WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:01.480 It's nice eyes. 2 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:05.960 Undoing Boston News Radio. 3 00:00:07.639 --> 00:00:11.160 All right, it is thank you very much, Day Hawkins, 4 00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:14.560 and it is now eleven o eight on a very 5 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:17.480 rainy night. By the way, just a little parenthetical comment 6 00:00:18.440 --> 00:00:21.559 as I I'd like to just mention that do you 7 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:29.000 remember a few months ago we had no rain September, October, November, 8 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:32.479 I mean very little, And in the last two or 9 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:36.159 three days it has been nothing but rain. And today 10 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:39.840 I'm listening during the show to the rain outside and 11 00:00:39.880 --> 00:00:42.439 it's coming down. I'm sure wherever you are as well, 12 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:47.079 so maya. My observation is that eventually it kind of 13 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:49.799 all evens out. I'll be interested to see if we 14 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:53.679 end up with a shortage of whatever our normal rain 15 00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:57.479 total is. The meteorologists will tell us that. But we 16 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:01.359 had obviously the fires that brush fires that broke out 17 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:04.719 in October and into November. I don't think we have 18 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:06.879 any more brush fires in a while after this reign 19 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:09.840 of the last few days. So thank God literally for 20 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:13.719 the rain, There's no doubt about that. Anyway, I want 21 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:15.519 to talk to you about a subject that is near 22 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:17.599 and dear to me, and it should be near and 23 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:20.959 dear to you, And I also want to point out 24 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:24.840 that at least one of our senators in Massachusetts, Ed Markey, 25 00:01:25.239 --> 00:01:28.480 has been actually in a leadership position on this. There's 26 00:01:28.519 --> 00:01:31.799 been an effort by some car makers to I'll try 27 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:34.959 to simplify it as much as I can, to eliminate 28 00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:39.719 AM radios in their cars. Now. I don't know why. 29 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:44.319 Difficult for me to understand why. But on my car, 30 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:49.879 which is I drive a very old car, it's about 31 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:55.560 it's over ten years and it's a Volvo. I used 32 00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:58.239 to like Volvos because I felt they were safe cars. 33 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:00.680 I do not have the same feeling. My next card 34 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:05.079 will not be a Volvo, at least I don't think 35 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:10.039 it will be. I'm looking at a couple of other makes. 36 00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.639 I want safety, and I want the bells and whistles 37 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:17.560 that come with new cars. Uh. And I'm happy with 38 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:20.240 the numbers of Vovos that I've had over the years. 39 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:23.199 But I think that Volvo has recently sold and I 40 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:28.560 think that Volvo is is not the same product that 41 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:31.240 it was the last time I bought I bought a Vovo. 42 00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:35.520 But putting that aside, there's an effort by some car 43 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:42.319 manufacturers to eliminate AM radios in their cars. Now they're 44 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:45.840 bringing more electronics into cars. You have now these big 45 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:49.759 screen that you can watch if you if you're doing 46 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:54.759 ways or Google Maps or something like that, which is great. Uh. 47 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:59.639 And of course FM is a popular band. No one 48 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:03.800 said just think to eliminate FM. You can get some 49 00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:08.639 of these services that are out there which gives you 50 00:03:08.919 --> 00:03:15.199 satellite services on your car radio that costs money that 51 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:20.840 is not free. But AM radio serves an important purpose, 52 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.120 an important purpose to people in cars, are also an 53 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:26.919 important purpose to people at home. For those of you 54 00:03:26.919 --> 00:03:30.520 who do not realize it. AM radio has a much 55 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:38.360 stronger signal than FM radio. FM radio is high quality 56 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:44.960 sound and someone argue it's a better sound than AM radio. 57 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:51.080 I don't believe that. But what is indisputable is that 58 00:03:51.280 --> 00:04:00.919 the F stations may have a thirty four maybe even 59 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:05.120 a fifty mile reach, but not much more than that. 60 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:07.960 We get outside of Boston and try to pick up 61 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:11.240 radio stations, you know, Boston FM radio stations, and they're 62 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:13.560 tough to get. Now a lot of them will have 63 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:17.279 their affiliate down the Cape, or maybe their affiliate in 64 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:20.439 New Hampshire or whatever, but it's a different station. You're 65 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:23.680 not listening when you listen to WBZ, you're listening to 66 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:27.000 the same station, whether you're in New England or whether 67 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.800 you're further down the coast in North Carolina, Virginia, out 68 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:38.040 west West Virginia. We've had callers tonight from those states. Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida. 69 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:43.360 We've had again. I think everybody understands it. And AM radio, 70 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:51.720 which of course was the original form of radio FM, 71 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:55.199 didn't come along until sometime in the late sixties early seventies. 72 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:59.279 AM has been around for over one hundred years. WBZ 73 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:02.639 celebrated the one hundredth birthday in nineteen twenty one or 74 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:06.120 other twenty twenty one. They won in the air in 75 00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:10.000 nineteen twenty one and all rooms to the contrary. I 76 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:13.199 was not working at the station at the time, but 77 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:18.360 it's a great history of great tradition and part of 78 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:21.399 the service that AM radio has always provided over the 79 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:26.399 years is a big signal that reaches a lot of people, 80 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:31.399 and in times of crisis, whether it's a blizzard here 81 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:33.800 in New England or a hurricane, we can reach a 82 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:37.800 lot of people simultaneously, or god forbid, if there was 83 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:43.800 ever some sort of a military attack on the United States, 84 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:48.600 it's where people would go for their information. So at 85 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:55.079 this point, there is an effort in Congress to basically 86 00:05:55.160 --> 00:06:00.959 say to car manufacturers, you need to have AM radio 87 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:06.240 in all of your automobiles as an option. Uh, and 88 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:09.879 leading the charge in the Senate, one of the leaders, 89 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:12.560 if not the leader, is Senator Marqute from Massachusetts, and 90 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:16.959 we have to I have to certainly thank Ed Markey 91 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:18.959 for his leadership here. I've tried to reach him in 92 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:22.040 the last few days through a couple of his staff people, 93 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:25.319 and I was hoping even having on having him on tonight, 94 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:30.920 but that didn't work out. And so, Uh, this current Congress, 95 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:36.680 it's a lame it's a lame duck session because many 96 00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:40.959 of these members of Congress are either retiring or they've 97 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:46.120 been turned out of office. And right now across the 98 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:50.399 board there are more and more House members joining as 99 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:54.199 co sponsors. And Inside Radio, which is one of the 100 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:57.000 sort of the bibles of this industry, points out that 101 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:00.240 right now they have more than enough that they had 102 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:03.560 two hundred and seventy one supporters in the House to 103 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:10.639 basically keep AM radio. The title of the bill is 104 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:13.920 the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, so you have 105 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:20.759 well above the number of members of the House and 106 00:07:20.839 --> 00:07:27.160 in the US Senate. In the Senate version, and I'm 107 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:30.959 quoting now from the inside Radio says the bill, as 108 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:34.240 well as its Senate counterpart, have both passed out of 109 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:38.439 committee in both chambers and are awaiting final votes. House 110 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:42.800 Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana is among the co sponsors, 111 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:45.360 but he has yet to bring the bill up for 112 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:48.680 a vote. The Senate version passed out of committee in 113 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:51.920 July of twenty twenty three, that's over a year ago, 114 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:56.879 but Majority Leader Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democratic of 115 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:59.399 New York has yet to bring the bill to the 116 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:04.279 floor for vote, despite sixty three Senators co sponsoring it, 117 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:09.519 Schumer is not among the co sponsors of the legislation. Now, 118 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:12.920 that could either mean the Schumer's opposed to it or 119 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:19.439 Schumer is agnostic towards it. Not likely, But if they 120 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:24.240 do not get this passed and signed by President Biden, 121 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:30.839 they go back to square one in the next congress. Now, 122 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:37.039 this is pretty simple. It's pretty simple. There are a 123 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:42.360 lot of people, a lot of people who rely on 124 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:48.120 AM radio, not only here in New England, but around 125 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:51.120 the country. The biggest, most powerful radio stations in the 126 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:56.519 country in terms of coverage, strength of signal or AM 127 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:00.960 radio stations, and in a time of cri you want 128 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:05.919 those stations available not only in people's homes, people's places 129 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:10.000 of work, but also in their cars. So I'm going 130 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:15.080 to open up the lines and give everyone an opportunity 131 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:19.320 to tell me what they think about this piece of legislation. 