Big radio this week...

I'll be on the John Batchelor Show tonight, beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific Time, with our weekly edition of all-things-the-Golden-State (aka: "Hotel California") at 6:30 p.m. In addition to "Hotel California," John and I will be discussing the news of the day with experts and correspondents around the world.

On Saturday, I'll be hosting the John Batchelor Show while John takes a well-deserved break. I have more than a dozen different guests "dropping by" to discuss subjects ranging from Afghanistan and politics, to education and space exploration. The show promises to be interesting, informative and fun. It, too, kicks off at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.

The show can be heard on dozens of radio stations around the country, on XM/Sirius satellite and online. Check local listings for details (as well as online listening information). If you don't have a local station carrying the show, you can check out John's website for more...

Thanks for listening!

Radio tonight (happy 4th!)...

Happy Fourth of July, 2010!

I want YOU to listen!

Tonight, it's another stint on The John Batchelor Show @ approx. 7:30 pm PT.

We'll be discussing the recently uncovered Russian spy ring, Gen. David Petraeus' new role in Afghanistan, the GOP's loss of confidence in RNC chair Michael Steele, and Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision to move more than 200,000 state employees to minimum wage in an effort to move the budget along.

You can listen via KSFO-AM, WABC-AM, WMAL-AM and more than two dozen other radio stations or their websites.

This week on the radio...

Tuesday, June 15 (afternoon): I’ll be filling in for Dave Congalton at KVEC-AM 920, from 3-5 p.m. (PacTime). My guests will be – political analyst, Bill Whalen; Melissa and Jeff Purchin (with summer/swimming safety tips); Reuter’s White House correspondent Jon Decker; and Dr. Joe Astroth, Autodesk chief education officer.

Tuesday, June 15 (evening): I’ll do my (increasingly) regular wrap on the John Batchelor Show at 9:50 p.m. (Pacific Time).

Wednesday, June 16 (“Hotel California”): Due to a birthday in the family, I will not be behind the microphone for the usual 6-10 p.m. stint on the John Batchelor Show.

Thursday, June 17 and Friday, June 18: Off.

Saturday, June 19: I’ll be co-hosting the John Batchelor Show from 6-8 p.m. (PacTime). Check back for the guest list.

Check back for additional shows/airtimes/details.

And, as always, thanks for listening!

More (spirited) radio...

This afternoon, I’ll be on Dave Congalton’s “Big Broadcast” beginning at 4:30 p.m. (PacTime). We’ll discuss the recent poll numbers in the California GOP governor’s race – currently, they show Meg Whitman holding a seemingly unbeatable lead over her opponent, Steve Poizner. We might also get into the local race to fill recently appointed Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado’s seat in the state senate. If you’re on the Central Coast, you can listen to Dave’s show on KVEC-AM 920 (or anywhere else via KVEC’s website).

The formidable Dave Congalton...

And tomorrow night (Saturday), just after 6 p.m. PacTime, I’ll be joining guest host Simon Constable on the John Batchelor Show. The topic de jour will be the political races in California, with a special focus on the probable Carly Fiorina (R) vs. Barbara Boxer (D) race for the Boxer’s seat in the U.S. senate.

The GOP probables: Meg Whitman (left) and Carly Fiorina...

You can listen to the show at WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

The redoubtable (Simon) Constable...

And as always…thanks for listening...

LATE ADDITION: I just found out that I’ll be on The John Batchelor Show this Sunday evening at approximately 9 p.m. (PacTime) to discuss Tuesday's primary elections, polls and whatnot here in California. In addition to the stations listed above for Saturday night's appearance, you can also hear the show - Sunday thru Friday - in Northern California at KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco.

Radio this week...

Tonight (Tuesday) and tomorrow night (Wednesday), I’ll be on The John Batchelor Show...

Tonight, I’ll be on a brief segment beginning at 6:15 p.m. PDT. We’ll be discussing the recent poll numbers in the California GOP primary races showing Meg Whitman (gov’s race) and Carly Fiorina (senate race) surging to commanding leads...

According to some polls, Meg Whitman (left) now has a 27-point lead and Carly Fiorina (right) a 24-point advantage...

Beginning at 6 p.m. PDT tomorrow night – in addition to the weekly edition of “Hotel California” – John and I will discuss a variety of subjects with correspondents from around the world.

