sufficient and defend all of your stuff with your life! If I right wing psychopath gets appointed, it may already be too late!
A fiend of mine who is a hard-right Trumper sent me a notice that the conservatives are whining now because the FTC has fast-tracked a request by George Soros (yes, THAT George Soros) to acquire some 200 radio stations across the country and convert them to progessive talk radio.....
The Republicans have courted The Money. Therefore, they could invest in the airwaves and pay for as much propaganda as they wanted because to squelch rights, you always start with women and marginalized people's rights. They put the Evilgelicons in charge of the propaganda. Democrats, at least trying to support the people, will always be economically disadvantaged.
Radio is like a friend, something to engage when you are on a lonely drive in your car. People trust their friends, even the "weird" ones. Progressives need to have friends in rural places. Trump's concentration camps and tariffs will greatly hurt farming communities, but farmers are mostly not hearing that message when they listen to the radio in their car or tractor. We need progressive radio.
When the Clinton's left office they were 1 million dollars in debt, with zero net worth. Today they are worth $270 million. Thanks in great part to the gift of the Clinton Global Initiative.
their daughter, Chelsea Clinton Handler, a talk show host,is worth $35 million.
Of course. Stooges for billionaires talking in 3rd grade English to people with 3rd grade educations. I was raised on KGO in San Francisco which I thought was too conservative! Oh how I miss them now, especially when there is an event worth talking about. Pacifica is still around. Decent radio can be found locally too. KBCZ in Santa Cruz Mts. and KXCI in Tucson come to mind. Wherever you are support them!
If you have Dish you can catch Thom and others on channel 9415 (Free Speech TV) Channel 348 on DireectTV, also live steamed at freespeech.org and ROKU. and on some cable channels.
Free Speech TV also carries the Randi Rhodes Show and Rising Up with Sonali Kolhatkar
An excellent article on how the Republicans used Radio to spread their message. Its something I haven't really thought about & as to how successful a strategy it was.
Not a fan of podcasts, though I realize that most people are. I repref the wrttten word. Podcasts take forever to get anything out of. I can scan a written page for key points in a minute.
I do hope that progressive radio makes a comeback as hate radio has ruled the waves for too long. Is there a good TV network to counter Fox? I dont watch TV so dont know.
I am a believer. Podcasts are all the rage and are most definitely helping to counter all the influence from the right. BUT, there really is nothing like a live broadcast with up to the minute news interspersed. It makes the listeners feel like they are part of the conversations. In fact, who hasn't yelled or moaned at the radio?
Our progressive channel became oldies a few months ago, but isn't it funny that they decided to keep their conservative channel? Nothing like being obvious right before this election.
I wish some wealthy Dems would listen to your advice like we do, Thom. We have a public service station with a very weak signal that plays your show and Democracy Now. I can use their website to stream it. Love picking-up your show on Free Speech TV Live, and my go to for podcasts is iHeartRadio. All of those are free.
Alis, we haven't had talk radio here for at least 30 years. It was a way to learn what was happening in the community, and I miss it. We now have the Thom Hartmann app on my phone to listen to the show while sitting on the deck or in the car. We watch the show through YouTube on our TV and feel privileged to hear people with different opinions and info converse with Thom.
Thom, you're right about the GOP's media manipulation. In this they are helped by billionaires who've bought control of media outlets and push to get NPR defunded. Follow the money with this interactive map.
https://thedemlabs.org/2023/10/17/media-billionaires-disinfo-pushes-their-agenda/
FIGHT BACK! https://democrats.org/reach/vr/
Leaving station ownership to the "free market" is like leaving the henhouses to the foxes. It's all part of the right-wing effort to commodify government and civil rights so as to put these things out of the reach of the common people. It's not only through radio, but also TV and newspapers, that our access to the national conversation is being squelched.
It is galling but the current sad situation can be laid in the lap of William Jefferson Clinton who signed the Telecommunications act of 1996, and is it really a mystery why his wife was not elected in 2016, given that Bill is responsible for creating the rust belt.
