Talk media personality Wayne Allyn Root (center) is pictured above with Christian music singer-songwriter Natasha Owens (left) presenting him with a plaque commemorating her song “The Chosen One” for hitting 2 billion social media views. Root, who is credited as one of the four writers of the song, says Owens based it on his calling Donald Trump “the chosen one” on his Newsmax TV show.
By Matthew B. Harrison
TALKERS, VP/Associate Publisher
Harrison Media Law, Senior Partner
Goodphone Communications, Executive Producer
Let’s discuss how CBS’s $16 million settlement became a warning shot for every talk host, editor, and content creator with a mic.
When CBS settled a lawsuit with Donald Trump for $16 million over a selectively edited “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris, it wasn’t about guilt. It was about leverage. The lawsuit happened to coincide with Paramount’s FCC merger review – coincidentally, right when regulatory pressure was needed the most.
For broadcasters and digital creators alike, the message is clear: even lawful edits can become political weapons. If you shape content, you’re a target. And the courts aren’t the only battleground. Public outrage, regulatory scrutiny, and advertiser anxiety all shape the cost of controversy.
For Broadcasters: Every Cut Counts
Editing always alters reality. That doesn’t make it wrong – but it makes it risky. Even good-faith trims for time or tone can be reframed as distortion. What matters isn’t just what you cut, but whether you can defend it.
Case in Point: “60 Minutes” vs. DeSantis
CBS was accused of misleading edits in a 2021 vaccine rollout story. They published full transcripts and stood their ground. No apology, no payout.
Takeaways:
— Archive raw footage.
— Log your editorial decisions.
— Be ready to explain your process with clarity and conviction.
For Digital Creators: You’re Not as Untouchable as You Think
Section 230 might protect platforms, but it doesn’t shield you from smear campaigns, takedowns, or frivolous lawsuits. Editing with commentary or critique is often fair use – but that doesn’t stop bad-faith actors from flipping the narrative.
Case in Point: “Decoding Fox News”
Jules Terpak’s critique series survived coordinated attacks thanks to clear sourcing, transparency, and credibility built ahead of time.
Takeaways:
— Know your rights, but also your vulnerabilities.
— Keep receipts.
— Build audience trust before someone tries to burn it down.
The Real Risk Isn’t the Edit – It’s the Optics
Trump didn’t need to win the lawsuit. He just needed the headlines – and CBS needed their merger. Settlements aren’t always about truth. They’re about timing.
So protect yourself:
— Document your work.
— Develop internal standards.
— Don’t panic under pressure – prepare for it.
Because in an era where outrage spreads faster than facts, defending the integrity of your edit isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Matthew B. Harrison is a media and intellectual property attorney who advises radio hosts, content creators, and creative entrepreneurs. He has written extensively on fair use, AI law, and the future of digital rights. Reach him at Matthew@HarrisonMediaLaw.com or read more at TALKERS.com.
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is calling out Paramount for its settlement with Donald Trump over what she calls “a meritless lawsuit regarding a CBS News interview last year.” Gomez says, “This moment marks a dangerous precedent for the First Amendment, and it should alarm anyone who values a free and independent press. Despite repeated attempts to deny the obvious, this Paramount Payout is a desperate
move to appease the Administration and secure regulatory approval of a major transaction currently pending before the FCC. For months, it has been clear that this lawsuit was entirely meritless, just like the complaint now before the Commission. The transcript and video of the 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Harris show no evidence of wrongdoing, only the standard editorial judgments used across the news industry to ensure clarity and brevity. Had Paramount chosen to fight this in court, they would have prevailed on the facts and the law. But instead of standing on principle, Paramount opted for a payout. That decision now casts a long shadow over the integrity of the transaction pending before the FCC. Given the extraordinary public interest in this deal, the novel legal questions raised by the lawsuit and its resolution, and the repeated calls from lawmakers for transparency, I once again urge the FCC to bring this matter before the full Commission for a vote. Approving this transaction behind closed doors and under the cover of bureaucratic process would be a shameful outcome that denies the American people the transparency and accountability they deserve, especially when press freedom is at stake.”
