Conservatives across the nation were left with a hole in their hearts and radio air-time with the passing of conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh passed away on Feb. 17 and while some stations have continued to play re-runs of previous shows, however, Limbaugh’s successor has been much anticipated.
According to a report in The Washington Times Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, which delivers syndicated sports, news, and entertainment content nationwide, conservative pundit Dan Bongino will be replacing Limbaugh beginning May 24.
“The Dan Bongino Show” will air Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m. ET in markets nationwide, including stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., according to the report.
“I’m excited to embrace the immense power of radio to connect with my listeners live for three hours every day. This is an incredible privilege, and I pledge to honor the trailblazing work of those who came before me,” said Bongino who is a former Secret Service agent who has been on radio, television, and on American bookshelves over the past decade and has become a bestselling author and Fox News commentator since he left the federal service in 2011.
“The Dan Bongino Show’ will tackle the hot political issues, debunking both liberal and Republican establishment rhetoric. As a former Secret Service agent and NYPD officer, Bongino is uniquely positioned to provide commentary and analysis that directly questions the philosophical underpinnings of both the left and big-government Republicans,” Westwood One said in a statement.
“With the launch of The Dan Bongino Show, Westwood One now offers a 24-hour, Monday–Friday news/talk lineup that also features established news/talk superstars Mark Levin, Ben Shapiro, Chris Plante, and Jim Bohannon,” the company said.
The announcement solicited mixed responses from Limbaugh’s loyal fan base, and no end of coverage from the media, with The Associated Press asking if Bongino is “the new Rush Limbaugh.”
Whether Bongino can fill the legendary commentator’s shoes is questionable. Limbaugh broadcasted to his ditto heads for over 30 years and as many major stations nationwide. While many of the larger radio networks are still filling the slots with major names, some of the smaller stations have taken on less prestigious names to fill the time.
“Erick Erickson, an Evangelical right-leaning commentator, has taken over Mr. Limbaugh’s slot on Atlanta’s WSB; Mark Kaye, a radio host and popular Snapchat personality, has taken the time on Jacksonville’s WOKV; and radio and podcast host Derek Hunter has taken over the slot on Baltimore’s WCBM,” noted The Wall Street Journal.
According to the Examiner, iHeart Media’s Premiere Network which originally syndicated Limbaugh’s show has stuck with what has brought them success and continued to air “The Rush Limbaugh Show” in the form of archived segments on “evergreen” topics taht still apply to the news of the day, with guest hosts filling the intermediary times.
Limbaugh’s fans remain as dedicated as ever, including those who call into his show on a daily basis. One such caller said that the host had become her “best friend” after a very hard time.
“When I was little, my mom would put him on the radio and we would all go, ‘Oh, God. We gotta listen to that again?’” a caller said on Friday’s show.
“I lost her — she was my best friend — in 2015, and since then, and especially last year, Rush became my best friend and listened to him every single, solitary day. So I am so glad you are carrying on, and I just… I just… He will always be my El Rushbo forever.”
Radio was fine before Rush, and it will be fine without Rush, but it might not ever be legendary, ever again.
El Rushbo forever.