I held my nose when I voted for her as I will have to again when I vote for Adam Schiff who is AIPAC and actually promoted Republican Steve Garvey to knock Katie Porter out of second place.
If AIPAC was an excuse for voting, then there would be hardly any politicians at all.
Politicians are always in need of funds and take them from wherever they can, and that is the problem with the system. I am an equal opportunity bigot. AIPAC, CAIR and Christians.
My brief against Schiff is that he and Sean Mahoney are responnsible for Congress being in the hands of Republicans. During the 2020 Election, when Sean, who was head of the DCCC, should have been home getting Democrats re elected to congress he and Adam Schiff went off junketeering in Paris and Sean lost his seat as did three other NY Dems.
What I don't like is his narcissism, he gravitates towards the camera like a ball thrown into the air. a publicity hound, that has no substantial record in congress other than votes.
I wanted Katie Porter to be the Democratic choice for Senator, but again the establishment put their thumb on the scale and put up the old tired race horse that paid his dues, padding around the paddock,
Thom: Democrats must get into the talk-radio game. As the old saying goes, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”
We have the opportunity to fix it. Blue tsunami is possible.
https://www.mobilize.us/ft6/
Democrats should have started playing two decades ago. Way too late in the game now!
I'm here today on this forum because of progressive radio. In 2005 I was introduced to Hartmann's radio program, which at the time was broadcast on am760 out of Denver, CO. I was a daily listener for many years. That station is no longer, for the precise reasons Thom cited in today's post. Though I no longer live in Colorado, I am saddened that other people won't have the same easy access to hopeful and well-reasoned messaging which challenges the loud and prolific waves of unproductive and often times hateful words of the now status quo.
My favorite recollection of Thom’s Air America days was his telling us what topics AM’s right-wing talking heads were going to be pushing that day. By making an appropriate contribution, he was getting the Republican talking points of the day. I checked it out; he was, indeed, correct. Every station I would tune in was promoting the same “agenda.” Too bad they caught on and stopped sending the talking points to him. It was a weird sort of fun while it lasted. I have wondered ever since: Why weren’t billionaire Democrats doing the same kind of thing? And, why not NOW?
These days, podcasts seem to be where the action is for the key young male demographic. Trump is campaigning heavily on the 'bro" podcasts. All we can do is get out our voters. GOTV and let's elect Harris!
Like the rest of the propaganda machines, these podcasts are made to look "grassroots" but are heavily funded by The Money.
And recently, it has been noted that some of these right-wing podcast/platforms are funded by Russia.
Ben: Whenever we travel more than 20 minutes away by car, we take our portable speakers and pair a phone to them so we can listen to podcasts like Al Franken, Michael Moore, Olbermann, Reich's Coffe Klatch, Hartmann's radio show, etc. We don't have an up-to-date car radio to pair to, if there is such a thing.
I just remembered that I needed to add David Feldman's podcast and some educational YouTube videos.
"I asked him if he’d consider putting a progressive show on any of his stations (they were all 100% conservative talk) and he bluntly told me it was “never going to happen” because, he said, “It’s impossible for a liberal to be a true Christian.”"
What is a "true Christian" according to most of the right wing today? The first requirement is a firm commitment to superstition and the willingness to believe what is taught and preached as the "word of God" ostensibly written in the Bible but always selected and interpreted by certain charismatic leaders and teachers. He was right. While the evangelical Christians of today have no interest in the philosophy Christ is reputed to have taught, they are sold on a fearful conservative version of reality and portions or texts taken from the Bible and conveniently twisted which preclude anything liberal, progressive, or based in rationality and science. Blind obedience and faith in a returning savior from a mythical heaven and his powerful representatives is essential. Democracy is liberal, progressive, rational, and scientific. That is how the choice must be presented. We can make plenty of room for religion. But it must not be allowed to impinge in any way on our political apparatus. Reclaiming the radio airwaves is clearly one extremely effective to change the landscape.
he bluntly told me it was “never going to happen” because, he said, “It’s impossible for a liberal to be a true Christian.”"
