Top News/Talk Media Stories This Past Week (December 15-19, 2025)
Here are the most talked about stories of the past week (12/15-19) on news/talk radio and related talk media according to TALKERS:
Stories
- Venezuela Tanker Blockade / Regime Change / Boat Strikes
- Trump TV Address / The Economy
- Brown U.-MIT Shooter Case
- Health Care Bill / ACA Premiums
- Susie Wiles Interview Controversy
- Reiner Slayings / Trump Comments
- Sydney Mass Shooting / Antisemitism
- Bongino to Exit FBI
- Epstein Files Photos / Gender Affirming Care Ban
- U.S.-Taiwan Arms Deal
People
- Donald Trump
- Nicolás Maduro
- Pete Hegseth
- Susie Wiles
- Kash Patel
- Mike Johnson
- Jerome Powell
- Rob & Michelle Reiner / Nick Reiner
- Dan Bongino
- RFK Jr / Dr. Mehmet Oz
To see the full TALKERS Stories, Topics, and People Charts, please click HERE.
company’s currently outstanding common stock, based on 6,556,621 shares outstanding as of December 11, 2025. After closing, these shares were returned to treasury and are no longer outstanding. Chief financial officer Samuel Bush says, “We are pleased to announce the completion of a privately negotiated stock repurchase transaction, which underscores our ongoing commitment to deliver value to our shareholders. This transaction reflects our confidence in the company’s long-term strategy and financial strength, while providing us with greater flexibility to manage our capital structure. We remain focused on disciplined capital allocation and generating a meaningful return for all stakeholders.”
Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2031. The company reports that it “received from Eligible Holders valid and unwithdrawn tenders and related Consents, as reported by its exchange agent, representing approximately $476.02 million in aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes, or approximately 97.580% of the aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes outstanding.” This move allows Urban One to kick the can down the road another three years in exchange for paying debt holders a higher rate of return.
If you missed yesterday’s webinar, look for the replay which will be posted today at 
first handed out in 1971, are among the most prestigious in journalism. In 2025, about 5,000 entries were submitted in the professional and student categories, also making it one of the most competitive.” To be eligible, work must have been published between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. This year, RTDNA is offering an Early Bird Discount for entries submitted by 5:00 pm ET on Tuesday, January 20. The final entry deadline is 5:00 pm ET Thursday, February 19. Entrants can find 
2) Marketers and media agencies significantly overestimate audience shares to Pandora/Spotify and massively underestimate AM/FM radio audiences; and 3) Interestingly, as older demographics flock to podcasts, the median age of the podcast audience ages sharply from 29 in 2017 to 39. The study notes that “in 2017, podcasts’ daily reach was greatest among 18-24s. Eight years later, podcasts’ daily reach has surged, especially in older demographics. The older the age group, the greater the growth in the podcast daily audience. Today, podcasts’ greatest reach centers on 25-44s, with significant growth among 45-64s.” 
across documentary, entertainment, news, sports, and corporate audio.” NYFestivals EVP Rose Anderson adds, “The robust world of audio storytelling today is fully represented in the 2026 edition of the Grand Jury. From audiobooks to podcasts and video podcasts, from investigative journalism to live events, and from mystery to social justice, this year’s men and women of the jury volunteer their time and lend their expertise.” 
Kraeutler – wife of program founder and host Tom Kraeutler. Tom Kraeutler passed away on February 2 of this year, but the show continued with longtime co-host Leslie Segrete hosting the program. The show was produced by Money Pit Media and Squeaky Door Productions. Sue Kraeutler says, “I want to thank our loyal affiliates and sponsors for believing in us going back to when we first started some 25 years ago. This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s time that we closed the Squeaky Door.” “The Money Pit Radio Show” aired on hundreds of radio stations across the U.S.
Lochridge entered the business in the sales department and by 1970 became the general manager of WRIF, Detroit. He was promoted by ABC to general manager for WPLJ, New York in 1973. He would serve at KAUM, Houston before returning to New York to serve with ABC Radio Networks. He later joined NBC’s The Source. In 1988 he and his wife purchased a small station in Wickenburg, Arizona.
November 10 at the age of 51. Adams, whose real name was Michael Paul Kunkle, began his media career in the print industry at the Harrison City Post (PA) while in high school. He transitioned to radio and served with stations including WBT-AM/FM, Charlotte; KTRH-AM, Houston, WYAY-FM, Atlanta and KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh, where he was program director. He launched his consultancy, Marshall Adams Media, in 2012.
One of my first jobs out of college was working in the marketing department of WNBC-AM, New York. Yes, “Imus In The Morning” (Don Imus – not nice), Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow – nicest star who ever lived). One of my tasks was to pull ratings numbers from the computer for the sales department. I was fascinated by TIME SPENT LISTENING (TSL) and CUME numbers. I’d rank them, compare, trend them every way imaginable.
chairman and CEO Bob Pittman comments, “We’re pleased with our third quarter performance, generating Adjusted EBITDA of $205 million, slightly above the midpoint of our guidance range, and our consolidated revenue was down 1.1% compared to prior year, at the high end of our guidance, and up 2.8% excluding political revenue. And we continue to take important steps in the evolution of our company – last week we announced our new relationship with Amazon Ads, which will provide advertisers using Amazon DSP access to our vast audio portfolio, and just this morning we announced our new TikTok partnership, which will bring TikTok creators into iHeart’s ecosystem. We are committed to exploring new ways to unlock the value of our unparalleled assets, maximizing the unique position we occupy in the evolving media landscape, and creating innovative cross-platform opportunities to bring new products and services to our consumers and our advertising partners.”