The executive order from President Donald Trump to shutter the Voice of America includes radio services Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that were launched in 1950 to counter Soviet propaganda in Europe. The
radio services report in 27 languages serving audiences in 23 countries. On Thursday (3/27), the Trump administration reversed course and restored funding for the news organization two days after a federal judge temporarily blocked the closure saying the president can’t dismantle the organization created by Congress. According to a report in The New York Times, the administration also reinstated 33 employees at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting that targets Cuba’s Communist government. See the Times story here.
PBS CEO Paula Kerger and NPR CEO Katherine Maher testified before the House Subcommittee on Delivering On Government Efficiency yesterday (3/26) during hearing titled, “Anti-American Airwaves: Holding the Heads of NPR and PBS Accountable.” The Hill reports that Maher faced “intense questioning from Republican members over NPR’s ignoring of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal during the 2020
election, its reporting on the origins of the coronavirus in China, and the investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia during his first term. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) told Maher, “You guys were 0-for-3 on three of the biggest stories in the country.” Maher was also pressed by U.S. Rep. William Timmons (R-SC) about comments she made before she was CEO of NPR in which she called Donald Trump a sociopath, a racist and deranged and asked how she could helm a news organization with that kind of inherent bias. She replied, “There is strong firewall between me and the newsroom,” and said her political thinking and personal worldview have changed in recent years, adding, “I regret those tweets; I would not tweet them again today.” The story notes that Maher said she “respected” the lawmakers’ concerns and promised NPR is doing more under her watch to “beef up our editorial standards” and “make sure we have more points of view reflected in every story.” Read The Hill’s coverage here.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is promoting his agency’s new deregulatory initiative, the new docket of which is titled, “In re: Delete, Delete, Delete.” The Commission says it is seeking comment on every rule, regulation, or guidance document that the FCC should eliminate for the purposes of alleviating
unnecessary regulatory burdens. This follows President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14192 titled, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation” and Executive Order 14219 titled “Ensuring Lawful Governance And Implementing The President’s ‘Department Of Government Efficiency’ Deregulatory Initiative.” FCC Chairman Carr says, “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Administration is unleashing a new wave of economic opportunity by ending the regulatory onslaught from Washington. For too long, administrative agencies have added new regulatory requirements in excess of their authority or kept lawful regulations in place long after their shelf life had expired. This only creates headwinds and slows down our country’s innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. The FCC is committed to ending all of the rules and regulations that are no longer necessary. And we welcome the public’s participation and feedback throughout this process. The American people expect and deserve a government that will efficiently deliver great results. We are committed to doing exactly that at the FCC.”
According to data from Nielsen, an estimated 36.6 million people watched President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday (3/4). Nielsen says that viewership peaked from 9:45
pm to 10:00 pm ET with 37,895,000 viewers across the 15 networks that televised the address. This year’s audience was up over 13% compared with the 32.2 million viewers that watched President Biden’s State of the Union address in 2024. Breaking down Tuesday’s audience by age, 5.7% of viewers were aged 18-34; 20.5% of viewers were aged 35-54; and 70.7% of viewers were aged 55 and older.
The Radio Television Digital News Association is strongly condemning President Donald Trump’s edict that he and not the White House Correspondents Association, will be selecting members of the official White House press pool. RTDNA president and CEO Dan Shelley states, “No president, or any public official,
should have the right to handpick the journalists who cover them. Doing so gives them license to select only news outlets whose coverage they deem positive and exclude responsible journalists whose reporting, although fair and accurate, the administration may not like. We call on the Trump administration to reverse this decision without delay so that the American people, and the world, can be assured they are getting a complete and accurate account of the activities of the President of the United States. This is especially critical during times of crisis.”
