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Toxic Talk: How the Radical Right Has Poisoned America's Airwaves
A timely cannon blast at the right-wing media machine and how it subverts the principles of democratic representation Talk radio has done an end run around the voting populace. With Rush Limbaugh now the unofficial leader of the Republican Party and the far right controlling the five major syndicates, conservatives have a disproportionate voice in the medium—even in liberal cities such as New York, Boston, and San Francisco. Writing with his characteristic and incisive wit, Bill Press exposes the destructive power of Rush, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Bill O’Reilly, and the other polarizing figures of talk radio who dominate 90% of the political airwaves today. Citing their own words as evidence, Press brilliantly makes the case that much of what is broadcast on radio and television today is—at best—distorted and partisan, and—at worst—lies, propaganda and bigotry sold by these talented modern-day pitchmen who have followings in the millions.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2010
4 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Bill Press
16 books13 followersBill Press began his career as a political insider and media commentator on KABC-TV and KCOP-TV, both in Los Angeles. Over the years, he has received numerous awards for his work, including four Emmys and a Golden Mike Award.
The former co-host of MSNBC's Buchanan and Press, CNN's Crossfire and The Spin Room, Press has built a national reputation on thought-provoking and humorous insights from the left side of the political aisle.
Press is the author of six books: Spin This! (Atria, 2002), Bush Must Go! (Dutton Books, 2004), How The Republicans Stole Christmas (Doubleday, 2005), Trainwreck (Wiley, 2008), Toxic Talk (Thomas Dunne Books, 2010), and his latest, The Obama Hate Machine (Thomas Dunne Books, 2012).
The host of radio’s nationally syndicated Bill Press Show (Monday-Friday from 6-9am ET), Press attends the daily White House press briefing and writes a syndicated newspaper column, distributed weekly by Tribune Media Services.
Press resides in the nation’s capital with his wife Carol.
The former co-host of MSNBC's Buchanan and Press, CNN's Crossfire and The Spin Room, Press has built a national reputation on thought-provoking and humorous insights from the left side of the political aisle.
Press is the author of six books: Spin This! (Atria, 2002), Bush Must Go! (Dutton Books, 2004), How The Republicans Stole Christmas (Doubleday, 2005), Trainwreck (Wiley, 2008), Toxic Talk (Thomas Dunne Books, 2010), and his latest, The Obama Hate Machine (Thomas Dunne Books, 2012).
The host of radio’s nationally syndicated Bill Press Show (Monday-Friday from 6-9am ET), Press attends the daily White House press briefing and writes a syndicated newspaper column, distributed weekly by Tribune Media Services.
Press resides in the nation’s capital with his wife Carol.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 31, 2010
Press does an excellent job of dissecting the right wing's major talkers and the fact that most of their thunder is based on lies. When you see the things they have said, one right after the other, it's pretty apparent that there is little truth in their partisanship. What this book fell a little short on, is why people want to listen to such toxic drivel. The tendency in our population to want to fill their eyes and ears with nasty, demeaning and unkind rhetoric is still a mystery after reading this book.
August 4, 2010
We all know that the likes of Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, Savage and their ilk are the most ignorant assholes ever allowed anywhere near a radio microphone or television camera (or both) - you don't need a book to tell you that, no matter what side of the political fence you're on. In addition to detailing the outrageous comments that these professional propagandists have soiled the American airwaves with, this book fully details and debunks a variety of myths regarding both the domination of right-wing hate radio and the presence of progressive talk radio, including with regard to the Fairness Doctrine, the disproportionate ratio of right-wing radio to their minority listening/voting audience, and so forth. In an age where the corporate-backed Tea Party minority is trying to overthrow the United States of America, this book is a crucial read.
September 19, 2010
Eye-opening - I guess I didn't realize how popular and wide-spread conservative talk show radio is - and how poisonous it is. Very scary!
June 29, 2011
Review to follow...
October 23, 2010
This book is obviously very left wing..however, if you find the "talking heads" to be way too over the top sometimes you will enjoy this book. The author definitely takes his shots. I give it a four because it's entertaining. One thing that kind of makes it funny for me is because I know these "talking heads", whether Repub. or Demo., are speaking for entertainment value..stiring the pot so they get ratings and ratings equal cash.
September 17, 2010
Thought I might try a liberal book, but this guy just can't write. He's decent on the radio, though. Decent.
Read
February 18, 2011It was a easy read and if you like politics you'll love Bil Press!
October 5, 2010
After listening to right wing talk radio for years, it is good to get a perspective from the progressive side.
March 23, 2011
I’ve always liked Bill Press, but seriously there isn’t much new information here.
November 28, 2011
Pretty good read. Press is a level headed liberal.
July 29, 2024
A FAMOUS PROGRESSIVE COMMENTATOR LOOKS AT CONSERVATIVE MEDIA
William "Bill" Press (born 1940) is a talk radio host, political commentator, and former chair of the California Democratic Party (1993-1996); he has also written books such as 'The Obama Hate Machine: The Lies, Distortions, and Personal Attacks on the President---and Who Is Behind Them,' and 'How the Republicans Stole Christmas: The Republican Party's Declared Monopoly on Religion and What Democrats Can Do to Take it Back.'
