Write A Caption: Matt Lauer

This had me fooled at first. The is a very well made and rather disturbing photo shop from Ellen.

Arsalan Iftikhar's Thank You Letter To Don Lemon

Fox News anchors work heard to be ignorant and offensive. For Don Lemon, it just comes naturally. Lemon unsurprisingly placed his foot in his mouth when he asked Muslim civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar if he supported ISIS.

“Again in August, 16 percent of French citizens support ISIS,” Lemon pressed. “Would you describe those who support ISIS as Islamic extremists? Do you support ISIS?”

The question stunned Iftikhar.

“Wait,” he replied. “Did you just ask me if I support ISIS? I just answered your question. I said that obviously these 16 percent of people support the ideology, but again, I don’t think that would necessarily extrapolate to supporting of killing of innocent people.”

Imagine asking a German civil rights lawyer if he supports the Nazi Party. That gives you an idea of how tasteless Lemon's question was to Iftikhar.

In Islamic Monthly, Iftikhar thanked Lemon in an open letter. Get ready for the snark.

“Now to be completely honest with you,” Iftikhar wrote, “I totally thought that I had misheard him because surely there was no respectable journalist in the world who would ask a Muslim human rights lawyer whether he supports an organization which violates human rights each and every day.”

“But then I remembered that I was dealing with Don Lemon,” he said.

Just reading that made me flinch. Iftikhar delivered a serious burn to Lemon. Unfortunately for Lemon, Iftikhar is just getting warmed up.

Iftikhar wrote, “In less than 24 hours, there were nearly 5,000 media articles written condemning Don Lemon for his asinine question in major publications such as BuzzFeed, Deadspin, The Hollywood Reporter, USA Today and more. Most of these articles called the ISIS question just the latest in a series of major Don Lemon on-air gaffes; including his previous theory about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 perhaps flying into a “black hole” or once asking an alleged Bill Cosby rape victim why she didn’t bite off the comedian’s penis whilst being allegedly raped by him.”

Iftikhar finishes off Lemon with these paragraphs.

“I can honestly say that I have never become more ‘famous’ than after this latest Don Lemon gaffe,” Iftikhar said, before implying that Lemon has perhaps brought enough embarrassment on CNN that he may be following the likes of Ed Henry over to a different news network.

“It is a sincere honor to be added to the litany of famous ‘Malaysian-black-hole-penis-biting’ Don Lemon media gaffes which can be added to his audition tape for his next job at FOX News Channel,” Iftikhar wrote.

“So from the bottom of my heart,” he concluded, “I want to publicly thank Don Lemon for making me famous with his patently offensive racist dumb-ass question.”

Let's recap Lemon's other lowlights.

Lemon was actually stupid enough to ask Mary Schiavo, the former Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation, if Airlines Flight 370 disappeared in a black hole. Lemon finds a way to trivialize a tragic plane disappearance.

Lemon projected blame on alleged Bill Cosby rape victim, Joan Tarshis, for not defending herself. If you wonder why more women don't come forward about being rape than just watch this interview.

Lemon: Can I ask you this, because—and please, I don't mean to be crude, OK?

Tarshis: Yeah.

Lemon: Because I know some of you—and you said this last night, that he—you lied to him and said, "I have an infection, and if you rape me, or if you do—if you have intercourse with me, then you will probably get it and give it to your wife."

Tarshis: Right.

Lemon: And you said he made you perform oral sex.

Tarshis: Right.

Lemon: You—you know, there are ways not to perform oral sex if you didn't want to do it.

Tarshis: Oh. Um, I was kind of stoned at the time, and quite honestly, that didn't even enter my mind. Now I wish it would have.

Lemon: Right. Meaning the using of the teeth, right?

Tarshis: Yes, that's what I'm thinking you're ...

Lemon: As a weapon.

Tarshis: Yeah, I didn't even think of it.

Lemon didn't have to ask that.

Both Sides Do It! Both Sides Do It!

