Washington Examiner investigative reporter Gabe Kaminsky overviewed the repercussions that “massive Democratic megadonor” George Soros and a nonprofit organization reached with a radio network could have on conservative radio stations.
The deal, which was reached only a few weeks before the 2024 election, saw the Fund for Policy Reform, a nonprofit group largely funded by Soros, purchase “a major stake” in the radio company Audacy. The move, approved by the Federal Communications Commission in a 3-2 vote, puts Audacy and over 200 radio stations within the hands of the Soros family, as Soros’s son Alex is on the board of Fund for Policy Reform.
“And to Republicans, not only are they concerned and have speech concerns about a Democrat taking on this task of having all these radio stations under his empire, they’re also concerned because they say that the Biden-Harris Administration bypassed standard procedure for reviewing companies with 25% or more in foreign ownership to allow George Soros to take control of these stations,” Kaminsky said on NewsmaxTV’s Greg Kelly Reports. “And that’s something that is under congressional investigation in the House Oversight Committee and by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. So we’ll just have to see what happens.”
THE GEORGE SOROS RADIO DEAL THAT HAS THE GOP IN UPROAR
Kaminsky then assessed how radio networks have been “long-dominated” by conservative-leaning radio shows to address the “massive organic audience and need” from consumers who want to hear these shows. Part of this need stems from how “right-of-center” voices are often not platformed on cable television networks.
Because of this, Kaminsky suspects radio shows concerned about potentially being de-platformed through the Soros acquisition will be able to find a new home “regardless” of what happens due to the demand for their shows and voices.
Audacy is the second-largest radio broadcaster in the United States after iHeartMedia. It is based in Philadelphia and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Texas in January to cut its debt by 80% before the Soros family stepped in.
The radio company declined to comment to the Washington Examiner for the story.
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Radio host Mark Levin, one of the most well-known conservative talk show hosts, viewed the acquisition as a manifestation of Soros’s goal “to control as much of the airwaves as possible.” He told the Washington Examiner that Soros is not helping the radio company “he’s a public interest citizen,” but rather because “he’s power-hungry.”
“The guy is an ideologue with billions of dollars,” Levin said. “He puts his money where his mouth is.”