132 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:22.519 I know some will say, well, we shouldn't be dictating 133 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:24.559 to automobiles what they should or should not have in 134 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:27.879 the cars. Well, got to tell you if they were 135 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:31.840 going to eliminate windshields in cars, I think that the 136 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:34.919 government has an interest in saying nope, nope, they're going 137 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:39.039 to eliminate backup mirrors. A lot of the bells and 138 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:42.840 whistles that now are in cars. If they're going to 139 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:51.080 eliminate side mirrors, look, it's a product I'm talking about 140 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:54.960 the automobile that virtually every family in America has one. 141 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:59.320 And in case of any sort of a crisis, you 142 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:03.519 want everybody to be able to have as many forms 143 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:06.639 of communication available to them as possible. That's my position, 144 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:09.879 I hope it's yours. Feel free to join the conversation. 145 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:13.360 One line at six one, seven, two, ten thirty, A 146 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:15.519 couple of lines at six one seven nine three one 147 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:20.200 ten thirty. And again if Senator Markey is listening, and 148 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:22.840 he has listened to this show on occasion, he's actually 149 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:26.279 called in a couple of times as a caller. I 150 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:30.120 thank Congress Senator Marque. Senator Markey, they want to do 151 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:33.480 he was a congressman for a long time. One thanks 152 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:36.440 Senator Market for his leadership on this issue. And let's 153 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:40.039 get it done, because if they wait until this Congress adjourns, 154 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:44.960 they are back at square one with the next Congress. 155 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:48.600 Slight these lines up. If you like AM radio and 156 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:51.399 you want to have it in your car, particularly a 157 00:10:51.399 --> 00:10:54.240 time of crisis, whether a natural disaster or a man 158 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:58.399 made disaster, you want to urge your member of Congress 159 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:02.840 to support this bill, the Am Radio for every Vehicle Act. 160 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:05.360 There's a house built. There's a house version in the 161 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:07.600 Senate version. I can get into some of that if 162 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:09.679 you want, but I prefer to hear from you back 163 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:10.919 on Nightside right after this. 164 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:14.919 Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World 165 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:18.159 Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio. 166 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:23.799 By the way, Robers sent me an article Ford you 167 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:29.399 know an American automobile manufacturer had considered getting AM radios 168 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:32.480 out of twenty twenty four models models that are obviously 169 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:35.240 on sale now this article, which came out in May 170 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:40.440 of twenty twenty three, Ford essentially said no, We've decided 171 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:44.519 to keep AM radios. They will continue offering AM radios, 172 00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:47.480 citing the need for emergency alerts. Exactly what I just 173 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:50.879 have been talking about all twenty twenty four Ford and 174 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:54.960 Lincoln models will Lincoln models will have AM radio, according 175 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:58.000 to a tweet bye Ford CEO Jim Farley. While Ford 176 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:00.919 planned to remove AM radios from the it's new vehicles, 177 00:12:01.559 --> 00:12:04.360 Farley said that plan was mixed due to the importance 178 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:09.399 of AM's emergency alert system. Well good for Ford. Since 179 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:14.919 AM radio was already discontinued on the F one Lightning 180 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:20.480 and Mustang mack E Macmarck E model. Ford plans to 181 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:23.480 restore it fire and over the year software update. So 182 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:27.679 good for Ford, good for Ford. The demise of AM 183 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:31.960 radio was something other automakers such as Audi, BMW, Vovo 184 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:35.679 and Tesler have already started to do, specifically on their 185 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:39.360 electric vehicles. However, this led to backlash from lawmakers and 186 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:43.440 many others who claim AM radio is vital because it's accessible, free, 187 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:47.559 and important for public safety. Just last week, a bipartisan 188 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:50.519 group of lawmakers this is talking about May of twenty 189 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:54.399 twenty three, introduced important legislation to mandate that automakers offer 190 00:12:54.440 --> 00:12:59.960 AM radio in new cars. For a Reuter's report, Well, again, 191 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:04.679 they're making progress, but we need to make sure we 192 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:08.840 get this ball across the line because AM radios in 193 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:14.120 cars very very important. Let's go to the phones. We're 194 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:17.159 going to start off with someone who's very concerned about 195 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:21.919 civil defense issues. It's my friend Patrick down in the 196 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:23.960 District of Columbia. Patrick, how are you tonight? 197 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:27.480 You better believe this subject caught my ear fast. 198 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:27.960 Buddy. 