[UPDATED] Premiere Decides to Keep Progressive Talker Randi Rhodes on Air After All

[BradBlog]

Last edited Fri Nov 15, 2013, 05:05 PM - Edit history (3)

Source: BRAD BLOG

Premiere Decides to Keep Progressive Talker Randi Rhodes on Air After All
UPDATE: Rhodes confirms news on air. (AUDIO NOW POSTED)

Clear Channel's Premiere Networks has reversed course. After previously announcing they would end their relationship with her at the end of 2013, the nation's largest radio syndicator has decided to keep progressive radio talker Randi Rhodes on air into next year after all.

According to an email announcement with the subject line "Randi Rhodes Show Continues!", as sent to radio station affiliates that carry Rhodes this morning, Premiere has apologized for their previous announcement earlier this week...

UPDATE WITH AUDIO: Randi Rhodes confirms news on air, describes Clear Channel/Premiere Network's NEW decision to keep her on air in 2014, as "the most confusing story since the 2000 election in Florida," but with a "better outcome this time for our side."

FULL STORY, NOW WITH RHODES' AUDIO EXPLANATION: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10375

Read more: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10375

[AZ Mike]

1. Thank God!

Randi doesn't seem to get much love around here, but she is my mother's milk. She is, hands down, THE BEST talker out there.

So happy to see her stick around.

[AgingAmerican]

7. Once upon a time she was good

Then about 2007 she turned into the Ann Coulter of the left. Haven't listened to her since.

[factsarenotfair]

9. I disagree.

Ann Coulter's diatribes are fact free and Randi's are full of facts.

[kimbutgar]

37. Everything Rhandi says is backed up by facts

On her website she has her homework. And she says don't believe what I say find out yourself. Coultergist just pulls shit out of her ass and flings it against the wall in hopes it will stick. Plus Rhandi is not a speed and coke freak like coultergist.

[AZ Mike]

11. WTF?

That's utter nonsense. Because the timing seems to coincide, I guess she must have pissed you off with the Hillary joke.

Speaking for myself, I know I sure as hell didn't trust Hillary in 2007. I thought she was simply an ambitious person interested in self. She has since behaved otherwise, but the whole carpetbagging in New York and the pandering on the campaign trail didn't sit right for me and her husband's legacy in office suggested triangulation. She did not deserve trust at that time, in my opinion.

[kimbutgar]

36. I was there the night in San Francisco when she made the Hillary remark

The look on the faces of some of the people in the audience are ones I'll never forget.

[Beacool]

56. That was no joke.

Last edited Sun Nov 17, 2013, 05:47 PM - Edit history (1)

It was highly offensive. I don't call any women "fucking whores" even the ones who deserve the epithet. It is inappropriate and not feminist. As much as I've had to bite my tongue to avoid calling Palin, Coulter, et al. a similarly derogatory name.

As for Hillary, if that's why you thought that she was running in 2007, then you simply don't know the woman.

[AgingAmerican]

60. "the Hillary joke"

No, she didn't piss me off with "The Hillary joke"

She pissed me off because she treated her listeners like shitballs and went into a filthy disgusting downward spiral of crudeness that lasted for months. The 'Hillary joke' was just the icing on the cake that caused Air America to throw her out on her ass.

It is very apparent you weren't listening to her at that time.

[rhett o rick]

12. Disagree. Coulter is vile and lies with impunity. That's not Randi. She is blunt and edgy

which really gets under the skin of the conservatives.

[ZRT2209]

19. Would you rather her air time be filled by Glenn Beck?

[AgingAmerican]

61. It might as well have been

...back when she was spewing her hateful vitriol.

[bigdarryl]

25. What the fuck are you talking about

Comparing Randi to Coultergist

[7962]

27. You're not the first I've heard say that. nt

[SleeplessinSoCal]

28. You could not be more wrong about Randi being like Coulter

I've been listening to her off and on since 2004's AA launch. Recently she has made some of the best arguments for Democratic policy I've heard. There's an in the trenches flair that she has that Coulter would never dare try. Coulter takes pot shots from her penthouse. Randi is willing to debate issues relentlessly. How many others can do that while staying connected to listeners in a jovial way? Even Thom Harmann can't connect with working class Dems like Randi does. Plus has no sense of humor.

[AgingAmerican]

45. Once upon she did make very good arguements

Then the primaries started and she degenerated into a vile obnoxious hateful hag. She did such a 180 to her previous self that I became thoroughly convinced that she didn't actually believe in anything. I stopped listening to her and have never had any interest in doing so since.