Offering actually political analysis hurts Luke Russert's #dudebro brain. It is much easier for him to say, "Both sides do it." #LukeRussert #media #politicalhack #MSNBC #NBCNews #hack #progressive #liberal #cablenews

A photo posted by Michael Hussey (@pushingrope1) on Nov 11, 2014 at 1:46pm PST

Is there a least deserving person on a cable news gig than Luke Russert? He graduated from Boston College in 2008 and was hired by NBC News to cover the prtesidential election. While still in college Russert was co-hosting the XM Satellite Radio show 60/20 Sports with James Carville. I have no idea what their shared expertise in sports is.

If you think Luke Russert didn't get these gigs because his father is Tim Russert than you are a fool. In Russert's entire journalism career he has never broken one story.

Online Game: Find An Ethnic Person Working At Vox

Ezra Klein's terrible site Vox has a noticeable lack of diversity. Let's see if you can find an ethnic person working at Vox on the masthead.

Let's check out the whiteness of the senior staff members.

Ezra Klein - Editor-in-Chief

Melissa Bell - Executive Editor

Matthew Yglesias - Executive Editor

Allison Rockey - Engagement Editor

Max Fisher - Content Director

Kyle Keller - Analytics Editor

Eleanor Barkhorn - Features Editor

Sarah Kliff - Senior Editor

Brad Plumer - Senior Editor

Timothy B. Lee - Senior Editor

Dylan Matthews - Special Projects Editor

Todd VanDerWerff - Culture Editor

As you can see Ezra Klein has hired a diverse group of white, whiter and super white people. Now let's see if you can find an person who isn't white working at Vox. Happy hunting.

Elise Stefanik Flees Interview

Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R - NY) helped write the Paul Ryan plan to privatize Social Security. Stefanik is being less than candid when she says she will not vote to make changes in Social Security.

“As a member of Congress, I will fight for our seniors and will not vote to make any changes, reductions, or cuts to those in or near retirement.”

WNYT asked Stefanik for specifics about how she would protect Social Security. The reporter wanted more than talking points. That was too much for Stefanik and she walked away from the interview. Literally.

Great Moments In Journalism: Charlie Rose Edition

This must be the proudest moment for Charlie Rose's television journalism career. Charlie Rose takes the ice bucket challenge. I'm sure with Ferguson, the Ukraine and the Gaza Strip being recent news stories, the story if celebrities pouring bucket of ice water on the heads was the most pressing news story of the morning for CBS News. This is the kind of hard-hitting journalism we need to demand more of from the media.

Blast From the Past: Robert Novak Edition

The late Robert Novak sure knew how to call them. Novak didn't think Richard Nixon could beat George Romney for the 1968 Republican nomination. America would have been much better off if Novak's prediction proved to be true.

News Station Turns Down Rick Scott Interview

A sure sign a candidate is in trouble is when he or she is scared of the media. Scott Maxwell reports that Rick Scott is placing demands on how the media conducts interviews. These are the kind of demands that Hollywood stars place on the entertainment media. Short answer: Scott will only do fluff piece interviews.

Thanks, but no thanks. Gov. Rick Scott is well known for dodging tough questions. So he has apparently adopted a new media strategy: demand that journalists not ask them. News 13 anchor Ybeth Bruzual recently told viewers that her station had refused to do an interview with Scott after the governor's campaign demanded to choose the interviewer — and the interview topic. Specifically, Bruzual said the governor was only willing to talk about his "Hispanic outreach" efforts. Everything else — from Scott's record-setting budget to scandal among his appointees at the expressway authority — was off-limits. Hmm. I can see why News 13 declined. The kind of airtime Scott wanted isn't called an interview. It's called an ad.

The Florida Democratic establishment can drag Scott polls numbers down if they mount a good attack. Scott isn't suddenly become Bill Clinton and turn his poll numbers around.

Russia's Bill O'Reilly

It is nice to know Russia has their own version of Bill O'Reilly. Dmitry Kiselev, a host of the Russian news show News Hour told his audience that Russia could reduce the United States to "radioactive ash." It's nice to see that Kiselev is trying to be the voice of reason.