revenue was $51.3 million, a decline of 12.6% from the same period in 2024. The company’s broadcast revenue was $40.7 million, down 11.5% from Q3 of 2024, and digital media revenue was $10.5 million, down 3% from the same period a year ago. The company posted a net loss of $2.3 million compared to the net loss of $6.6 million it posted in Q3 of 2024.
agency advertising market, partially offset by sustained growth in high-margin, owned-and-operated digital revenue and local direct sales.” Beasley recorded an operating loss of approximately $300,000 in the third quarter of 2025, compared to an operating income of $1.2 million in the 
prior year quarter. Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley comments, “Our third quarter results demonstrate continued operational discipline. While advertising demand remains challenging, particularly within agency channels, the quality of our revenue mix continues to strengthen, led by sustained growth and record margins in our digital business. Digital revenue now represents roughly one-quarter of total company revenue, with owned-and-operated products driving margin expansion and scalability. At the same time, our cost-reduction initiatives are yielding tangible, lasting benefits. We’ve reduced total station operating and corporate expenses by $15 million year-to-date, while improving organizational efficiency and positioning Beasley to generate higher returns on every dollar of revenue. As we move into the fourth quarter, we remain focused on disciplined execution, strengthening our balance sheet through planned asset sales, and advancing our strategy to deliver sustainable shareholder value.”
period last year. Saga says this was primarily the result of an industry wide settlement with two music licensing organizations (ASCAP and BMI) resulting in a retroactive rate adjustment of approximately $2.1 million covering the period from January 1, 2022, to the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Station operating expense would have decreased $120 thousand or 0.5% for the quarter without this settlement. For the quarter, Saga had an operating loss of $626 thousand compared to operating income of $1.6 million for the same quarter last year and station operating income decreased $2.5 million to $3.5 million. Without the settlement the operating loss would have been operating income of $1.5 million compared to $1.6 million and station operating income would have been $5.6 compared to $6.0 million for the same quarter last year. Saga reports a net loss of $532,000for the quarter compared to net income of $1.3 million for the third quarter last year. Saga says its balance sheet reflects $34.2 million in cash and short-term investments as of November 3, 2025.
the same period a year ago. Urban One CEO and president Alfred C. Liggins, III says, “Third quarter results came in slightly softer than expected across the board. Core radio, excluding political, finished down 8.1%, and our Radio segment is currently pacing down 30.2% all-in and 6.4% ex-political for the fourth quarter of 2025. Revenues at our Reach Media and Digital segments were down 40.0% and 30.0% respectively, which was on the lower end of expectations. Cable TV advertising was down 5.4% and affiliate revenue was down 9.1% driven by continuing subscriber churn. In light of the soft overall market conditions, we are reducing our full year guidance from $60 million of Adjusted EBITDA to $56 to $58 million. Our focus remains on controlling costs, managing debt, leverage and liquidity. During the third quarter of 2025, we repurchased $4.5 million of our 2028 Notes at an average price of approximately 52.0% of par, reducing our outstanding debt balance to $487.8 million.” 
Cincinnati – died on Sunday at age 80. As reported by John Kiesewetter at WVXU.org reports on Trumpy’s passing and his career. Trumpy pitched the idea of a sports talk program to then-general manager of WLW-AM, Cincinnati Charles Murdock but was shot down. He turned to WCKY-AM and launched the show there. Three years later, WLW-AM hired him away from WCKY. Trumpy, who played for the hometown Cincinnati Bengals from 1968-1977, would move on to national television with NBC Sports that culminated with him receiving the Pete Rozelle Award for lifetime achievement in NFL broadcasting. 
to have interviewed tens of thousands of celebrities, authors, politicians and other assorted newsmakers during his long radio career.” The Free Press obit states, “He filled a variety of roles for WJR across the decades beginning in the 1970s. Whether hosting a weekday morning or afternoon slot or doing a weekend shift, he drew fans with his friendly, upbeat style and filled ‘The Warren Pierce Show’ with a mix of interviews, movie reviews, news and weather. A dedicated fan of University of Michigan football, Pierce also did sideline reporting for WJR’s coverage of Wolverines games during the era of coach Bo Schembechler.” He left WJR in 1993 and joined WJBK-TV, Detroit as a morning news anchor. 
8.4% excluding the $6.9 million impact from discontinuing the DailyWire and Dan Bongino relationships. The company posted a net loss of $20.4 million compared to net loss of $10.3 million in Q3 2024. Cumulus breaks down its revenue by segment and reports that its broadcast radio spot revenue declined 13.1% to $83.7 million, while network revenue fell 26.5% to $31.2 million. Total broadcast revenue was 
$114.9 million, a decrease of 17.2% from the same period in 2024. Cumulus president and CEO Mary G. Berner says, “In an advertising environment that remained challenging for legacy media, we continued to outperform. We once again gained market share in total broadcast spot as well as in digital, where our market share gains reflected the strong growth of our digital marketing services business, which was up 34% in the quarter. Additionally, we remained highly focused on re-engineering the business, reducing annualized fixed costs by $7 million and accelerating our efforts to implement a wide array of AI initiatives to drive efficiencies and enhance growth. These results underscore our disciplined focus on optimizing performance in areas that we can control. While we do not expect the current headwinds to abate in the near-term, we remain confident in our ability to position the company for long-term success through strong execution and by maximizing value from the company’s underlying assets.”