It’s getting ugly out there in radio, TV land

Just like people in many countries around the world, millions of Americans tune in to talk radio and TV programs each day to share ideas and keep up with the latest news and political developments.  Most  political points of view are represented on the airwaves, and you only need tune in to learn the latest spin on political happenings.

Lately, I’ve noticed a new acrimony among previously happy listening audiences, as support for different political candidates creates discord among normally congenial listeners. This change has left radio and TV hosts struggling to keep listeners while staying true to their own political ideals. It’s getting ugly.

On the Republican side, one popular radio host I listen to supports Ted Cruz, another leans toward Donald Trump, and a third has kept an open mind and isn’t favoring one over another. For broadcasters who have picked a candidate, their challenge is to support their choice without disenfranchising listeners who may have opposing views. Their normally unified listening audiences suddenly are expressing highly charged differences of opinion in their political views. Emotions are running high and hosts are in danger of driving away previously faithful listeners.

One syndicated conservative host, Michael Berry, now refers to Trump supporters using pejorative and derogatory terms, including  “Trumpkins.” Keep in mind many of those people he is insulting are his faithful listeners, or at least were, until he went on the attack. He supports and stumps for Ted Cruz and he will insult anyone who does not share his view.  I like his show, but I have given up on it – it’s just become too shrill.

Another syndicated radio host, Laura Ingraham, is highly critical of the Republican establishment and its candidates (Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush-now out of the race). She likes Donald Trump because he is the anti-establishment candidate and articulates strong positions on illegal immigration and trade. I can tell that she, too, is growing weary of indulging countering opinions on her radio show. But she does take those calls and treats the callers respectfully while articulating her own views to the contrary. In my view, she is picking up new listeners by her even handed approach.

Finally, there is Rush Limbaugh, that venerable radio host and icon of American radio. He has remained fairly noncommittal to particular candidates and has been very upfront in saying that he doesn’t know exactly where this political movement is going. He says that something unique is happening in American politics and he is very interested in hearing callers’ opinions about what is driving it. He’s playing the detective and callers are providing clues to solve the mystery. His humble approach and respectful treatment of callers is most certainly building his listener base.

All of this radio drama is just another dimension in this unique presidential election that has seen conventional wisdom thwarted at every turn. This election cycle has been highly divisive, but not all that unusual in world politics and human endeavors.  Democracy, as they say, is not easy. It takes a lot of work – and patience.