Beck and Co.: Just Little Men With Big Voices

Right-wing radio is lefty Orrin Onken's guilty pleasure

(NEWSER) - There’s something about right-wing talk radio that’s undeniably attractive—even for a “sushi-eating, Prius-driving, gay-marriage-supporting Oregon liberal” like Orrin Onken, he writes in Salon . Though he’s always been a lefty, Onken began listening in high school, and he’s maintained his “dirty little secret” for four decades now. Sure, he prefers Car Talk and Science Friday on NPR, but when they’re not on, it’s straight to Glenn Beck ("his mixing of morning-zoo high jinks with conspiracy-laden apocalyptic politics tickles me")—or any other "wingnut" who happens to be on air. More»

Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck lead survey

(NEWSER) - The website ConservativeHome polled about 1,500 folks defined as Republican activists to find their favorite pundits. Here's the top 10:

1. Rush Limbaugh, 41%
2. Glenn Beck, 33%
3. Charles Krauthammer, 29%
4. Bill O'Reilly, 24%
5. Sean Hannity, 21%

Defeated congressman blames conservative media for loss to O'Donnell

(NEWSER) - Mike Castle lashed out at the conservative media yesterday, blaming it in part for his loss to Christine O’Donnell. “I hope journalists check their facts,” the Delaware Republican said in an interview with Fox News . “I think the misrepresentations and the lies of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh on the air were another very significant part of all of this.” More»

People 'literally fear' for the country, he says

(NEWSER) - After President Obama called out Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck for dispensing "vitriol," Limbaugh is returning fire. (Summary of Obama interview with CBS here .) In an email to Politico , Limbaugh says his popularity isn't dependent on the economy—"I have yet to have a down year at the EIB network"—and disputes Obama's assertion that most Americans are on the president's side. More»

Radio host discharged from hospital, says he's fine

(NEWSER) - Having seen the health care system up close, Rush Limbaugh says it's fine. "It was confidence-inspiring," he said of the hospital stay that started Wednesday when he suffered chest pains while vacationing in Hawaii. "They found absolutely nothing wrong," the talk-radio lightning rod said at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, which discharged him today. "No arterial disease, no coronary disease whatsoever." More»