Politisite has the English translation.

“Russia – the only country in the world, capable of transforming the U.S. into radioactive ash ! I do not know whether the match , but Obama called Putin on January 21 , but the next day , literally January 22, as the official organ of the Russian government appears article [ in "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" ], where quite lucidly chewed how our system works guaranteed nuclear retaliation “Perimeter” . In the U.S., call her dead hand – « dead hand .” Even if all the people in our command posts after enemy nuclear attack silenced , invulnerable system will automatically send to our strategic missile flight from mines and submarines in the right direction “, – announced Kiselev , recommending interesting to read in ” Rossiyskaya Gazeta ” , calling it ” extremely interesting . ”

Kiselev is either extremely stupid or a total Russian propaganda tool. Kiselev is discussing nuclear warfare as a viable option to end the diplomatic disagreement between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine. What nuclear war would likely do is kill every single person on the planet.

The good news is Russia has television pundits just as stupid as America's talking heads.

Is Alex Sink Trying to Lose?

I wrote before that Alex Sink is making false promises by guaranteeing she can make Congress bipartisan as a freshman member of Congress. If Sink wins the general election she would be a back bencher in Congress. Short answer: Sink would have little power. John Boehner and Eric Cantor aren't going to listen to a first term Democrat. Never the less: Sink continues to campaign on bipartisanship.

Sink did this campaign ad with her father Kester.

Transcript of the ad.

Kester Sink: You’ve probably heard all the nasty things Washington is saying about my daughter

Alex Sink: That’s my dad, Kester Sink.

Kester: I know Alex is a big girl, she can defend herself.

Alex: All that fighting and lying is why Washington doesn’t get anything done.

Kester: So what are we going to do about it?

Alex: Democrats and Republicans have to work together to cap flood insurance and protect Social Security and Medicare.

Kester: She always did know how to solve problems. Got that from her mom.

Alex: Thanks dad. I’m Alex Sink and I approve this message.

Kester: And so do I.

Does Sink seriously believe that Republicans are going to help her "protect Social Security and Medicare"? The Center of Budget and Policy Priorities did a study of Rep. Paul Ryan's budget. Social Security would be cut under the the Ryan Plan.

The first element is price indexing. Under current law, Social Security benefits for new retirees are designed to keep pace with the growth of average wages. Under Rep. Ryan’s plan, initial benefits for 70 percent of earners would instead be related to the growth in prices, which in the long run grow less rapidly than wages.

Rep. Ryan’s indexing proposal imposes the greatest reductions on those with the highest earnings, and it exempts those with the very lowest earnings, so it is sometimes called “progressive” price indexing. Nonetheless, it would affect fully 70 percent of all Social Security beneficiaries — everyone with earnings above $22,000 in today’s terms. Over time, price indexing would turn Social Security into a program that provides only a small retirement benefit — and one that is largely unrelated to prior earnings.

The problem is Sink is terrified to state her policy positions so she retreats to empty rhetoric. Sink's "On The Issues" pages is filled with talking points but lacks policy proposals. Here is an example.

Improving the Affordable Care Act: Keep the Good, Fix the Bad

The rollout of the website and problems that have arisen with the implementation are unacceptable: The Obama Administration needs to be held accountable to get the website running, and making any necessary changes to fix any problems with the law. If these changes cannot be made in a timely way, then components of the law should be delayed until these issues are addressed.

But we cannot go back to a time when individuals with pre-existing conditions were denied care, seniors were forced to pay more for medicine, or insurance companies could do whatever they wanted – including kicking families off their plans because they got sick.

What is not helpful in Congress’ conversation about America’s healthcare was the government shutdown, or the gridlock in Washington that is holding Republicans and Democrats back from working together to get results and solutions – and it’s exactly this culture of dysfunction that I’m running to change.

