5 chapters across the catalog
CBS Radio is officially silencing its microphones and laying off staff following the company's sale to David Ellison's Skydance Media. The hosts reflect on the history of the network, from Edward R. Murrow to the invention of broadcast news, and its decline in the age of smartphones and podcasts. Adam Curry shares a personal anecdote about buying a house from CBS legend Dallas Townsend in 1990.
The final segment of producer credits includes a shout-out to a new youth soccer team in Chattanooga, Tennessee, named the "Mid Clip Kickers," who use the "ITM" acronym in their huddles. A listener also praises a recent "Fireside Chat" featuring Texas Slim and the Beef Initiative.
The podcast industry's reliance on celebrities like Will Ferrell and Mark Cuban for conference keynotes was criticized. The hosts noted the failure of Cuban's "Fireside" app and questioned the authenticity of celebrity-driven podcasts compared to independent creators.
Twitter Trends, FDR Fireside Chats and Global Maps
During Obama's speech, Curry notes that the top trending topics on Twitter were T-Mobile, Ray Rice, and the Apple Watch, with the speech failing to crack the top list. They contrast this with FDR's fireside chats in 1942, which prompted citizens to buy maps and globes to follow the war's progress.
Barack Obama, Google Fireside Hangout, Domestic Drone Strikes
President Barack Obama participated in a "Fireside Hangout" on Google where he addressed the legality of drone strikes against American citizens. The hosts deconstruct the President's response regarding the different rules for counter-terrorism operations inside versus outside the United States. They express concern over the lack of a definitive "no" regarding the use of lethal drones on domestic soil.
