Bongino tapped for FBI Deputy Director

[TheBigA]

Here's where worlds collide. The new deputy director of the FBI is telling his radio audience about the FCC's investigation into Audacy's bankruptcy, and Carr's closed door meeting with house republicans:

FCC to Brief Lawmakers on Soros Radio Scheme

Silverloch is more than a media company. It is a movement. Built on truth, conviction, and a commitment to shaping cultur...

bongino.com

My sense is that Carr wants the FBI to get involved in this investigation. That's why he's going to congress. He believes laws have been broken, even though the company has told the FCC that no laws were broken, and that foreign ownership is under 25%. He also doesn't understand that the company hasn't been "sold." The bankruptcy was approved in October, and no conservative hosts have been replaced. No socialists or leftists have radio shows on Audacy, as Carr testified to congress. Nothing at the company has changed. But that doesn't matter to Bongino. He has created this huge leftist radio conspiracy, and told his radio audience about it today.

 

[Gregg.]

I am wondering about how Bongino, at the top of his career in terms of money, is now taking a job I assume pays around $150,000. Does this make any sense?

Surely he's getting more than that from Cumulus alone. He's on five days a week, three hours a day, on multiple Talk stations run by one of the biggest radio station owners in the country. And when you see the list of top podcasts, he's always there as well. Then add what he makes from occasional work on the Fox News Channel, plus speaking fees and books. My rough guess is he's earning four or five times what the FBI will pay. I assume he must give up all those other income sources while he's working for the government, right?

He's not even the FBI Director, he's the #2 person at the FBI. Does he think after a couple of years, he can restart his podcast, radio and TV career, just as he left it? And even conservatives have to admit that if Trump's economy goes south with tariffs and tax cuts adding to the deficit, those who are identified with him will not be in such good favor? Would you want to have been in a high, visible post during the Carter Administration? Maybe as a "conservative firebrand" Bongino doesn't think about that but he should.

 

[PTBoardOp93]

I am wondering about how Bongino, at the top of his career in terms of money, is now taking a job I assume pays around $150,000. Does this make any sense?

He's not leaving to take a job at Kroger.

I do not think he will return to radio ever. That requires work that Mr. Bongino has complained about repeatedly. He'll probably end up at some Washington think tank job focused on national security and/or intelligence in 4 years time.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

I am wondering about how Bongino, at the top of his career in terms of money, is now taking a job I assume pays around $150,000. Does this make any sense?

Of course it does.

Surely he's getting more than that from Cumulus alone.

And? It’s not like he won’t have a post government lucrative career. This is an ideologue’s dream.

He's on five days a week, three hours a day, on multiple Talk stations run by one of the biggest radio station owners in the country. And when you see the list of top podcasts, he's always there as well. Then add what he makes from occasional work on the Fox News Channel, plus speaking fees and books. My rough guess is he's earning four or five times what the FBI will pay. I assume he must give up all those other income sources while he's working for the government, right?

That should be a safe assumption, but ethics rules are being gutted, so……🤷

He's not even the FBI Director, he's the #2 person at the FBI. Does he think after a couple of years, he can restart his podcast, radio and TV career, just as he left it?

Podcasts? Yes if he so chooses. Or he can envision other things. Or he sees it as more than merely a couple of years. Or a mix of all of that.

And even conservatives have to admit that if Trump's economy goes south with tariffs and tax cuts adding to the deficit, those who are identified with him will not be in such good favor?

Obviously not a conservative here, but let’s be honest: that’s not an issue. Especially in that deputy job where he can take on the big bad liberals but won’t be in the spotlight that much as the rest of the world crashes and burns.

Would you want to have been in a high, visible post during the Carter Administration?

Yeah. I would.

Maybe as a "conservative firebrand" Bongino doesn't think about that but he should.

While none of us has the proverbial crystal ball, and I loathe everything about him, the idea he hasn’t thought about the long term and trade offs just doesn’t hold water. I can guarantee none of us here are somehow thinking of things he didn’t.

 

[wadio]

Does he think after a couple of years, he can restart his podcast, radio and TV career, just as he left it?

If people in public office can post on X, etc., what's to prevent them from podcasting?

 

[TheBigA]

If people in public office can post on X, etc., what's to prevent them from podcasting?

I think there's a difference between a 40 character tweet or brief social media post and a long form podcast.

He's obviously a very successful podcaster, and there are a lot of media personalities in this administration. Being a podcaster is a full time job, between show prep and the actual show. I would think it would be difficult to carry on two full time jobs. Especially given the time and secrecy involved with the FBI.

 

[wadio]

I think there's a difference between a 40 character tweet or brief social media post and a long form podcast.

He's obviously a very successful podcaster, and there are a lot of media personalities in this administration. Being a podcaster is a full time job, between show prep and the actual show. I would think it would be difficult to carry on two full time jobs. Especially given the time and secrecy involved with the FBI.

