Here are some of the best (most interesting, most intelligent, most infuriating, and/or most compelling) radio talk shows on the air (IMHO). Most of these programs have an archive of podcasts of past programs, which are great for listening to as you work, clean house, exercise, commute, or drive, etc. Some of them do visuals! Few rants, little screaming. Leave a comment if I forgot an important program or something about an entry has changed.
Michael Goldfarb's article for Salon, The Birth of Conservative Delusion (10-20-13) helps provide historical perspective. "The long road to Ted Cruz, Fox News, the Tea Party and right-wing insanity has its roots in the events of 1973."
"Under Reagan, Republican appointees on the FCC abolished the fairness doctrine, the obligation for broadcasters to air both sides of controversial issues. This led to an explosion of opinionated propagandists on the air waves relentlessly attacking 'liberal' media. It continues to this day, degrading American public discourse."
No Fox News here, though you'll find some conservative voices.
Stations whose radio and podcast programs are linked to here:
American Public Media news and talk programming
BBC Audio
NPR podcasts & shows National Public Radio stations that help make podcasts of their shows available.
PBS News podcasts
WAMU shows
• WBEZ podcasts and shows (Chicago Public Radio)
WETA shows
Specific programs, in alphabetical order:
• Academic Earth (thousands of video lectures from the world's top scholars). Read How To Go to Harvard for Free (Farhad Manjoo, Slate, on the joys of Academic Earth's online video lectures)
• AfterWords (C-Span's Book TV) -- authors of the latest nonfiction books interviewed by journalists, public policy makers, and legislators (both current guests and archives)
• All Songs Considered (ASC)
• All Things Considered (Robert Siegel, Michele Norris and Melissa Block present a daily mix of news, interviews, and features)
• American Public Media shows: Read More