President Donald Trump announces that Cumulus Media | Westwood One nationally syndicated talk host Dan Bongino will become the deputy director of the FBI. Prior to his career as a talk media personality, Bongino served as a police officer in New York City and as a Secret Service agent. The Wall Street Journal notes that Bongino becoming the deputy director is the first instance in 117 years that the post will be filled
by a political appointee instead of a career agent. The role of the deputy director is to oversee the day-to-day operations of the bureau’s law enforcement. The Journal also reports that new FBI director Kash Patel had “offered Republican senators private assurances that he would name a special agent with bureau experience” in order to provide “operational expertise and experience.” The FBI Agents Association has made no public statement so far. Cumulus Media issued the following statement: “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dan Bongino on his decision to take on the role of deputy director of the FBI. Dan has entertained and informed tens of millions of listeners every day and we are grateful for our successful partnership. We look forward to welcoming Dan back in the future. We truly value our audience, advertisers, and affiliates and remain dedicated to bringing them the next exciting chapter for this programming soon. Dan’s last show will be Friday, March 14.”
FOX News reports that Sean Hannity’s interview with President Donald Trump and Elon Musk “dominated television” on Tuesday night with 5.4 million viewers and 733,000 in the 25-54 demo. The interview delivered
a 52% increase with viewers and 58% increase in the 25-54 demo compared to Hannity’s 2025 average and saw a 129% increase with viewers compared to the same day last year. The FOX News exclusive secured nearly 70% of the cable news audience at 9:00 pm ET and was the highest-rated episode of “Hannity” in 2025 aside from Inauguration Day. According to YouTube analytics and Emplifi, FOX News drove 20.5 million video views across YouTube, TikTok, X, Instagram and Facebook.
An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday (2/19) titled, “Restoring Democracy and Accountability in Government requires that all federal agencies – those set up by Congress as independent agencies – run all action through the White House before it becomes official. The order implies that the agencies in question – including the Federal Communications Commission – are under the purview of the
executive branch and must therefore: “(1) submit draft regulations for White House review—with no carve-out for so-called independent agencies, except for the monetary policy functions of the Federal Reserve; and (2) consult with the White House on their priorities and strategic plans, and the White House will set their performance standards. The Office of Management and Budget will adjust so-called independent agencies’ apportionments to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely. The President and the Attorney General (subject to the President’s supervision and control) will interpret the law for the executive branch, instead of having separate agencies adopt conflicting interpretations.” The order also argues that since the president is elected by the people and all agencies are accountable to the American people, therefore the president represents the will of the people. Critics of the move are questioning the constitutionality of the order and some expect this matter will be decided by the courts.
FOX News Channel chief political anchor Bret Baier will conduct a wide-ranging interview with President Donald Trump taped at Mar-a-Lago that will air during FOX TV’s Super Bowl LIX pregame show. The interview will air during the 3:00 pm hour. FOX says the interview will “focus on the changes the Trump administration has enacted since the Inauguration and the first 100 days of his presidency.” Additional portions of the interview will air on the Monday (2/10) edition of “Special Report with Bret Baier” on FNC.
President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz as attorney general and Gaetz’s resignation from his House seat; the GOP takes the majority of seats in the U.S. House giving Trump support from the Senate and the House; Trump’s promised migrant deportation; the expected pardons for January 6 convicts; and the economy were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
The aftermath of the presidential election and President-elect Donald Trump’s potential cabinet appointments; speculation over Trump’s promised migrant deportation; Wall Street’s ongoing post-election rally; the rise in anti-Semitic activity in the U.S. and Europe; Trump’s expected pardons for January 6 convicts; and the Veterans Day holiday were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
The presidential race, including Kamala Harris’ scheduled Pennsylvania town hall on CNN and former Trump chief of staff John Kelly’s warning about Donald Trump’s “facism,” the escalation of violence in the Middle East, climate change, the economy, abortion rights, the migrant crisis, and the Russia-Ukraine war were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene and today’s expected landfall of Hurricane Milton in Florida were the most talked-about stories, followed closely by the presidential race, Bob Woodward’s report of Donald Trump’s close relationship with Vladimir Putin, and the escalation of violence in the Middle East. Climate change, the economy, abortion rights, the migrant crisis, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the MLB playoffs were also among the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday (10/8), according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
The unsealing of evidence against Donald Trump in the January 6 case was the most-talked-about story, followed closely by the aftermath of the vice-presidential debate, escalation of violence in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and the danger of it leading to World War III. The presidential race, various polls, political dirt, the Russia-Ukraine war; the economy; the migrant crisis, and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene were also among the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday (10/2), according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
By Walter M Sterling
Host, “Sterling Every Damn Night”
WPHT, Philadelphia
“Sterling on Sunday”
Talk Media Network
BLIND QUOTE TEST: Who said, “We don’t have to worry about oil spills, the ocean is a big place. What do we care about dolphins? I don’t see dolphins building super-highways at the bottom of the ocean.” That’s Rush Limbaugh at one of his more compelling moments.
