Stern is spending the morning talking all about politics. His plea to his millions of listeners: "Vote George W. Bush out of office."
Stern spent the first 90 minutes of his show playing news and music clips as a protest, indicating how he'd be muzzled under legislation just passed by Congress. (Ron Paul was the lone Republican voting against it.) The legislation allows the FCC to levy fines against individual broadcasters, personally. (The informal name for the bill is the "Howard Stern Bill.")
Stern says he'll leave the airwaves if Bush signs the law because he can't broadcast his show under those circumstances. He is now planning to switch to satellite radio and is examining whether Sirius or XM will be his new home.
Stern still has two years left on his contract with Infinity Broadcasting, and Infinity is standing by Stern, albeit with plenty of censorship. ("Dead Air Dave" pushes the button, along with censors downstream on local stations. The word "nigger" got chopped out this morning, for example -- as Stern explained how he hung up on a caller who used the word.)
"Vote Kerry!"
A few Democratic politicians have appeared on the show, notably Congressman Serano from New York.
Stern is explaining the context of the Culture War to his listeners and how the Religious Right is winning. Robin: "You always attack the artists first." There's some really dynamite stuff here.
Stern: "Your rights are being ripped out. They're going to fine individuals millions and millions because they don't like what you say." (A half million, to be exact. Per offense. Per station. Limit is "only" $3 million per day.)
Stern watched the vote in Congress, and he couldn't believe there were only 21 votes against. (Democrats rolled over on this vote, shamefully.) He'll be watching the Senate vote.
Dynamite stuff.