Midweek politics

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Midweek Politics with David Pakman


Genre Politics, News, Satire, Talk
Running time 1 hour
Country Flag of United States United States
Home station WXOJ / Pacifica Radio
Starring David Pakman
Creator(s) David Pakman
Executive producer(s) David Pakman
Louis Motamedi
Air dates 2005 – Present
Website http://www.midweekpolitics.com
Podcast feed Midweek Politics with David Pakman

Midweek Politics with David Pakman is a nationally syndicated talk radio program featuring David Pakman as host. The program first aired in August of 2005 on WXOJ-Valley Free Radio, located in Northampton, Massachusetts, and has since been syndicated on the Pacifica Radio network, airing on multiple Pacifica radio stations. The program is broadcast/produced every Wednesday, hence the name "Midweek Politics," focusing on the politics and news of the week, with regular interviews of both liberal, conservative, and non-political guests, although the show does not air on Wednesdays on all of its affiliate stations.

Although Ben Ferguson is listed as the youngest nationally syndicated radio personality in the country, this has now been called into question due to Pakman's recent syndicated on Pacifica. Because Pacifica is non-profit radio, affiliates do not pay for syndication rights, there is some controversy over this claim, although at its core, Midweek Politics is a nationally-syndicated radio program.

Contents

[edit] Format

"Midweek Politics" is made up of both live and recorded interviews, listener call-ins, clips from television and radio programs related to politics and current events, and specially produced segments, including "man on the street" interviews, recorded phone calls to political organizations or officials, and more.

[edit] 2006 election and Deval Patrick

During the leadup to the 2006 mid-term election, Pakman had more than one run-in with Massachusetts Governor-election Deval Patrick on the issue of polling. During an August 23, 2006 interview, Patrick was reluctant to admit that the Democratic candidate who would go on to win the primary in September was in a strong position to win in the general election in November, although the polls were overwhelmingly pointing in that direction.

This issue was brought up again in person by Pakman at an October 3, 2006 debate at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. At this point, Patrick had already won the Democratic primary and was, according to some polls,[attribution needed] more than 30 points ahead of the second place Republican Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey. When asked if he would finally admit to having some comfort in his lead, Patrick explained that "he doesn't always trust the polls." When asked by Pakman whether or not Healey should be worried that she is more than 30 points down, Patrick shrugged the question off by asking "is it now that much?" and moving on to another reporter's question.

[edit] Howard Stern

David Pakman has come under fire from both traditional liberals as well as religious conservatives for his support of free speech specifically as applied to Howard Stern and censorship. On September 27, 2006, Pakman specifically defended Stern, the Sirius Satellite Radio business, the success of Stern's show to date, and stated that he believes the type of ideology stated by Rush Limbaugh and other talk radio hosts is equally or more offensive than the type of content censored when Stern's show was on terrestrial radio.

In an article published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette] on December 13, 2006, the statement that Pakman claimed Howard Stern as a "hero" was made, although disputed by Pakman. In a correction/letter to the editor published on December 21, 2006, Pakman clarified that while he is a Sirius Satellite Radio subscriber and a fan of Howard Stern's, the statement that Stern was a hero was never made nor implied.

[edit] Westboro Baptist Church

In a segment spanning two shows, on October 4, 2006 and October 11, 2006, Jonathan Phelps of the Westboro Baptists Church (known for their "God Hates Fags" slogan) was intervied by David Pakman in what turned out to be a controversial segment. Pakman was accused of not being sufficiently openly critical and confrontational with Phelps, who as once brought up on a variety of criminal charges stemming from information gathered following a raid of Westboro.

In follow up interviews and programs, Pakman defended the interview by saying that if both goes without saying that he did not agree with Phelps, and has condemned the church on the program in the past. In addition, he said that because interviews with members of Westboro often turn into unproductive shouting matches, staying calm and letting Phelps speak would "allow listeners to hear the heinous nature of the church and their views."

During the same interview, Phelps resorted to ad hominem attacks, claiming that Pakman and his producer were, among other things, pinheads. In addition, Phelps threatened to "end this pretense of an interview" when the idea that Phelps' church's views were based on one interpretation of the Bible, as opposed to the only interpretation. Phelps did, however, stay on to complete the interview.

[edit] Guests

Guests on the program have included elected public officials, political candidates, members of the military, film producers, and members of university political clubs, among others. Interviews are both live and pre-recorded. The following are some of the guests who have been on the program:

[edit] Pacifica affiliates

This list is of current or past affiliates, all Pacifica Radio stations.

[edit] Credits

The show is hosted by David Pakman and produced by David Pakman and Louis Motamedi at Valley Free Radio WXOJ in Northampton, Massachusetts.

[edit] Press

[edit] External links

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