Mr. Limbaugh and I shared a mentor: Ed McLaughlin. When Rush launched, he did an interview with this publication where he stated that his mission was to INFORM-INFORM-INFORM. I was with Ed Mclaughlin when the article was published and Ed became distracted and slightly annoyed,
“I’m going to have to talk to Rush when he gets off the air. That’s not his mission. His mission is to ENTERTAIN-ENTERTAIN-ENTERTAIN,” said Mr. McLaughlin. Rush followed the guidance from McLaughlin, who was the founding GM of KGO San Francisco and president of the ABC Radio Networks.
The reason Rush was a success was not that he attacked Democrats, it was because he was entertaining. Tragically, it appears that most of his copycats only steal Rush’s stage rather than his performance.
Rush’s show was heavily prepped to generate an entertaining package. Yes, he’d attack Democrats – and he initially attacked Donald Trump. But the show was everything else, and everything else won the ratings.
EVERYTHING ELSE:
• Every single day Rush brought BRAND NEW proof for his argument on any subject. He delivered revealing stories, anecdotes, jokes, observations. All shows were fresh and UNPREDICTABLE. While his conclusions on a given topic may have repeated day after day, his evidence was always new and often surprising.
• He liked cats. He talked a lot about his cats.
• Radio wrestling. If a caller presented hard, cold facts that refuted one of Rush’s arguments, facts that busted Rush, Rush would say, “So what of it sir? I’m right.” He never, ever changed his opinion and that is a show.
• He liked football, he talked a lot about football.
• TV shows, Florida, hating New York City, his weight and dumb fails of the characters of our country were often the majority content of a three-hour show.
• A lactating mom caller pleased him when she said it was her responsibility to find a place to express her milk during the workday – not her employer’s. At first Rush didn’t understand, then he realized, with her help that a nursing mom either shares her milk with the baby or she must “save” it. Bonus track, she was a Native American who adored Rush. But you didn’t expect any of that!
He was very savvy about who he became. He rarely did TV interviews because his audience was bigger than any cable channel he might bless. Why should he promote those channels?
Rush had been a top 40 jock. A Top 40 background matched KGO general manager Mickey Luckoff’s criteria for hiring hosts: “The main hosts must have top 40 experience because I can teach them ‘talk,’ but I can’t teach them how to do RADIO.” Howard Stern said on air, “My job is to get to the next thing.” Top 40 is all about the next thing.
His arguments against the Democrats were a stage for presenting daily surprises. If you want Rush’s ratings, SURPRISE!
Walter M Sterling’s nightly show “Walter Sterling Every Damn Night” is heard on WPHT, Philadelphia 9:00 pm – 12:00 midnight. His syndicated show, “Sterling On Sunday,” from Talk Media Network, airs 10:00 pm-1:00 am ET, and is now in its 10th year of success. He can be reached by email at waltermsterling@gmail.com.
WABC, New York/Red Apple Media owner/CEO John Catsimatidis continues to add intriguing live elements to the lineup of his radio station and leverage them into product for his growing syndication platform, Red Apple Audio Networks. The latest such addition to the station and network is unapologetically controversial political strategist Roger Stone. Since the 1970s, Stone has worked on the campaigns of Republican politicians, including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp, Bob Dole, and most recently, Donald Trump. Stone’s show is heard on WABC, Sunday afternoons from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET. The first two hours focus on national and world news and are available to radio stations across the nation via the Red Apple Audio Network. The third hour is specific to WABC and issues focused on the New York area. In making the announcement about his new association with Stone, Catsimatidis tells TALKERS, “His insightful commentary on the political landscape and what’s ahead for America will be of tremendous value to our listeners in New York, around the country, and around the world.” Stone adds, “John has done a great job bringing in big names from politics, business, and entertainment and I’m looking forward to enjoying being on the radio, sharing my perceptions about what’s going on in Washington and the world, and connecting with listeners across America.”