If I wanted to hear that sort of thing spewed against Democrats I would tune into Limbaugh or Coulter.

[Niceguy1]

51. her rudeness and

Corrosiveness made her the worst part of Air America

[SleeplessinSoCal]

52. I've heard nothing remotely like that. I wasn't listening during the primaries,

but "vile and obnoxious hag" is far from the way I perceive her. She's actually mellowed quite a bit since I first heard her in 2004. I think she probably felt that she had facts on her side and was more quick on the uptake than others that it frustrated her that she kept having to fight to keep her job. Then again maybe it's a woman thing. I'm just so glad she is going to still be on the air. As is my husband.

[AgingAmerican]

53. "I wasn't listening during the primaries"

nt

[Beacool]

57. Even Limbaugh has refrained from the epithet that Rhodes used against Hillary and Gerry.

She disgusts me.

[tblue]

31. There is NO Ann Coulter of the left!

Only exception may be Rude Pundit from time to time-o But even he doesn't pick on the helpless—only the bigots and bullies. Big difference.

[AgingAmerican]

54. Rude Pundit isn't an Ann Coulter

...but Randy Rhodes was during the primaries of 08. She was also a Beck and Limbaugh. Air America kicked her to the curb for it.

[DeSwiss]

34. If you can't tell the difference between them......

...you need help.

[AgingAmerican]

44. At the time all she did was spew vitriol against Democrats

She would treat any caller that disagreed with her like absolute shit. She reminded me of Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. She became unlistenable. She got so bad that Air America told her to hit the road. I haven't listened to her since.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

46. She lost me with her actively rooting for Norm Coleman to win in 2008

She let her petty jealousy of Al Franken getting the top spot on AAR overtake her.

She would go on air and say Al was going to lose and that she didn't want him to be senator because she "knew things" - things she "couldn't tell us," but "you'll see!" (very Trump-esque of her - maybe his Hawaiian investigators worked for her originally). And she kept insinuating all this dirt was going to come out.

Of course, nothing of the sort ever did.

She was downright ugly about the entire race and seemed to have zero interest in the Dems winning back Wellstone's seat.

And if you ever watch "Left of the Dial" with her commentary, she's just an ugly, backstabbing person.

Compare that to Al, who has been great as a senator, has always supported the Democrats and progressive causes and doesn't let ego get in the way of the good of the nation.

[Demonaut]

49. she's very good now..lost me for awhile too but she's matured

[Beacool]

55. Amen!!!

She crossed a line of no return by what she called Gerri Ferraro and Hillary.

You couldn't pay me to listen to her. Although I'm sure that her three listeners will rejoice.

[DoBotherMe]

2. YAY!

[Dawson Leery]

3. kick

[SalviaBlue]

4. Wow!! You just made my day.

I love to listen to Randi.

[VanillaRhapsody]

5. HOOORAY! So glad to hear this...

Randi is my hero!

[navarth]

6. That is pretty cool

I just wish we had a liberal station around here.

[Kelvin Mace]

8. My guess is they are keeing her as a token liberal

so they can claim they cater to both sides of the political discourse. This is a complete deception, but it gives them a fig leaf to hide the deception.

[Orsino]

10. But Premiere isn't back on XM.

And Randi's web site shows no terrestrial options in the state of Georgia, alas.

[JPK]

29. Have you checked.....

......internet streaming? She may be on there.

[RandiFan1290]

32. I heart Radio. KTLK streams the entire show 3-6 EST

http://www.iheart.com/live/KTLK-AM-1150-Los-Angeles-197/

[Orsino]

48. That is a possibility, and thank you...

...though I listen in the car at that time. Once I'm home, there are other things to do, and I simply won't, for instance, get around to downloading and listening to a podcast later.

I could possibly stream it in the car. Appreciate the tip!

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. I'm elated to hear this. Admittedly, I don't listen to Randi everyday. I have to be in a mood.

I sometimes get pissed at Randi with the way she handles callers; even the ones who agree with her. I think there's a reason she doesn't get a lot of love from some progressive corners. Randi is that honest relative that pisses everybody off at some point, but you still love 'em. She's smart, and she's a gifted talker. I just wish she wouldn't promote idiots like Limbaugh & Hannity so exhaustively.