You can listen to the show at KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco, WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

John Batchelor...

…and on Thursday morning, I’ll join Brian Sussman and Officer Vic on The Brian Sussman Show on KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco at 8:05 a.m. What will we discuss? Hard to say, but I’m sure it will be fun/interesting/different…

Brian Sussman (left) and Officer Vic...

And as always…thanks for listening...

It’s all about ROI...

...return on investment - and it doesn't look like Meg Whitman is getting it.

Steve Poizner: stealing Meg Whitman's spotlight...

According to a story that broke in The Wall Street Journal last night (Pacific Time), “Meg Whitman appears to have lost much of her wide lead in the race to be the Republican contender in California's November gubernatorial election. Two months ago, Ms. Whitman looked to be cruising toward the Republican nomination. Polls showed the former eBay Inc. chief executive leading her main opponent, state insurance commissioner Steve Poizner, by 50 percentage points.”

But, oh, how times (and polling numbers) have changed.

The WSJ story continues: “With three weeks to go before the June 8 primary, Mr. Poizner is pulling off an unexpected rally. A survey to be released Thursday shows Ms. Whitman's advantage dwindling to single digits, with 38% of respondents saying they would vote for her, and 29% for Mr. Poizner. (The widely trusted poll, by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, follows similar results in other recent surveys that suggest a sharply tightened race. A May 10 SurveyUSA poll showed Ms. Whitman leading Mr. Poizner 39% to 37%.”

This is bad news for Meg – even if she manages to beat Poizner.

The opponents grip and grin - for now...

With less than a month left in the race, the former eBay leader – despite pouring more than $68 million of her own money (she’s expressed a willingness to go all-in with a total of $150 million of her own moolah) – has lost her momentum. Just a few months ago, the Whitman juggernaut looked like it would not only run over Poizner – and Brown – but the American political process as well. And while her early money bought her high poll numbers (aka: name recognition), the issues, Poizner’s sniping and her lackluster political stands/record makes her a less-attractive candidate.

Gov. Moonbeam, Pt. 3?

And while Poizner is advancing, he shouldn’t necessarily start picking out drapes for the governor’s mansion (and neither should Meg). According to The San Francisco Chronicle, “If the election were held today, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, who has spent no money on ads and held his first official event this week, would beat each of the GOP hopefuls in head-to-head matchups, the poll found. Brown, the state attorney general and former two-term governor, leads Whitman 42 to 37 percent and Poizner 45 to 32 percent. Brown faces no significant opposition in the Democratic primary election.”

It’s looking, more and more like Brown might not have any significant opposition from the Republican side of the aisle, either...

Speaking of the Whitman-Poizner/Brown race(s): Tonight on The John Batchelor Show, I'll join John, The Daily Beast's Tunku Varadarajan, and The San Francisco Chronicle's Joe Garafoli to discuss the surprising poll numbers Poizner is posting against Whitman in the California governor’s GOP race.

John Batchelor...

You can listen to the show at KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco,WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio (ch. 158) and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

See you on the radio...

Radio this week...

This afternoon on Dave Congalton’s “Big Broadcast,” Dave and I will be discussing the California High-Speed Rail project (beginning at 4:30 p.m. PT). You can hear Dave’s show at KVEC-AM 920 or online. Don’t forget: call-ins are always welcome!

Tomorrow night (Wednesday), I’ll be on The John Batchelor Show, beginning at 6 pm. PT. In addition to the weekly edition of “Hotel California” (at 7:30 p.m.), John and I will discuss a variety of subjects with correspondents from around the world throughout the evening. You can listen to the show at KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco, WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

…and on Thursday morning, I’ll join Brian Sussman and Officer Vic on The Brian Sussman Show on KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco at 8:05 a.m. What will we discuss? Hard to say, but I’m sure it will be fun/interesting/different…

And as always…thanks for listening...

Radio - night & day...

Tonight on The John Batchelor Show, beginning at 6 p.m. (Pac Time), John and I will discuss news, politics, California, the economy and more with a number of correspondents from around the world.

You can listen to the show at KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco, WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

…and tomorrow morning (Thursday), I’ll join Brian Sussman and Officer Vic on The Brian Sussman Show on KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco at 7:35 a.m.