If we delay the law there are Americans with pre-existing conditions would be denied health care coverage. Employees would not be able to get coverage through their employees by buying from exchanges. Alex Sink doesn't have a proposal for how Americans will get coverage if the law is delayed a year. The Obama administration has already delayed the penalties against employers that don't provide health care coverage. Does Sink support delaying penalties against employers for two years? Sink is more concerned with throwing talking points about the shutdown than outlining health care proposals.

Proof that Sink is scared of stating her policy positions is her avoidance of the media. Curtis Krueger reports that Sink hasn't held a press conference since Feb. 26. Sink did not stay to speak to the media after a recent candidate forum. Sink's opponents Republican David Jolly and Libertarian Lucas Overby stayed to talk to the media. Candidates speak to the media because they view it as free publicity. It is obvious that Sink has become spooked after her misconstrued statement on immigration.

Sink has denied this.

In an interview Wednesday, Sink denied taking a cautious approach in the last week of the race and stressed she wasn't avoiding the media.

"I have been all over the place" urging supporters to vote, she said, and also to "find every undecided voter that we possibly can." As examples, she said she went to the Saturday Morning Market in St. Petersburg, a festival in Pass-a-Grille and spent a few hours knocking on doors.

Sink's campaign has been scant on details to the media on where she will campaign. That is definitely a sign Sink is avoiding the media.

Rick Scott's Contempt of the Press Increases

This should leave no doubt Gov. Rick Scott is doing everything he can to avoid Florida's "Sunshine Law." Tia Mitchell reports both she and photographer Scott Keeler were asked to leave the Florida House Press Gallery. Mitchell and Keller were covering Scott practicing his State of the State speech. The House Sergeant-at-Arms staff told Mitchell and Keller that Scott requested that they be removed.

Mitchell reports that Keller covered Scott's 2012 and 2013 State of the State rehearsal with no incident. The only explanation that was given on why Keller and Mitchell couldn't cover Scott's State of the State rehearsal was that the event is private.

Scott came into the Governor's mansion intent on limiting access by the media. Scott has only gotten worse. The Miami Herald reports Scott uses his own private plane to avoid logging where he travels to the media. Scott may use his own plane but taxpayers are paying for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents that provide security for the Governor. Scott released details of his flight travel last year to the media. Scott has now cited the need for security as the reason not to release his flight travel to the media. Governors Charlie Crist, Jeb Bush and Lawton Chiles all shared their flight travel destinations with the media.

Scott is now waging full war against media access. Pissing off the media is not the best way to get positive coverage. Maybe Scott doesn't even care anymore.

Politics Is Not A Sporting Event

Adam Smith of The Tampa Bay Times announced his political winners and losers of the week. This is a weekly column by Smith. I have nothing against Smith. However, I think this column reduces politics to a spectator sport when more attention should be paid attention to policy.

Did Floridians win this week because Sen. Marco Rubio fired off some bluster against the Nicolás Maduro government of Venezuela on Twitter.

#Venezuela expect @NicolasMaduro false claim that @VoluntadPopular violate statutes & democratic framework #SiTeVasDeCarnavalPierdesAVzla

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 26, 2014

Does anyone really believe Maduro reads Rubio's Twitter feed and tremble in fear. Maduro has reacted harshly to protesters in his country. I actually don't have a problem with Rubio voicing his displeasure. Madoro has jailed protest leader Leopoldo Lopez and 17 protesters have been killed. This is a serious international matter. Smith's column scoring Rubio's rhetoric as a win trivializes to serious matters in Venezuela. What is more important in Smith's column is which political figure is coming out on top.

According to Smith, David Jolly is the loser of the week. Jolly's camp falsely accused opponent Alex Sink of racism. It would be better if Smith informed his readers on how Sink's comments on immigration were taken out of context by a political tracker. Instead, Smith evaluates politicians as if they were a potential NFL draft pick at a scouting combine.

The Tampa Bay Times shouldn't treat politicians as if they were making odds for Vegas bookies. Media is too obsessed with the horse race. Media thinks people will be bored if policy wonkery was explained. Ezra Klein wrote a successful economic policy blog at the Washington Post. The blog was so successful that Klein has decided to branch out and start the Vox Media project. There is a place for policy driven journalism. The Tampa Bay Times should produce more policy posts to expand their internet reach. Let's face it. No one is going to remember who were Adam Smith's political winner and loser of March 2, 2014 were.

