Politics is war? Georgia Public Broadcasting cows to pressure in canceling popular show
This commentary is written by opinion columnist Adam Van Brimmer.
Georgia Public Broadcasting lost its hard-earned credibility as a go-to source for state political coverage in an instant last week.
By canceling the daily “Political Rewind” radio show, the statewide network of radio stations became irrelevant. The last episode aired June 30, just two weeks after GPB’s new leader informed the show’s host and creator, Bill Nigut, of his firing.
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Nigut’s dismissal and the show’s cancellation were not a business decision on GPB’s part: “Political Rewind” was by far the network’s most popular program, so much so that in recent years it went from a once-a-week frequency to every weekday. And while the show features several guests daily, few if any were paid for their appearances. “Political Rewind” is not a high-cost initiative ― and no doubt attracted more than enough donor dollars to cover expenses.
No, “Political Rewind” appears to have gotten the ax because of politics at the Georgia Capitol. Lawmakers cut GPB’s funding by $1.4 million at the 11th hour of the 2023 session, which led to the retirement of the network’s longtime executive director. She had championed “Political Rewind” and when the GPB board ― full of political appointees ― named an interim director, retribution followed.
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Nigut had angered some Republicans in the Legislature by making the fallout from the 2020 election fraud conspiracy a frequent topic on his show. He also banned “Big Lie” advocates from coming on as guests and espousing their false rhetoric, especially during the runup to the 2022 GOP primary.
Nigut’s stand is what those who follow politics in Georgia had come to expect from his program. “Political Rewind” is a space for civil discourse about political news of the day, with guests representing a variety of viewpoints stating their positions and backing them with facts.
“Political Rewind” is not something that Fox News or MSNBC would ever air, and that’s why it was popular with listeners. If you wanted a deeper understanding of political happenings in Georgia, and wanted to know where the partisans were coming from, you listened.
Nigut called balls and strikes from time to time, but he did so no matter the guests’ political leanings.
“Political Rewind” will certainly relaunch in some form soon, be it as a podcast or a program aired on a commercial radio station or network. But it will be difficult to match GPB’s statewide reach. As a taxpayer and now a former donor, it’s disappointing to know GPB is just another political pawn.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: GPB radio show Political Rewind canceled in politically motivated move