If you have a bible and dont read it, you are a Catholic
If you have a bible and cherry pick verses to prosecute people you hate, you are an Evangelical
If you have a bible and study it thoroughly, you are an aethiest.
I am going to remember those. It rings true, for certain.
A very good comment Robert and I quite agree.
Thank you.
Not the first time we agreed Robert.
When you have a group of people that can be willingly and willfully brainwashed because they are idiots, who weren't taught any critical thinking skills, it is inevitable the rich will own almost everything and the poor will be fighting over the crumbs. There will be plenty of human suffering. Hunger, violence, drug abuse, crime, mass killings, homelessness, mental illness...
America and the planet is destined to become a third world cesspool. A dystopia. The right will still blame the gays for all of their problems and the minorities and the different religions and non-religions. Nobody in their right mind would want to bring a baby on to this planet! A planet packed with liars and greedy psychopaths, rich and poor. With global warming.
If the GOP does not steal the election, the so-called left needs to win the house and the Senate also big time and make major changes because the billionaires are like a python sucking the air out of their victims, they are relentless and they will not share any of their wealth even if it means billions starve to death.
The only way you can count on surviving as if you become totally self-sufficient and defend all of your stuff with your life! If I right wing psychopath gets appointed, it may already be too late!
A fiend of mine who is a hard-right Trumper sent me a notice that the conservatives are whining now because the FTC has fast-tracked a request by George Soros (yes, THAT George Soros) to acquire some 200 radio stations across the country and convert them to progessive talk radio.....
Thank you Thom.
The Republicans have courted The Money. Therefore, they could invest in the airwaves and pay for as much propaganda as they wanted because to squelch rights, you always start with women and marginalized people's rights. They put the Evilgelicons in charge of the propaganda. Democrats, at least trying to support the people, will always be economically disadvantaged.
Radio is like a friend, something to engage when you are on a lonely drive in your car. People trust their friends, even the "weird" ones. Progressives need to have friends in rural places. Trump's concentration camps and tariffs will greatly hurt farming communities, but farmers are mostly not hearing that message when they listen to the radio in their car or tractor. We need progressive radio.
I can't believe that Clinton sold the airwaves to the oligarchs. I used to think that he was for the little guy.
NAFTA disillusioned me, but I still had faith in his fairness.
Hartmann's revelations about the telecommunications act has been the last straw.
Of course, Hillary should never ever ran for president.
When the Clinton's left office they were 1 million dollars in debt, with zero net worth. Today they are worth $270 million. Thanks in great part to the gift of the Clinton Global Initiative.
their daughter, Chelsea Clinton Handler, a talk show host,is worth $35 million.
Of course. Stooges for billionaires talking in 3rd grade English to people with 3rd grade educations. I was raised on KGO in San Francisco which I thought was too conservative! Oh how I miss them now, especially when there is an event worth talking about. Pacifica is still around. Decent radio can be found locally too. KBCZ in Santa Cruz Mts. and KXCI in Tucson come to mind. Wherever you are support them!
If you have Dish you can catch Thom and others on channel 9415 (Free Speech TV) Channel 348 on DireectTV, also live steamed at freespeech.org and ROKU. and on some cable channels.
Free Speech TV also carries the Randi Rhodes Show and Rising Up with Sonali Kolhatkar
Thanks for the tip. If I ever get DISH I'll be sure to watch there too! If people watch he has a chance of hanging around.
An excellent article on how the Republicans used Radio to spread their message. Its something I haven't really thought about & as to how successful a strategy it was.
Not a fan of podcasts, though I realize that most people are. I repref the wrttten word. Podcasts take forever to get anything out of. I can scan a written page for key points in a minute.
I do hope that progressive radio makes a comeback as hate radio has ruled the waves for too long. Is there a good TV network to counter Fox? I dont watch TV so dont know.