The Young Turks Need To Correct Their Story On Ginger Lee

Ben Mankiewicz of The Young Turks mocked Ginger Lee in a Young Turks segment during the height of the Anthony Weiner scandal. Mankiewicz cklaimed that Ginger Lee was looking for a payday. Mankiewicz kept asking during the segment why Ginger Lee would hire Gloria Allred. Mankiewicz kept asking "what wrong" happened to Ginger Lee. Mankiewicz was extremely snarky during the segment.

I asked Mankiewicz on Twitter if he was so curious why didn't he do the due diligence as a journalist and Ginger Lee himself.

.@BenMank77 Perhaps this video clip will help you remember. http://t.co/pwdVzgli8C You could have asked @gingerlee why she hired Alfred.

— Michael Hussey (@pushingrope) December 19, 2013

I expressed a long-term problem I have with The Young Turks.

.@BenMank77 I worked with Tina Dupuy. So we have a connection. What kills me about TYT is you never reseaech anything. Contact @gingerlee.

— Michael Hussey (@pushingrope) December 19, 2013

Politically, I agree with The Young Turks on 95 percent of political issues. I can't take The Young Turks seriously because they perform a lazy form of journalism.

Ginger Lee chimed in and explained why she hired Allred.

@pushingrope @BenMank77 That moment that you need Gloria is when people are camping in front of your home for days at a time. When you're

— Ginger (@gingerlee) December 19, 2013

@pushingrope @BenMank77 having a nervous breakdown because you want to be left alone because there were NEVER any pics, sexts, or ANYTHING.

— Ginger (@gingerlee) December 19, 2013

That is a good reason to hire Allred. Nancy Pelosi was discussing a House investigation into Weiner. If Ginger Lee is called to testify she would most certainly need an attorney.

Ginger Lee answers Mankiewicz's question about a big payday.

@pushingrope @BenMank77 And I never made a single dime. No interviews on Inside Edition. No ABC, NBC, CNN. NONE. I didn't get a 'payday'.

— Ginger (@gingerlee) December 19, 2013

Ginger Lee is making a living in real estate and selling antiques at flea markets. Ginger Lee has very expensive medical bills due to lupus. She hasn't gone back to porn and a bad foot has kept her from stripping. Ginger Lee is hardly raking in the money.

One thing to note about the Twitter exchange is Mankiewicz never answered the question about why he didn't contact Ginger Lee. If Mankiewicz wanted to know why she hired Allred he could have asked her. I got quotes from Ginger Lee for a post written on this blog. She isn't hard to get in contact with.

I think Mankiewicz and the team at The Young Turks mean well and are passionate progressives. However, they are not journalists.

Media Should Ask Charlie Crist About Peter Schorsch

Charlie Crist will speak to the media tomorrow.

WHAT: Governor Charlie Crist holds a media availability

WHERE: Outside the West Palm Beach Train Station, 209 S Tamarind Ave, West Palm Beach, FL

WHEN: 1:00 PM on Friday, November 22, 2013.

The media and activists should ask why Crist has allowed Peter Schorsch to be involved with his campaign. Schorsch owes the Florida Elections Commission $68,000.00, has pleaded no contest to grand theft, has had run-ins with the IRS, and is currently the focus of an online harassment investigation. Yet Crist tapped Schorsch to help set-up his campaign kickoff. I think this requires an explanation on the part of Crist.

Did Peter Schorsch Plant False Story About Michael Pinson Charity

A source told me that Peter Schorsch planted a false story to Noah Pransky, of WTSP, about Michael Pinson's charity. I blogged about Pinson's charity and now question the source of Pransky's story.

.@noahpransky I have a question about who was your source for the Michael Pinson charity story. I have been told it is Peter Schorsch. True?

