Congrats to WMAL. I’ve begun listening to Larry O’Conner in the afternoons via computer out here in Indiana. We get 2 hours of Chris Plante via WLS (890 AM) just before Rush. And I always listen to Joe diGenova every Monday morning.
There are some weak links in WMAL’s lineup:
1. The K-Mart Wolverine, Larry O’Connor. This guy is sympathetic to conservatives but comes across as a complete, unmitigated douchebag.
2. Morning “news anchor” John Matthews. I don’t think he is related to Chris Matthews, but he is a liberal through and through. Disgusting. I refer to him as “Tingles Junior”.
3. Afternoon “news anchor” Maria Leaf, the “Testosterone Queen”. WMAL’s programming strategy is to counterbalance the conservative talk hosts with really disgusting, biased liberal news readers. Maria is beyond annoying, with her attempts to sound like AM newsreader of the 1980s David Haynes. She is a real embarrassment.
4. Relief “news anchor” Barbie Britt. If Webster had a picture next to the word “vapid”, Barbie’s picture would be there. Another mindless liberal in the WMAL newsroom.
5. WMAL is owned by Atlanta-based Cumulus, which has a network news deal with CNN. Cumulus is too crooked to have the CNN news voices such as Ann Cates and Linda Kenyon (who promounces her name “Lindy Kenyong”) identify themselves as CNN employees and operatives.
6. Fortunately, WMAL employs the great Vince Coglianese and Chris Plante as local hosts, and then has Rush, Mark Levin and the Red Eye Radio guys (Gerry McNamara and Eric Harley).
So, while far from perfect, WMAL has the second best programming in the DC market (the best programming is on AM 1160, WMET, the Guadalupe Radio Network, the all Catholic station here in Washington, which is run by incredible people out of Midland, Texas).