199 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:31.360 Well, I appreciate that. I know how committed you are 200 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:33.799 and how concerned you are. And look, you got all 201 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:36.360 of this stuff. Now. I'm sure you've been following this. 202 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:40.480 The drones that are flying over New Jersey and Pennsylvania 203 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.639 at night and the government says they have no idea 204 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:44.320 what those are. Have you heard this story? 205 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.399 I haven't been following that one because I've been going 206 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:54.240 door to door for people who need to organize themselves 207 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.960 in communities where they would need to evacuate in the 208 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:03.279 low lying watershed areas of the Chesapeake Bay. You know, 209 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:05.960 to make sure that once again you know who your 210 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:08.799 neighbors are and what they need, and you know people 211 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:12.399 who are handicapped or you know children with special needs. 212 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:15.080 You got to help those families and understand what an 213 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.960 evacuation is and why you do it, and why am 214 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.679 I even here telling you to do it? Because we 215 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:23.679 are not civil defense minded, and we used to be 216 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:26.960 civil defense minded and we were very efficient. That is 217 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:29.919 one of the things that has done. We were a 218 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:36.080 very efficient country, very organized, and there is something within 219 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:39.399 preparedness that puts it all together. 220 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:42.159 No, I agree with you. I mean, you have to 221 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:46.200 think about what if? What if? And I know that 222 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.919 there's a lot of companies out there trying to sell 223 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:54.279 you twenty years of food. I look at that. I 224 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:55.879 don't know what you think about those. I look at 225 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:57.759 that as a bit of a scam. But the idea, 226 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.759 why would would any of these vehicle want to take 227 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:03.279 AM radio out of their cars in the first place. 228 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:09.000 I mean, you know, I have serious I have serious 229 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:11.840 XM radio in my car because when I'm out and 230 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:13.159 about it, I'd like to be able to listen to 231 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.039 something other. 232 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:17.320 Than just music and local news. You know, I can. 233 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:20.559 I can listen to local news on WBZ. Obviously I 234 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.360 can listen to some music, but I want to have 235 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:26.039 some other options. And one of the options that I 236 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.679 always want to have is AM radio. 237 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:31.519 The fact that I can get in the car and 238 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:34.200 I can hear what's going on in Boston, or hear 239 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:36.879 what's going on in Pittsburgh, and hear what's going on 240 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:40.440 maybe from Saint Louis if the Saint Louis Blues are playing, 241 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:43.320 and or WBT coach. 242 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:46.759 Now coach now by Jim Montgomery, the Bruins coach that 243 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:49.200 was fired and hired by the Blues, with I think 244 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:53.320 a matter of forty eight hours, not maybe even less. 245 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:57.480 And you know, and then there's the radio station in Charlotte. 246 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:03.960 It's it's it's important. If we were discussing things about 247 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:10.679 local newspapers providing local news, well, am radio stations provide 248 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:16.840 local news, and that is very important as let's bring 249 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:21.720 that aspect in here. So released newspapers, local newspapers and 250 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:26.679 local stories can can flourish and can develop, and it's 251 00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:31.679 the skills. It's our free society, it's our freedom of speech, which. 252 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:33.440 Makes us us you know. 253 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:37.120 So I don't think we should take away AM radio 254 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:39.759 and be stupid and take it out of cars because 255 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.000 we have so many cars as it could be stuck 256 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:45.080 in traffic somewhere and they have to have a constant 257 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:48.120 signal that's going to provide them with the information that 258 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:51.159 they would need. That's just plain and simple. You know, 259 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:54.480 you can have a lifesaving situation being a lifesaving situation 260 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:57.679 like on the Pennsylvania Turnpike or anywhere in the country 261 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:02.559 and you need that constant source. That's it in a nutshell, Harriet. 262 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:04.759 Good agree, you more well, said my friend. Thank you Patrick. 263 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:07.839 As always, let's keep in touch. Okay, all right, you 264 00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:10.160 got it, sir, got you soon. Have a great night. 