Your speculation raises some very interesting questions.
For starters: what powers exist that can still tell Rush what he can and can’t say (in terms of political content)?
“what powers exist that can still tell Rush what he can and can’t say (in terms of political content)?”
Great question.
Specific to Clear Channel or any other private company, management can do what it pleases. They could oust Rush, for any reason, real or fabricated. (I worked in HR for years; I’ve seen outlandish fabricated “reasons” for getting rid of someone.)
And in America, sadly, the Fairness Doctrine still rears its ugly head often. I suppose King B. Hussein could make another decree, this time to make his political enemies STFU. If that were in place for the next president, it wouldn’t be good on any level since it stifles the First Amendment.
Things have become so confusing with the dem and GOP machines becoming so blended.