Who knew ?

I find these stats amazing -- and very gratifying. According to an article in the New York Review of Books, Rush Limbaugh pulls in the most listeners of any radio show.

But who is second and third?

NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, those morning and afternoon news and commentary reports that can be as long and in depth as taking 20 minutes on one subject.

I find this very reassuring about the sanity and intelligence of the American people. Both of them have far larger listening audiences than any cable news program. "Fresh Air," Terry Gross's always intelligent, always interesting interview show has been running for 35 years, is carried by 450 stations, and attracts nearly 4.5 million listeners.

In polls, public radio is the most trusted source of news. The article also dispels the myth that it is way left in slant. Unlike the right-wing rant shows, they regularly have guests from a wide spectrum of political and cultural positions. The difference is that they will have either an interviewer or another guest who will discuss intelligently their differences. The main thing that sets NPR apart is intelligence, rational argument, and good taste.

No wonder the Republicans want to defund them over any trumped up excuse. Let them rant. NPR receives only 6% of its funding from direct federal funding and another 10% in the form of grants.

Ralph