And as always…thanks for listening...

Airing it out...

Tomorrow night, it will be time for another edition of The John Batchelor Show - live and emanating from a radio (or computer) near you...

Beginning at 6 p.m. (Pac Time), I’ll join John to discuss politics, economy and whatever else is making news...

You can listen to the show at KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco, WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details)...

If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites...

And as always…thanks for listening...

Good Monday evening, radio land...

Tonight on The John Batchelor Show, beginning at 6 p.m. (Pac Time), I’ll join John and Carla Marinucci (The San Francisco Chronicle) to discuss California’s politics, economy and whatever else is making news in the Golden State.

You can listen to the show at KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco, WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

And as always…thanks for listening.

Tune-in on Monday - twice!

Monday will be a busy day and night on the airwaves!

From 3-5 pm (Pac Time), I’ll be filling in for Dave Congalton on his show over at KVEC-AM 920. My guests will include Bill Morem (San Luis Obispo Tribune) and John Zuchelli (KCOY-TV), who will discuss the current state of the news media; Carl White (Autodesk) and Christian Carlberg (mechanical engineering mentor) to talk about Battlebots and STEM education; and Kevin Clark (Cal Poly) to talk poetry, baseball and whatever else crosses our minds.

Later Monday night, I’ll be on The John Batchelor Show (beginning at 6 p.m. Pac Time), where John and I will be discussing the issues and events of the day. You can listen to the show at WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

And as always…thanks for listening.

Tonight: Live from both coasts!

Tonight on The John Batchelor Show (beginning at 6 p.m. Pac Time), John and I will be discussing the issues and events of the day.

At 7:30 p.m., it’s the weekly installment of “Hotel California,” when we’ll speak with guests about the state’s political and economic issues.

You can listen to the show at WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

And as always…thanks for listening.

Eagles "Hotel California"
Uploaded by Origine. - Explore more music videos.

Earthquake watch - 2010!

Today's shaker? No big deal...

Tonight on The John Batchelor Show, at 9:50 PM (Pac Time) I’ll report on this morning’s magnitude 4.4 earthquake just a bit outside downtown Los Angeles.

You can listen to the show at WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details).

If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites. And as always…thanks for listening.

(Photo below provided purely for dramatic purposes!)

I love L.A...

Radio, radio

Tonight on The John Batchelor Show, beginning at 6 p.m. (PST), John and I will be discussing the issues and events of the day.

At 7:30 p.m. (PST), it’s the weekly installment of “Hotel California,” wherein we’ll be speaking with guests about the state’s political and economic issues.

You can listen to the show at WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

And as always…thanks for listening.

Live from San Francisco...

I'll be in the KSFO-AM studios Wednesday night (Jan. 6) as I join the roundtable on John Batchelor's radio show from 7:30-8 p.m. (Pacific Time) to discuss events in California, the west and elsewhere.

John and I will be joined by Jim Carlton of The Wall Street Journal and Joe Garofoli of The San Francisco Chronicle.

You can listen to the show at WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., and on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio. If you’re not in one of the listening areas, you can tune-in via any of those stations’ websites.

Thank you for your support!

Aloha from Hawai'i...pt. 2

Shall we try again?



I’ll be on The John Batchelor Show tonight (following a short hiatus…after a large cup of coffee being spilled on the studio controls...forcing a postponement of last night’s chat).

I’ll be on for a brief update on “all-things-Hawai’i”…re: Limbaugh, Pelosi, Obama, etc. John and I will start chatting around 9:50 p.m. PST. You can listen to the show at KSFO-AM 560, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., and on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio. If you’re not in one of the listening areas, you can tune-in via any of those stations’ websites.

And as always…mahalo for listening.

Radio tonight - aloha!

Book 'im, Danno...

I’ll be on The John Batchelor Show tonight for a brief update on “all-things-Hawai’i”…re: Limbaugh, Pelosi, Obama, etc. I’ll be joining John at 9:50 p.m. PST for the discussion. You can listen to the show at WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., and on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio. If you’re not in one of the listening areas, you can tune-in via any of those stations’ websites.

And as always…mahalo for listening.

