December 10, 2009 10:56 PM UTC

Clear Channel Formally Launches the AM760 Progressive Dojo

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• by: davidsirota

Just wanted to tell everyone the good news: Today, Clear Channel announced the launch of my new radio show on KKZN-AM760 – the statewide progressive radio station here in Colorado. The show runs every weekday morning from 7am-10am MST (9am-12pm ET). You can tune in locally on AM760 on your radio dial or stream it/podcast it from anywhere at the show’s website.

I discussed the changeover on air this morning with Jay Marvin, who is still recovering from some health issues. He was great – and it’s really intimidating to try to follow in his legendary footsteps. Frankly, if there’s one big downside to this for me, it’s that my morning won’t be spent listening to Jay’s show – I’ll be having to do the show.

I will still be writing my weekly syndicated newspaper column and my book  – and the new radio show is a really great opportunity to add to that work. It’s an opportunity for discussion, debate and journalistic analysis from a progressive perspective each and every weekday morning right here in the Great American Heartland. And here’s the thing – we’re not going to be carrying any water for either political party. As I said in the Clear Channel press release that went out today, “Talk radio often ends up being a mindless screaming match between Democratic and Republican Party propagandists – but what we need is more frank debate, honest discussion and tough questions.”

In the last 9 months of filling in, we’ve had terrific guests come into what I’ve called the AM760 Progressive Dojo (there is no fear in this dojo!) for tough questions, debate and discussion – from U.S. Senators like Bernie Sanders and Michael Bennet; to state leaders/voices like Gov. Bill Ritter, State Sen. Chris Romer and Coloradopols himself (among others). We’ve also regularly featured national journalists like Bill Moyers, Naomi Klein, Matt Taibbi David Brancaccio, Rachel Maddow and Dylan Ratigan; and local journalists from the Denver Post, the Ft. Collins Coloradoan and the Colorado Independent (among others). And, of course, we’ve had on a string of legendary writers and comedians like Carl Reiner, Lewis Black, James Ellroy, Steven Coonts, Noam Chomsky and Chuck Klosterman.

The goal is to provide a solid mix of local news, politics, pop culture (the intersection of which is what my upcoming book is all about) and, on Fridays, taste tests of local craft beer. For our efforts, we’ve gotten some great reviews – my favorite of which was from Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) who said, “There’s one thing I love about your show – you never throw me a softball.”

Obviously, if you have topic/guest ideas, please send them along here, or instant message us at the show’s website. I’m going to need your help to make this the best show it can possibly be.

Some of you like the show and hate my writing. Some of you hate my writing and like the show. Some of you hate the show, hate my writing and hate me. I get that – it comes with the territory, I guess. But I hope if you’re not in the latter category of pure hater, you’ll give the show a chance – and send me some constructive criticism that I can build off of when you have some.

If want to see more about what we aim to achieve, check out Westword’s new article on the announcement here. I’ve learned a helluva lot from my good friend Jay Marvin, and, as I said, it’s intimidating to try to follow in the footsteps of such a radio legend. But I’m looking forward to the challenge.