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Washington News Talk Host Andy Parks Dies at 68

Parks spent 25 years at WMAL before leaving the station in 2010.

Ryan Hedrick

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WMAL

One of Washington’s notable news/talk radio personalities, Andy Parks passed away this week; he was 68. Parks spent 25 years at WMAL before leaving the station in 2010. The station announced the news on its website Tuesday.

Following his tenure at WMAL, Parks would go on to host a show that aired on WTNT-AM in Washington and later WWRC-AM 1260.

One of Parks’ closest friends and former co-workers, Fed Grandy, appeared on “O’Connor & Company” Tuesday to reflect on his memories of Parks.

“I met Andy on the air one day,” explained Grandy. “About midway through the show, Chris Berry comes in and hires me on the air. That’s how it started, and the rest is history.”

The team known as “Grandy and Andy” shared many moments and several years on the air as two of Washington D.C.’s most prominent radio duos.

Up until his death, Parks was hosting a podcast called “Politically Unstable,” distributed via the Washington Times website. The last episode was recorded on Feb. 16.

According to WMAL, Parker was active in many charities. With his radio colleagues, he raised significant funds for Children’s Hospital, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Fisher House Foundation, and many other worthy causes.

Andy is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Patty, his children Drew and Jennifer, their spouses, and three grandchildren. 

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News Audio

Joe Pags: Viewers Would Give CNN Another Try if John Catsimatidis Bought It

“People are willing to come back. People are willing to see what you would do.”

Barrett News Media

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77 WABC owner John Catsimatidis has publicly shared he’d be interested in purchasing CNN, and would only command a $1 yearly salary to have the opportunity to operate the station. Joe Pags believes it could be exactly what the network needs.

During a conversation with Catsimatidis Thursday evening, Pags shared that his listeners had simply written off CNN.

“Early on in the program, I mentioned that you were making an offer for CNN. I opened up my phone lines, and they melted down,” said Pags. “I asked my listeners: Would you give CNN another chance? Now, John, my listeners don’t wanna give CNN another chance.

“But when I asked them that question and I told them who you were and the offer that you were making, they — to a person — said ‘Yeah, I’ll give them another try’. So people are willing to come back. People are willing to see what you would do.”

Pags then asked if there was a realistic possibility that Catsimatidis could purchase the network from Warner Bros. Discovery.

“I think it’s real. I think it could happen, but we need some common sense to preside,” Catsimatidis said.

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Megyn Kelly: Fox Wants to ‘Keep Tucker Carlson Muzzled’ Through 2025

“He was not fired, he was just booted off the show. They continue to pay him because they want to keep him muzzled through at least 2025.”

Maddy Troy

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(Photo: SiriusXM)

On Thursday’s episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, Megyn Kelly spoke with Chadwick Moore, author of the forthcoming book Tucker, to talk about Tucker Carlson’s first Tucker on Twitter episode and the news surrounding Fox’s reputation as a network post-Tucker.

Megyn Kelly started the show with a clip from the first episode of Tucker on Twitter, then followed up with the response he received from Fox lawyers.

“He reportedly got a letter from Fox News saying you breached your contract. You are required to stay exclusive to us because remember, as I first reported, he was not fired, he was just booted off the show. They continue to pay him because they want to keep him muzzled through at least 2025.

“Fox’s lawyer said something about him rendering services? Well, I don’t know if he’s actually rendering services if it’s not getting paid. What I was told initially is that Twitter is not mentioned in his noncompete, and that is why I suppose that Fox News employees are allowed to use Twitter to express their opinions on issues of the day and that would be apparently what Tucker did in this.”

“He’s not making money, he’s not an employee of Elon Musk or partnering with Elon Musk in any way and Fox people have said that they’re committed to keeping him off the air until 2025, until after the election is over and his contract runs out in early 2025,” said Moore. 

“I’m gonna get into the ratings but they’re absolutely abysmal in his time slot throughout the prime time,” Kelly argued. “I don’t know if we’re calling there’s a boycott or just people are done, it’s not like a temporary thing.” 

She then looked to her notes for the yearly comparison, “Year over year Fox lost 62%.“

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Buck Sexton: If Candidates Aren’t Coming On Our Show, They’re Not Serious

“If you’re not going to go on the biggest radio shows in the country, as a Republican, I don’t think it’s fair to say that you’re serious.”

Barrett News Media

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The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show is one of the largest radio programs in the nation. The show recently eclipsed the 500 affiliates mark. With that stature comes an expectation that conservative political candidates would want to appear on the show. Sexton argues that’s not always the case.

During Thursday’s show, Sexton mentioned that the program has begun working on landing interviews with as many prospective 2024 Republican presidential nominees.

“We are already reaching out to Mike Pence to try to get him to come on the show,” Sexton said. “Hopefully, we’ll get him in the next couple of weeks. We’ve already got Nikki Haley coming on next Tuesday. People have said ‘What about RFK Jr?’. I’ve said I’ve got to talk to him myself. We’re going to reach out again. We’ll have to have Vivek (Ramaswamy) again. You’re going to get to hear from everyone.”

Sexton then said the show would likely not feature an interview with former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson because “we do have to set some kind of a cap”. He then mentioned that former New Jersey governor Chris Christie would be someone the program would speak with.

“I think we should have Chris Christie coming on…the team just told me we’ve reached out to Chris Christie’s team several times. No response. Which, to me, says if you’re not gonna come on this show, you’re not really running as a Republican President. That’s my opinion. If you’re not going to go on the biggest radio shows in the country, as a Republican, I don’t think it’s fair to say that you’re serious.”

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