Tonight's radio show: the bombing attempt's aftermath

The attempted bombing of the Delta/Northwest airliner in Detroit on Christmas day will be the subject of tonight’s roundtable on The John Batchelor Show. I’ll be joining John and fellow guests Larry Johnson (No Quarter) and Craig Unger (Vanity Fair) at 7 p.m. PST for the discussion. You can listen to the show at KSFO-AM 560 San Francisco/Northern California, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., and on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio. If you’re not in one of the listening areas, you can tune-in via any of those stations’ websites.

See you on the radio!

Radio show tonight - late notice!

Late notice: I know you’re busy recovering from Christmas festivities, but I’ll be on The John Batchelor Show around 9:05 p.m. PST tonight to discuss news surrounding the attempted bombing of the Delta Airlines flight in Detroit yesterday. You can listen to the show on WABC-AM 77 NYC, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., and... on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio. If you’re not in one of the listening areas, you can tune-in via those stations’ websites. And as always...thanks for listening (or not).

Is the Reid-Pelosi-Obamacare bill DOA?

Why the Reid-Pelosi-Obama health insurance bill will be struck down (providing the conservative side of the U.S. Supreme Court can stay alive).

Insurance Stocks Rise on News of Health Care Deal; What's It Mean? “As of 11 a.m. Eastern time [yesterday], stocks for the six largest publicly-traded health insurance companies [rose] by an average 4.49 percent, as weighted by their market capitalization. As the S&P 500 index had gained 1.09 percent as of 11 AM, these stocks have overperformed the market by 3.40 percent. Although some of the gain may reflect unrelated good news in the health sector, it is safe to assume that most of the improvement in prices [reflect] the Senate's health care bill passing.” (h/t: fivethirtyeight.com)

Cutting deals: Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says of the dealmaking it took to get the bill – “There are 100 senators here and I don’t know that there’s a senator that doesn’t have something in this bill that isn’t important to them,” Reid said. “If they don’t have something in it important to them then it doesn’t speak well of them.” There’s statesmanship for you.


Senate majority scold Harry Reid (D-Casinos)...

So it is political: From The Foundry - “While the President’s most ardent supporters are trying to explain to each other why the benefits of the bill do not start until 2014, they are openly admitting that Obama’s deficit busting claims are complete fiction:

• The Washington Post’s Ezra Klein: “The delay is a budget trick, an attempt to lower the 10-year cost of the bill at the expense of the very people we’re trying to help.”
• Mother Jones‘ Kevin Drum: “I’m pretty sure the 2014 date is mostly due to budget finagling. This stuff can’t be done overnight, but I’ll bet most of it could be implemented within 12 months, and it could certainly be implemented within 24.”
• Talking Points Memo’s Josh Marshall: “My impression is that some of the delays are there because it makes the budgetary accounting work better in terms of deficit neutrality. And I know the Dems would likely lose critical support without being able to show that the overall bill actually lowers the deficit. But if that’s the main reason, I suspect the legislative authors may be too clever by half since they may be slitting the bill’s and perhaps their own throats in the process.”

Can you say, “backlash?”

He'll have many more questions to answer in the months (and years) to come...

Add backlash: Now appearing in the dictionary with a photo of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.)? Seems his constituents have had a belly full and are now giving him an ear’s-worth…

Last add backlash: Could Sen. Christopher “I’m a friend of the mortgage industry” Dodd (D-Conn.) be looking forward to future payback from voters, too? (For so many reasons, let’s hope so.) “A $100 million item for construction of a university hospital was inserted in the Senate health care bill at the request of Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., who faces a difficult re-election campaign, his office said Sunday night.” (h/t: Washington Post)


Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Payoffs)...

How popular is Obamacare out here beyond the Beltway? According to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, “As the Senate prepares to vote on health care reform, American voters ‘mostly disapprove’ of the plan 53 - 36 percent and disapprove 56 - 38 percent of President Barack Obama's handling of the health care issue.”

Say aloha to those vacation plans!


Our man in Hawai'i...

Radio appearance alert: I'll be on The John Batchelor Show tonight at 8:50 p.m. PST, reporting on happenings - political and otherwise - in the west. You can listen to the show on WABC-AM 77 NYC, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., and on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio (throughout the universe). If you’re not in one of the listening areas, you can tune-in via those stations’ websites. See you on the radio!