Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States
$28.95
Description
Book Synopsis: The cocreator of the Washington Post's “Made by History” blog reveals how the rise of conservative talk radio gave us a Republican Party incapable of governing and paved the way for Donald Trump.
America’s long road to the Trump presidency began on August 1, 1988, when, desperate for content to save AM radio, top media executives stumbled on a new format that would turn the political world upside down. They little imagined that in the coming years their brainchild would polarize the country and make it nearly impossible to govern. Rush Limbaugh, an enormously talented former disc jockey—opinionated, brash, and unapologetically conservative—pioneered a pathbreaking infotainment program that captured the hearts of an audience no media executive knew existed. Limbaugh’s listeners yearned for a champion to punch back against those maligning their values. Within a decade, this format would grow from fifty-nine stations to over one thousand, keeping millions of Americans company as they commuted, worked, and shouted back at their radios. The concept pioneered by Limbaugh was quickly copied by cable news and digital media.
Radio hosts form a deep bond with their audience, which gives them enormous political power. Unlike elected representatives, however, they must entertain their audience or watch their ratings fall. Talk radio boosted the Republican agenda in the 1990s, but two decades later, escalation in the battle for the airwaves pushed hosts toward ever more conservative, outrageous, and hyperbolic content.
Donald Trump borrowed conservative radio hosts’ playbook and gave Republican base voters the kind of pugnacious candidate they had been demanding for decades. By 2016, a political force no one intended to create had completely transformed American politics.
Details
Discover the captivating story behind the rise of conservative talk radio and its profound impact on American politics with Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States. Written by the co-creator of the Washington Post’s renowned “Made by History” blog, this groundbreaking book offers a revealing look into how a seemingly innocent radio format revolutionized the Republican Party and paved the way for the Trump presidency.
Unleashed on August 1, 1988, conservative talk radio was initially developed as a last-ditch effort to save struggling AM radio stations. Little did media executives know that this new format would go on to reshape the political landscape and unleash an unstoppable force. Through the charismatic and uncompromising persona of Rush Limbaugh, the pioneer of conservative talk radio, a fervent audience hungry for a champion was awakened, injecting new life into an industry teetering on the brink of collapse.
As the popularity of conservative talk radio surged, so did its influence. The format quickly spread from a mere fifty-nine stations to over a thousand, capturing the hearts and minds of millions of commuting Americans. The impact of this radio revolution extended far beyond the airwaves, as cable news and digital media also adopted this engaging format.
One of the most remarkable aspects of talk radio is the deep connection between hosts and their audience. Unlike traditional politicians, radio hosts must constantly entertain their listeners to maintain their ratings. This unique dynamic grants these hosts immense political power, allowing them to shape public sentiment and define the Republican agenda.
Donald Trump, seizing upon the playbook of these influential radio hosts, emerged as the pugnacious candidate that Republican base voters had been yearning for. By skillfully leveraging the hyperbolic content and outrageous tactics popularized by conservative radio, Trump harnessed an unexpected political force that completely transformed American politics by the time the 2016 elections arrived.
Experience the gripping tale of how talk radio reshaped the Republican Party and redefined American politics. Delve into Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States to gain a deeper understanding of the power of media and its ability to shape our nation’s destiny. Don’t miss out on this eye-opening journey - order your copy today!
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