— Michael Hussey (@pushingrope) November 19, 2013

Do me a favor and politely ask Pransky on Twitter who was the source of his story on Pinson's charity. WTSP did report on Pinson's charity helping out after the storm hit Haiti. I don't know Pinson personally but after recent events I feel it is best to delete my post on Pinson's charity and question the who the source of Pransky's story is. My apologies to the people involved with the Michael Pinson Foundation.

Update: I sent a second tweet to Pransky.

.@noahpransky Nothing personal but I am not going off the record on this. Who was your source. If this person burned you than why protect?

— Michael Hussey (@pushingrope) November 19, 2013

Background: yesterday I blogged about Schorsch being investigated for payola accusations of writing favorable posts and deleting negative posts, if politicos would pay for advertising on SaintPetersblog.

Cat Fight Between Robert Reich and Bill O'Reilly

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged Bill O'Reilly to a debate. Reich called O'Reilly out in a petition at Democracy For America to have a debate with O'Reilly.

Yet O'Reilly refuses to have me on his show to debate any of this -- either his initial charge that I'm a Communist, or his indignation that I mentioned it in last weekend's op-ed. When he first claimed I was a Communist I challenged him to a debate -- a civil debate. He refused. He still refuses. He won't even debate the topic of my op-ed -- the increasing shrillness and divisiveness of Fox News and other media outlets, which are only adding to the vitriol of American politics.

Why won't O'Reilly debate me? What is he afraid of? I don't know but I need your help. Please join my campaign and tell Bill O'Reilly that instead of talking about me, he should have the courage and decency to debate me.

O'Reilly is still hurting from his debate with Al Franken. O'Reilly isn't going to debate anyone who would publicly embarrass him.

The Huffington Post's Horrible Reporting on Ginger Lee

Candace Raines (aka Ginger Lee) is the victim of a lazy piece of journalism by Huffingington Post pop culture blogger David Moye. The article gave the impression that Ginger Lee was going to appear in a Anthony Weiner porn parody movie produced by Mike Kulich. The charming Mr. Kulich's Twitter posts (NSFW) are filled with nude images and links relating to his Weiner porn movie. Kulich told Moye that Ginger Lee would be in his Weiner porn movie.

Sex scandals like Weiner’s make it easier for my business,” Kulich told The Huffington Post. “Everyone wants to think politicians are so clean, but they sext and watch porn just like normal people.” The DVD, scheduled for a Sept. 1 release, is in the early stages of production, but Kulich promises at least one scene will feature Ginger Lee, one of Weiner’s sexting partners. Kulich promises to donate 15 percent of sales to Weiner’s campaign.

One interesting problem. I asked Ginger Lee on Twitter if Moye interviewed her to find out if Kulich's claim was true.

@pushingrope Nope. He didn't.

— Ginger (@gingerlee) July 30, 2013

My next question was if she had ever met Kulich. She has no memory of ever meeting Kulich

@pushingrope Nope 2.0. A pair of nopes, even.

— Ginger (@gingerlee) July 30, 2013

I tweeted Kulich. Unlike Moye, he did answer my questions. He claimed he met Ginger Lee in 2006.

@pushingrope Yes. On the set of 1 Lucky Fuck #3 back in 06.

— Mike Kulich (@xxxmonarchy) July 30, 2013

According to Kulich, there will be an old Ginger Lee scenes. Raines has been out of the porn movie industry for five years.

@pushingrope stated that the Ginger Lee scenes appearing in the movie were old and would be bonus scenes for the DVD.

— Mike Kulich (@xxxmonarchy) July 30, 2013

Kulich even sent out a press release stating the there would be no new Ginger Lee scenes. There press release describes Ginger Lee as "a adult porn star."

The movie features seven scenes including Haley Sweet, Asa Akira, Brooklyn Lee, Lexi Love, Pressley Carter and appropriately, two older bonus scenes of the infamous Ginger Lee, the former adult star who gained notoriety in Weiner's first sex scandal, which forced him to resign from the United States Congress.

The problem was Moye's article made it appear that Candace Raines was coming back to the porn industry. Due to pressure I can't take credit for, The Huffington Post was forced to post a correction.