The presidential race; Jack Smith files a new indictment against Donald Trump; the Trump team Arlington National Cemetery incident; a federal judge pauses the Biden administration’s citizenship pathway for undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens; Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg says Biden administration pressured Facebook to censor COVID-19 content; Israel launches a West Bank raid; January 6 rioter sentenced to four years in prison; and the late-summer heatwave affecting parts of the U.S. were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
Since leaving his lofty media perch on the FOX News Channel in 2017, news/talk media commentator Bill O’ Reilly has been flourishing as an author, entrepreneur, and independent talk media personality. He continues to turn out chart topping best-seller books – his latest title: Confronting the Presidents (St. Martin’s Press 2024) – and his website BillOReilly.com has proven to be a formidable platform housing a variety of his programs, properties, and projects. His digital video show “No Spin News” is the talk media centerpiece of his sprawling empire consisting of internet and radio shows and he makes non-stop widely-consumed guest appearances on other personalities’ shows which continue to raise his profile and promote his various enterprises. The metrics for his shows are stunning. His total combined internet views for July 2024: 26 million. YouTube views: 20 million. Podcast feed: five million downloads. From June 1 to August 18, 2024: 43 million views on YouTube. His show is seen on Direct TV, The First TV, Pluto, U-Verse, Roku, as well as on Apple and Amazon TV apps. @BillOReilly has 3.3 million followers on X. 2.4 million followers on Facebook. Approximately 300 radio stations carry No Spin News including its flagship WABC, New York. His friendly July interview by Jon Stewart garnered five million broadcast views and millions more on social media. It was the number one podcast on Apple worldwide. O’ Reilly tells TALKERS, “The new media world is here. Corporate domination receding fast. Survival of the fittest in cyberspace. My operation is up for it!”
The presidential race and the Democratic National Convention; the economy; the U.S. migrant crisis; Gaza cease-fire talks; Ukraine’s incursion into Russia; Iran accused of hacking Donald Trump and Kamala Harris campaigns; former U.S. Rep. George Santos pleads guilty to identity theft and wire fraud; and Phil Donahue dies at 88 were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
Salem Media Group announces that Larry Elder is rejoining the Salem Radio Network, Salem News Channel and Salem Podcast Network. Elder will return to hosting the 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm ET program that he anchored before exiting the company in April of 2022. He bumps Brandon Tatum from his position as the
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm host. Tatum filled in for Elder during his run for governor of California in 2021 and subsequently assumed the role full time. Elder joined the 2024 Republican presidential primary race but dropped out last fall and threw his support behind Donald Trump. Since then, he’s been hosting his podcast, “Larry Elder – We’ve Got a Country to Save.” He’ll continue the podcast with Salem handling sales and marketing for the it. Salem SVP of spoken word Phil Boyce says, “Larry is one of a rare breed who actually grew in popularity and influence AFTER he departed the radio. Now we get to hear his sage words of wisdom daily on radio stations across the country, on Salem News Channel, and the Salem Podcast Network.”
The presidential race; potential Kamala Harris running mates; Hamas political chief Ismael Haniyeh is killed in Iran; the economy; the U.S. migrant crisis; Olympics “Last Supper” blowback; congressional hearing over Secret Service failure in Donald Trump assassination attempt; Simone Biles and USA gymnasts win gold in Paris; the UK stabbing attack; and the Park Fire in California were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
The presidential race; the Democratic VP possibilities; Joe Biden’s Supreme Court reform proposal; the Donald Trump assassination attempt investigation and Secret Service scrutiny; the Olympics “Last Supper” controversy, the Venezuelan protests over Nicolas Madura’s victory; Israel’s wars against Hamas and Hezbollah; the NRA-Wayne LaPierre corruption case; and the California wildfires were some of the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
The Donald Trump assassination attempt investigation was the most-talked-about story in news/talk media this week, landing atop the Talkers TenTM. At #2 this week was the Republican National Convention and the presidential race, followed by Joe Biden’s fitness for office at #3. The Talkers TenTM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart here.