Could be. But a podcast could be similar to a 3 hour radio show which would require a lot of prep, or just a 15 minute rift similar to a tweat.

 

[TheBigA]

Could be. But a podcast could be similar to a 3 hour radio show which would require a lot of prep, or just a 15 minute rift similar to a tweat.

Doesn't address the secrecy aspect of the FBI. That role isn't the kind of position where you're in front of the public every day.

 

[Don CT]

Could be. But a podcast could be similar to a 3 hour radio show which would require a lot of prep, or just a 15 minute rift similar to a tweat.

I doubt he preps at all. He has his interns hand him talking points and he just goes on a rant.

 

[TheBigA]

Could be. But a podcast could be similar to a 3 hour radio show which would require a lot of prep, or just a 15 minute rift similar to a tweat.

He made an announcement today about his plans for the podcast

Bongino Launches New Media Company As He Exits Radio Show & Podcast.

Dan Bongino will end his podcast and radio show next month as he takes a job in the Trump administration, but he will still have a hand in audio. Bongino

www.insideradio.com

With Bongino’s new role at the FBI, Paula Bongino is taking on the new role as President of Silverloch. “The new company will be divorcing itself for me and my business interests because lobbyist ethics rules,” he added.

 

[wadio]

He made an announcement today about his plans for the podcast

Bongino Launches New Media Company As He Exits Radio Show & Podcast.

Dan Bongino will end his podcast and radio show next month as he takes a job in the Trump administration, but he will still have a hand in audio. Bongino

www.insideradio.com

So according to the article, the podcast and the radio show are the same thing?

The question is, will Bongino also stop posting on social media? It seems to me that a social media post is just a very short podcast and vice versa.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

So according to the article, the podcast and the radio show are the same thing?

The question is, will Bongino also stop posting on social media? It seems to me that a social media post is just a very short podcast and vice versa.

Who in that administration keeps a low profile? The noise they generate is a feature, not a bug.

 

[TheBigA]

It seems to me that a social media post is just a very short podcast and vice versa.

You said that earlier. As a private citizen, you may be right. As an employee of the FBI, it's something else.

He says he won't be hosting the podcast anymore.

 

[Radio Bob]

The first Sunday I ever worked in radio, we played religious shows off an Ampex. We went from a show at 7 1/2 i.p.s. to one at 3 3/4. So I pull out the lever, load the next tape, and it's very very slow. I hadn't been told to adjust a belt.

At the first station I worked at we had a taped foreign language 30 minute long show that I aired one night. After word the PD casually mentioned in passing that I had played it back word all 30 minutes.

 

[TheBigA]

Bongino's radio show came up during the Cumulus earnings conference call yesterday

Dan Bongino, Digital, And Political Highlight Cumulus Media’s Earnings Call.

During its Q4 and Year-End 2024 earnings call, Cumulus Media highlighted its digital business, which accounts for nearly 20% of total revenue for the company. The company booked $19 million

www.insideradio.com

“We congratulate Dan on his new position, but his appointment will, of course, mean that while he is serving in the administration, he will be unable to perform his radio show or podcast,” Mary Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cumulus Media, said on the company’s Q4 and full-year 2024 earnings report call. “In the meantime, we are working on programming to fill the void, although we do anticipate that this will be an additional headwind.”

 

[wadio]

You said that earlier. As a private citizen, you may be right. As an employee of the FBI, it's something else.

He says he won't be hosting the podcast anymore.

Then shouldn't he also not post on social media?

Broadcast radio is regulated by the FCC so I understand why someone in government shouldn't host a radio show.

But I don't get the distinction between a social media post and a podcast.

 

[TheBigA]

Then shouldn't he also not post on social media?

Broadcast radio is regulated by the FCC so I understand why someone in government shouldn't host a radio show.

But I don't get the distinction between a social media post and a podcast.

The FCC has nothing to do with with it. His job is with the FBI. Elon expects him to give his full attention to that.

 

[wadio]

The FCC has nothing to do with with it. His job is with the FBI. Elon expects him to give his full attention to that.

Then he'll no longer post on social media? 🤔

We'll see! 😏

 

[TheBigA]

Then he'll no longer post on social media? 🤔

We'll see! 😏

You're the only person I know who has this connection between owning a podcast and posting on social media. They are two separate things.

The article said he won't be hosting his podcast. Nothing about social media. However, my lawyer tells me that if he posts under his own name, it will carry the weight of his government job, and could be construed as government policy. The president's EO says only he or the AG can state government policy.

His new media company, run by his wife, has its own social media account. So I suspect he will use that to stay out of trouble with the boss.

 

[wadio]

However, my lawyer tells me that if he posts under his own name, it will carry the weight of his government job, and could be construed as government policy. The president's EO says only he or the AG can state government policy.

So Dan Bongino will no longer post on social media. Yeah, we'll see.