My main criticism of Randi is how she seems to go out of her way to piss off the folks who are on the same team. She despises Al Franken, and she may have good reason. Same with Ed Schultz. A few days ago she went after Al Sharpton, and Alec Baldwin. I think Randi feels alienated from an industry that she feels should embrace her as a pioneer. She's made less than glowing comments about Rachel Maddow in the past, and while all of her critiques may be justified in her mind, it's just self defeating if she wants to spread her wings outside of talk radio. She doesn't get anywhere near the exposure that Stephanie gets, and there's probably a very good reason for that. Just my .02 cents.

[cascadiance]

14. I have connections at Premiere that have told me internal gossip some which is good...

I heard a story of what she did to Glen Beck's office after hours that would have us all proud here!

So even if she has her differences with other liberal talkers out there, she has her priorities right on who she really goes after, even if it's the same company she works at.

[Tarheel_Dem]

17. Hey, I agree that Randi can be very effective. But I wish she wouldn't burn her bridges so.....

often. She could become a real force on TV. Can you imagine her on a Bill Maher panel up against some nutjob rightwinger? Or even on MSNBC from time to time. There's nobody better at shooting down b.s. than Randi.

[dembotoz]

18. would love to see her on msnbc but i don't think that will ever happen

i would love to see KO back on msnbc too

but alas

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. MSNBC is never going to happen. Randi has offended half the hosts, and her personal beefs....

are legendary. Those are the days I turn her off. There are so few good progressive talkers, and I wish they'd keep their personal tiffs private. Randi's the only one who publicly goes after her own teammates.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

47. I know she hated Maddow at one point

used to trash her on AAR quite a bit

[Tarheel_Dem]

58. Randi's a very passionate person, but her unwillingness to conceal her pettiness....

has put her career in jeopardy many times.

[Marie Marie]

41. +1000

Couldn't agree more with everything you said. She is good in many ways but her personality needs an overhaul. She can be too self-absorbed and hard to take and I found it increasingly difficult to listen to her. But for those that can, she is a wealth of information and facts.

[Tarheel_Dem]

43. You have to love her passion, but I sometimes wonder if she really has the temperament for a....

call-in show. Perhaps she should just talk for 3 hours, and stop embarrassing herself and her callers, when DAMMIT they agree with her. She baffles & frustrates the hell outta me sometimes. I sometimes go weeks without tuning in to Randi's show. Like I said, I really have be in the mood for her.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

15. great news!! sign the petition anyway!!

Gotta let them know it matters.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/save-randi-rhodes-radio?source=c.tw&r_by=319940

[Stardust]

33. Signed it. I'm ecstatic that Randi won't be going off the air. I've seldom caught her making

mistakes, although it's bound to happen when talking non- stop for 3 hours! Her "Homework" section is a great resource if you really want to get into the weeds. I, too, along with several other commenters, am dismayed when she treats callers with less than equanimity, but I guess I forgive her because she's taught me more than anyone or anything else in life. Kinda like a sister whom you love despite her idiosyncrasies.

BTW, why do people bother to open, much less comment upon, messages about topics that they don't like? I don't get it.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

39. I only heard her for a short time, when my work schedule had me driving

at the right time to catch her.

I REALLY REALLY liked her. Was impressed with how she grounded her reports in facts. Explained connections. And, she was funny as hell!

Now my drive time is different, so I don't get her.
I love love love Stephanie Miller too---for the same reasons, actually....but same thing, I haven't heard her lately either.


As for jumping into a thread just to car-jack it.....that's why.

[Live and Learn]

16. Wonderful news. nt

[Jack Rabbit]

20. Isn't there anybody with lower advertising revenues they could drop?

Or are they worried about making a mess if they drop that tub of lard off a tall building?

[DoBotherMe]

21. Here she is

http://www.randirhodes.com/pages/livestream/index.html

[BlancheSplanchnik]

40. oh yay! thank you. n/t

[SleeplessinSoCal]

23. I'm so happy about this!!!

I've been going back to her message boards because this was just outrageous that the one powerful liberal voice on AM radio could be silenced.

So happy!

[SunSeeker]

24. Wow, I didn't know her head was on the chopping block. Glad they're keeping her. nt

[avaistheone1]

26. Will Randi be broadcasting from Costa Rica?

[Laelth]

30. Good to hear. k&r n/t

-Laelth

[SCVDem]

35. YAY!!

[lucca18]

38. Very Happy!

I listen to Randi everyday. She is smart, knowledgeable, and does her homework.

[pam4water]

42. Happy Dance

[Hayabusa]

50. Screw Premiere...

Good for Rhandi, but I hate Premiere Radio with a passion, especially after all that happened with Art Bell.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

59. I can't tell y'all how happy I am!! I've been so depressed about the possibility of losing Randi!