265 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:13.240 Next up Pat and Charles Patrick and Charlestown Patrick. Next 266 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:13.839 on night Side. 267 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:17.759 Oh Ve Dan o, Hey, listen. The one thing that's 268 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:20.440 come to mind for me on this is why in 269 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:23.720 the world would Republicans ever allow for this to go forward? 270 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:26.039 And I have to tip my hat to add Markey 271 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:30.039 on this because usually I'm on opposite sides of most 272 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.240 issues with that guy, but I have to tip my 273 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:36.359 hat on him for this one because I mean, if 274 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:38.920 you think, especially over the last twenty or thirty years, 275 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:44.480 before the advancement of at least Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, 276 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:48.319 we had pretty much dominance one sided view and all 277 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:56.759 media disciplines, from newspapers, television, internet platforms banning people. The 278 00:17:56.839 --> 00:18:00.119 one exception to all of that was AM radio. You 279 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:02.680 would get a diverse set of opinions and a diverse 280 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:07.119 set of ideas, And it was almost like there's a strangleholder, 281 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:10.440 a bottleback on on all major sources of American media, 282 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:14.920 but for AM radio and proud voices like you and 283 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:18.839 and back when the great Rush Limbaugh was alive, keeping 284 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:24.839 debate alive, UH and and to prevent a complete monopoly 285 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:28.119 of one one set of views. I just feel as 286 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.519 though a diverse set of media is absolutely critical for democracy. 287 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:35.640 And so it just seems to me that those who 288 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:40.279 want to support Republican radio report AM radio would be 289 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:43.960 the Republicans. And how I mean, do you agree with that? Dan? 290 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:47.119 Is there any any I understand? 291 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:53.920 I understand that generally generally UH many talk radio programs 292 00:18:54.160 --> 00:19:01.000 tend to UH in recent time criticized Democrats. But the 293 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:06.599 beauty of AM radio is that there are sometimes broadcasters 294 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:10.200 like the late Rush Limbaugh, who are on fifty five 295 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:14.200 hundred stations, but that's few and far between. In most communities, 296 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:17.599 whether it's a Boston or a Boise, Idaho, or Baltimore, 297 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:24.319 Maryland or Montana, you have local voices. I'm a local voice. 298 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:27.079 I'm a Boston guy, and I have my takes. And 299 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:30.240 sometimes you and I agree, sometimes we disagree, but you're right. 300 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:38.640 You're right. Conservative talk radio helped maintain some balance during 301 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:43.200 the Obama administration when President Obama was a very popular, 302 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:49.839 you know president. It certainly came of age during the 303 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:52.799 Bill Clinton years and maybe that was really when talk 304 00:19:52.880 --> 00:19:57.359 radio took off during the Bill Clinton years. But I 305 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:00.599 got to tell you there is bipartisan supporting this, including 306 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:03.480 Senator Ed Markey. I don't think anyone has worked harder 307 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:05.599 on this than Ed Markey. And I'll tell you why. 308 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:08.720 I think Marky's worked hard on it. Ed Markey has 309 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:12.400 told me many times the story as a kid. You know, 310 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:14.799 he was one couple of summers he were in this 311 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:17.880 ice cream truck and there's a capitalist made a lot 312 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:21.640 of money, you know, particularly at the time around the 313 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:24.240 time of the Red Sox researchence in sixty seven and 314 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:27.960 sixty eight, and he tells the story with glee, and 315 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:30.960 he talks about meeting Dave Maynard from Channel from w 316 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:33.759 b Z and how WBZ has been his favorite radio station. 317 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:37.359 And I know that that Senator Markey listens to sometimes 318 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:40.359 the night side in the DC are because he's called 319 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:47.160 in as a as a as a guest, or as a caller. 320 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:50.880 Actually a couple of times he on this issue. You 321 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:53.160 would think he would say, well, I'm not going to 322 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:57.200 do anything for AM radio because AM radio has always 323 00:20:57.359 --> 00:21:00.519 been critical of my party. But it's the op it's 324 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:03.839 the opposite, And I think that great. The Republicans need 325 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:08.160 to drive this. They have the majority in the House 326 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:12.480 and they have enough support in the Senate to get 327 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:16.519 this done before before this this this session of Congress. 328 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:18.519 As Patrick. Yeah. 329 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.799 And it's so it's important for my liberal friends too, 330 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:23.559 because I mean, you could see the pendulum swing back 331 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:27.799 and maybe maybe uh poignant important liberal voices might find 332 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:29.319 AM radio as a place. 