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly implied that Ginger Lee is filming a new scene for the DVD. The DVD is a compilation of existing scenes, except for one new scene.

I give credit for Kulich giving me a quick and honest response. It is interesting that I could get a straight answer from a porn producer but not a Huffington Post reporter. Moye never bothered to respond to me.

Raines/Lee will receive no profits from any old scenes that might appear in Kulich's movie. Porn performers to not profit sharing with producers or receive residuals from previous work. The porn industry does not have their version of the Screen Actors Guild union. Moye's sloppy reporting gave people the impression that Ginger Lee was returning to porn. Moye owes Candace Raines an apology.

David Moye responds to me via Twitter.

@QuiVideoTrusit @pushingrope @gingerlee The original story mentioned that the Don't Pull Out video was a compilation video of old scenes.

— david moye (@dmoyeweirdnews) July 30, 2013

@QuiVideoTrusit @pushingrope @gingerlee This was edited out of my story and I didn't notice it. My bad.

— david moye (@dmoyeweirdnews) July 30, 2013

It is amazing how everyone wants to clear the record when you are writing a blog post. I do appreciate Kulich and Moye responding. Unfortunately, Raines was damaged by needless gossip.

Cumulus Media Dropping Limbaugh and Hannity

Politico reports that Cumulus Media is planning to drop Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity from their stations by the end of the year. According to Politico, the reason is that Cumulus wants Limbaugh and Hannity to take a pay cut.

Cumulus declined to comment for this story: "Cumulus is not in a position to comment about negotiations with talent under contract, no matter what the rumor of the day might be," a spokesperson told POLITICO.

But in recent weeks, Cumulus has been quietly reaching out to radio talent agents and political insiders about new local and regional station hosts to fill some of the airtime that will be left vacant by Limbaugh and Hannity, industry sources said. Cumulus is also expected to move some of its existing talent -- which includes Mike Huckabee, Mark Levin, and Michael Savage -- into one of the slots.

The way radio ratings is being calculated is changing. Advertisers now realize that there isn't a big market for AM talk radio. The Daily Beast broke down the numbers and it isn't pretty.

A look at radio’s PPM ratings for the largest talk radio market in the nation bears this out. An apples-to-apples comparison of ratings between November ’09 and November ’10 in the New York area shows that Rush Limbaugh’s ratings on WABC declined from 5.4 to 5.0—despite the crescendo of a GOP election year landslide. Likewise, year-end to year-end comparisons of the crucial 24 to 55 demographic show that Rush declined from 3.7 to 2.6—while his packaged follow-up acts Sean Hannity and Mark Levin narrowly declined and flat-lined, respectively. And Hannity was dropped from his Philadelphia radio station along with Beck last month after being dropped from his syndicator in Salt Lake City (!) last year before finding a new home in the area.

I say good riddance.

Quote of the Day

"I'm really sorry, Milissa Harris Perry, that I forced you to talk about Snowden & barred you from discussing our multiple NSA revelations."

Glenn Greenwald, on Melissa Harris Perry's shoot the messenger coverage of Edward Snowden.

Shocking News: Elizabeth Hasselbeck Joins Fox and Friends

Fox News continues its tradition of getting former reality show stars (see: Palin, Sarah) on their network. Former Survivor contestant Elizabeth Hasselbeck will be joining Fox and Friend.

“For a decade, Elisabeth Hasselbeck has brought her passion and strong beliefs to ‘The View,’” ABC said in a statement. “We watched her journey from newlywed to motherhood, an Emmy Award-winning talk show host, author, entrepreneur and activist. She stood behind her political views even if they were not the most popular opinions at the table never shying away from voicing a difficult question. We thank Elisabeth and wish her luck as she begins this new chapter of her career.”

I had to check the part about Hasselbeck winning an Emmy. Hasselbeck and her The View co-hosts won a Daytime Emmy for outstanding talk show. Anyone want to bet on how many Emmys Hasselbeck will win on Fox and Friends?