Talking Heads

(Newser) - Right-wing mouth Rush Limbaugh stood by his comments Sunday that Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama was about the color of his skin, CNN reports. "This was all about Powell and race, nothing about the nation and its welfare," Limbaugh said on his radio show yesterday. He chided the media for taking issue with his statement. "So what if it's race? Why is it so hard to admit that it's race?" More »

(Newser) - Rachel Maddow has made MSNBC a prime-time contender with dizzying speed, the New York Times reports. The liberal pundit's Rachel Maddow Show more than doubled the network's ratings in the 9 pm slot within days of its debut six weeks ago, and has beaten CNN's Larry King Live among viewers ages 25 to 54 more often than not. More »

(Newser) - Judith Miller, the former New York Times reporter who spent 85 days in jail rather than reveal her sources in a CIA leak case, is Fox News’ newest on-air analyst, Editor & Publisher reports. “I get to spout my views, I will NOT be joining the news team,” said Miller, who left the paper in 2005 after 28 years. More »

(Newser) - Conservative commentator Glenn Beck, who has gained a sizable following with his nightly show on CNN's Headline News channel, is leaving for Fox News. Beck signed a multi-year deal to host Fox's 5pm weekday program beginning in the spring, Broadcasting & Cable reports. He will also host a weekend show. Beck's CNN show has grown 200% since its launch in 2006, and he also has a popular radio show on Premiere Radio Networks. More »

(Newser) - Going so far as to call him a “pig,” Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell has launched a full-on war of words with Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh called Mitchell a "racist nutball" and ridiculed her and other “drive-by journalists” for saying Sarah Palin and John McCain should restrain supporters at their rallies, some of whom have shouted "kill him" and "terrorist." More »

(Newser) - Bill O’Reilly has called for the resignation of House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, so it was a predictably tense situation when the Massachusetts Democrat appeared on his show last night. A remarkable shouting match ensued, even by O’Reilly’s standards. The Fox host quickly began screaming at Frank over comments that the situation at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would improve. More »

(Newser) - Rush Limbaugh may be John McCain’s best friend in the fight against Barack Obama, writes Zev Chafets in the LA Times . Vociferously anti-McCain during primary season, Limbaugh is now on board and can't be underestimated. "A lot of Limbaugh's critics dismiss him as a buffoon or a fanatic," Chafets writes. "These are people who don''t listen to his show." More »