333 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:31.160 Where they can get their message out there too. I 334 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:34.880 just think it's important for democracy and I cannot imagine 335 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:37.799 a time where I can't listen to Dan Ray sit 336 00:21:37.839 --> 00:21:41.359 in my car having a Kelly's Roast beef. I just 337 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.079 can't imagine that, Dan, or how many people can't imagine 338 00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:46.920 listening to the Red Sox on the radio on AM 339 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.319 radio during during a New England summer night. And it's 340 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:52.799 it's part of it's part of America. I just I 341 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:55.440 just can't imagine. I just can't imagine we are. 342 00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:59.119 And I would like to see my phone lines light 343 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:01.079 up on this top. I don't think there's going to 344 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:03.039 be anyone who's going to call and say get rid 345 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:05.920 of AM radio. But if people sit at home and 346 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:10.079 don't take the opportunity to call, that's not a good 347 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:14.000 thing because this could be taken away from us by 348 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:19.000 car manufacturers. Corporate America, believe it or not, would be 349 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:23.039 doing in AM radio. And you've got Ed Markey, who's 350 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:27.599 a Senator from Massachusetts, one of the more liberal senators, 351 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:32.559 fighting to save AM radio. So politics make strange bedfellows, right, 352 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:35.720 I guess that's the point of our conversation. 353 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:38.799 Patrick, Good for Ed, Good for Ed, Good job, Ed. 354 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:41.359 Keep up the good work. We need more more more 355 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:45.160 independent thinking like this, and let's keep AM radio. We 356 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:45.559 need it. 357 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:49.240 Thanks day, sir, Patrick, Talk soon. Mary Christmas. If we 358 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:53.000 don't talk again, okay before the twenty fifth. Okay, we'll 359 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:57.440 keep rolling here. Just we have the linel lit up. 360 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:59.400 Thank you very much, everybody. I'm going to try to 361 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:01.920 move everybody a little bit more quickly. No one is 362 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:04.319 waiting any more than ten minutes or so. I got 363 00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:06.920 to take a break. I'm going to get to Eileen 364 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:10.240 and Kevin down in South Carolina. I got Linda, I 365 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:12.960 got ron, I got Corin. We're going to get everybody 366 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.880 in coming back on Nightside. 367 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:22.039 It's Nightside with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio. 368 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:26.440 Back to the phones without any further ado, going to 369 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:30.799 go to Eileen in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ileen, welcome, How are 370 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:32.319 you hi? 371 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:40.400 I'm fine, but I am for the life of me, 372 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:47.519 I can't understand why they want to remove AM radio. 373 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:52.839 Is there some electronic reason? Is it more difficult to 374 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:54.079 build in or something? 375 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:57.960 I think it was. I think the concern initially was 376 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.559 with some of the EV vehicles. Now I don't know 377 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:06.279 if the argument was let's let's create a problem or 378 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:09.440 let's not address a problem. That there might have been 379 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:14.720 some interference, but that seems to have gone away. According 380 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:17.640 to this story that I'm looking at out of what's 381 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:23.480 called inside radio today. President Trump obviously said has not 382 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:26.920 said whether he supports the bill, and his growing relationship 383 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:30.759 with Tesla founder Elon Musk has some believing it could 384 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:34.759 sway his opinion. It would be a huge mistake if 385 00:24:34.880 --> 00:24:37.839 President Trump. That's why I think it's important to get 386 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:41.720 it passed before this Congress gets out of session. Tesla 387 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:44.480 is among the companies that has removed AM from the 388 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:51.039 dashboards of its electric vehicles. Now again, I think that 389 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:57.119 they probably think that AM radio is a is a 390 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:01.920 form of radio that older people listen to more than 391 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:04.240 younger people. But I have plenty of younger callers in 392 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:06.880 this show as well, Eileen. So you know, we just 393 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:11.720 gotta look ed Markey, who has probably been criticized more 394 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:14.880 in AM radio than most because most AM radio tends 395 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:17.480 to be to the right of center. He's doing the 396 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:19.880 right thing here for free speech and he should be 397 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.640 commended for it. 398 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.480 Yeah. 399 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:29.680 Well, I am I'm older, and I remember I was 400 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:35.720 in high school at Northfield, the Northfield School for Girls 401 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:44.119