He said in the Introduction to this 2010 book, "This book, then, is an in-depth examination of right-wing talk radio and its destructive impact on American culture and politics. With right-wing talkers exerting so powerful an influence on national politics, this is the perfect time to take a critical look at conservative talk radio: who the major players are; why conservatives dominate talk radio; and what damage they've done, both to the American political scene and, eventually, to their own movement." (Pg. 17)
He observes, "With such a vacuum in leadership among Republicans in Washington, conservative talk show hosts have rushed in to fill the void... Rush Limbaugh ... no longer listens to John Boehner or Mitch McConnell to know what to talk about that day on his program. Instead, Boehner and McConnell listen to Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, or Savage to decide what the big issues are and what they should be focusing on." (Pg. 4) He asserts that Sean Hannity "is little more than the loyal, fast-talking parrot of the Republican National Committee, trained to repeat whatever outrageous new talking points they deposit in the bottom of his bird cage every morning." (Pg. 75)
He notes with satisfaction that Michael Savage was fired from MSNBC for insensitive remarks (Pg. 118-119), and adds, "Now, yes, I believe in free speech. But you go ahead and defend Michael Savage for depraved remarks like that. Please be my guest. I can't do it. Nor can I understand why stations continue to broadcast his filth." (Pg. 131) He also observes, "For a television debut, no one was predicted to make a bigger splash than Limbaugh. And few have laid bigger eggs. His TV show lacked the spontaneity that made his radio show so successful." (Pg. 141)
He laments, "Unfortunately, while dumping the Fairness Doctrine did open the doors to a highly profitable expansion of news-talk radio... it also served to undermine the level of civil discourse around political issues. As a nation, we are more poorly served by talk radio without the Fairness Doctrine." (Pg. 141)
Press's book will be loved by liberals/progressives, and may even be critically read with profit by those "outside the fold."
William "Bill" Press (born 1940) is a talk radio host, political commentator, and former chair of the California Democratic Party (1993-1996); he has also written books such as 'The Obama Hate Machine: The Lies, Distortions, and Personal Attacks on the President---and Who Is Behind Them,' and 'How the Republicans Stole Christmas: The Republican Party's Declared Monopoly on Religion and What Democrats Can Do to Take it Back.'
He said in the Introduction to this 2010 book, "This book, then, is an in-depth examination of right-wing talk radio and its destructive impact on American culture and politics. With right-wing talkers exerting so powerful an influence on national politics, this is the perfect time to take a critical look at conservative talk radio: who the major players are; why conservatives dominate talk radio; and what damage they've done, both to the American political scene and, eventually, to their own movement." (Pg. 17)
He observes, "With such a vacuum in leadership among Republicans in Washington, conservative talk show hosts have rushed in to fill the void... Rush Limbaugh ... no longer listens to John Boehner or Mitch McConnell to know what to talk about that day on his program. Instead, Boehner and McConnell listen to Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, or Savage to decide what the big issues are and what they should be focusing on." (Pg. 4) He asserts that Sean Hannity "is little more than the loyal, fast-talking parrot of the Republican National Committee, trained to repeat whatever outrageous new talking points they deposit in the bottom of his bird cage every morning." (Pg. 75)
He notes with satisfaction that Michael Savage was fired from MSNBC for insensitive remarks (Pg. 118-119), and adds, "Now, yes, I believe in free speech. But you go ahead and defend Michael Savage for depraved remarks like that. Please be my guest. I can't do it. Nor can I understand why stations continue to broadcast his filth." (Pg. 131) He also observes, "For a television debut, no one was predicted to make a bigger splash than Limbaugh. And few have laid bigger eggs. His TV show lacked the spontaneity that made his radio show so successful." (Pg. 141)
He laments, "Unfortunately, while dumping the Fairness Doctrine did open the doors to a highly profitable expansion of news-talk radio... it also served to undermine the level of civil discourse around political issues. As a nation, we are more poorly served by talk radio without the Fairness Doctrine." (Pg. 141)
Press's book will be loved by liberals/progressives, and may even be critically read with profit by those "outside the fold."
September 25, 2018
Overall I'd consider this a solid primer on the history of right-wing talk radio and it's influence on politics in general. It has a few factual issues and goofs that does hurt it's overall credibility and ultimately made me feel that it did not deserve a higher score (I'd double check any of it's claims to make sure that they are accurate or haven't been invalidated due to time passed, which is the real issue of a older book like this one).
However, this entertaining book brings up an important issue with the state of the media today: that all of the right wing media personalitys discussed by press are still present today. They are the alt-right on Reddit and Facebook. They are represented by the values of our president and the Republican party.
I'd honestly say things are even worse now then they ever where when Press wrote his book. Lies and misinformation spread like viruses through Social media at speeds talk radio could never match (and it's come to the point that fact checkers and truth tellers are Savagly attacked by everyone clinging to the false beliefs they need to be true).
It's a slice of the past...... But it rings true today in the future. And it's troubling that we still have not been able to get beyond the lies that divided us so much in the past (and divide us even more in the present).
I'd consider it it a solid reading material for understanding the forces that helped create and define the tea party and the alt right.
However, this entertaining book brings up an important issue with the state of the media today: that all of the right wing media personalitys discussed by press are still present today. They are the alt-right on Reddit and Facebook. They are represented by the values of our president and the Republican party.
I'd honestly say things are even worse now then they ever where when Press wrote his book. Lies and misinformation spread like viruses through Social media at speeds talk radio could never match (and it's come to the point that fact checkers and truth tellers are Savagly attacked by everyone clinging to the false beliefs they need to be true).
It's a slice of the past...... But it rings true today in the future. And it's troubling that we still have not been able to get beyond the lies that divided us so much in the past (and divide us even more in the present).
I'd consider it it a solid reading material for understanding the forces that helped create and define the tea party and the alt right.
January 16, 2018
well documented, readable in the sense of not seeming to be in a tiresome style, and not hyperbolic.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews