Jump to content

The David Pakman Show

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 76.119.100.5 (talk) at 19:07, 10 December 2010 (→Television affiliates). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the political talk show host David Pakman. For the internet venture capitalist, see David B. Pakman.
The David Pakman Show
File:Tdps.logo.jpg
GenrePolitical Talk, Satire, Entertainment
Running time1 hour
Country of originUnited States United States
Language(s)English
Home stationVivid Edge Media Group studios
StarringDavid Pakman
Created byDavid Pakman
Produced byLouis Motamedi, Natan Pakman
Executive producer(s)David Pakman
Original releaseAugust, 2005 –
Present
Websitehttp://www.davidpakman.com
PodcastThe David Pakman Show

The David Pakman Show (TDPS), originally Midweek Politics with David Pakman, is a multiplatform politics and news talk show airing on radio, television, and the internet, hosted by David Pakman, currently airing on a combination of commercial and public radio stations, including Pacifica Radio stations, on Free Speech TV via DirecTV and DISH Network, on public access television stations nationwide, via internet podcast and on YouTube. The program first aired in August 2005 on WXOJ-LP ("Valley Free Radio"), located in Northampton, Massachusetts, first achieving national syndication on Pacifica Radio network[1], eventually achieving broader international distribution. The David Pakman Show offers uncensored members only content through a paid membership program, known for behind the scenes discussions of guests and breaking the fourth wall[2].

TDPS is a news and political talk program, known for controversial interviews with political and religious extremists, liberal and conservative politicians, and other guests. TDPS has been involved in a number of controversies involving homophobic and racist guests. The program focuses on the politics and news of the day, technology and energy development, business, religion and other topics. TDPS airs on both radio and television affiliates around the US and across the world.

Host David Pakman holds an MBA from Bentley University and an undergraduate degree in economics and communication from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst[3]. He is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Pakman, who started the program at age 21, then the youngest nationally syndicated political host, has been compared to Rachel Maddow[4], both for his incisive, sometimes sarcastic political analysis and for starting his radio career in the same city as Maddow, Northampton, Massachusetts.

History

David Pakman started to produce a local version of TDPS on Pacifica radio affiliate WXOJ while an undergraduate student at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, during his time as an intern at the Media Education Foundation, the non-profit holding WXOJ's license at the time. The program focused on national politics from its inception, and was initially made available only to Pacifica Radio Network affiliate stations. Immediate interest from few but important affiliates spread around the US, and as the production value and notability of guests of the show rose, affiliates continued to add the program to their schedules. Broader public radio syndication followed.

In 2007, TDPS added Louis Motamedi, childhood friend of Pakman's, as radio producer. This expanded the program further, allowing for a wider variety of programming, more well-known guests, and live phone calls, and generally improved the production value of the show, which was until that point a one-person operation.

In 2009, Midweek Politics was launched as a simultaneously produced television program (More under Television Syndication), adding Pakman's brother, Natan Pakman, as the television producer.

In 2010, TDPS launched a paid membership program[5], maintaining the long-time free podcast at no charge, but offering audience members additional content in a freemium model, including extra show segments, behind the scenes interviews, and access to show archives.

In July 2010, TDPS obtained national television distribution through Free Speech TV[6]. (More under Television syndication)

In September 2010, Midweek Politics left WXOJ and moved into their own studio in Northampton, Massachusetts, a facility equipped for both the radio and television versions of the program.

In November 2010, TDPS changed the name of the program to The David Pakman Show (TDPS).

Radio syndication

Public radio syndication began in 2006 on the Pacifica Radio Network through Vivid Edge Media Group, the production company for TDPS. Initially, a handful of non-commercial talk radio stations broadcast the show. During 2007, public radio syndication expanded to all public radio stations, regardless of Pacifica affiliation.

Commercial radio

During 2009, TDPS achieved its first commercial radio affiliates, starting with Green 1640 in Atlanta, Georgia and WHMP in Midweek Politics' broadcast home of Northampton, Massachusetts, previously having aired only on public radio stations.

International radio

TDPS airs on several international radio stations, including in Canada, Mexico, and Ghana[7].

Television syndication

On September 2, 2009, Midweek Politics was launched as a simultaneously produced television program, originally offered to public-access television stations across the country, and also published on the The David Pakman ShowYouTube Channel. The program rapidly grew the number of television affiliates [8], and David Pakman has attributed the increased growth of the program starting in 2009 to expanding from radio to a visual medium.

Free Speech TV

On July 27, 2010, Midweek Politics announced that it would start national syndication on Free Speech TV as of July 31, 2010[9]. Free Speech TV reaches DirecTV and DISH Network subscribers, over 30 million as of July 27, 2010, via satellite.

International television

TDPS announced in September 2010 that the first international affiliate, Öppna Kanalen Skövde in Skövde, Sweden, would be airing the program[8].

Format

"Midweek Politics" is made up of both live and pre-recorded interviews, clips from television and radio programs related to politics and current events, segments with correspondents on the street and in public, and other specially produced segments. Starting in 2008, alternative energy, business, religious zealotry, infidelity among politicians, and a number of ancillary themes have become prevalent in the programming, often featuring Pakman in an adversarial role with conservative religious extremists, which have been the center of controversy since their inclusion in the program.

Content

Midweek Politics is generally considered a progressive/liberal talk radio program, although it rarely falls in line with the traditional liberal positions on many issues, primarily related to Israel and Palestine, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

David Pakman and Midweek Politics are strong supporters of same-sex marriage a topic which often has become adversarial with guests on the program[10][11][12] Additionally, a strong belief in evolution and a rebuking of literal Bible interpreters who believe that the Earth is 6,000 years old have created conflict with guests on the program.[13] Pakman has regularly indicated that the more outrageous, extreme guests are not only interesting to interview, but create the most interest and engagement on behalf of the audience[14][15]

Pacifica affiliation controversy

Although Pacifica Radio is criticized by many Jewish groups for perceived anti-Israel bias, Pakman, who is Jewish, has long stated that on issues related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Midweek Politics is not in line with the general Pacifica viewpoint[15]. Although Pakman generally has stated in interviews and on the program that the difference of opinion has not caused conflict, he did more recently indicated that at least one station had dropped Midweek Politics from its schedule for being too "pro-Israel." At the same time, Pakman has indicated on the program that stations have both stopped carrying or decided not to start carrying the program due to its progressive nature.

Glenn Miller

Racist perennial political candidate Glenn Miller appeared on Midweek Politics on April 28, 2010[16] in what was one of the most controversial interviews to that point in the history of the program. Miller repeated anti-Semitic statements and espoused a number of anti-Jewish conspiracy theories, including control over media and government. Additionally, he referred to host David Pakman as a "Jew liar" and "Kike-a-Like" during the interview. Miller also stated that Adolf Hitler was a "great man" and similarly expressed disappointment that Hitler had not ultimately succeeded in the Holocaust. Video and podcast versions of the interview spread virally throughout the internet garnering varied reaction, ranging from those who found the interview comical and entertaining, to those who were offended, and even a contingent who believed Pakman was wrong to have Miller on the program and should be removed from the air.[17][18]

On the following program, Pakman commented on the uproar and controversy, indicating the notion that people like Miller go away if they do not get on media outlets is false, and that from his point of view, the interview was a success. Pakman attributed this success to Miller being "ridiculed across the internet and on the radio."[19][20]

Peter LaBarbera

Peter LaBarbera was a guest on the program on July 28, 2010. During the interview[21][22], LaBarbera stated numerous times that Pakman's producer should have told him David's position on the issue of gay rights in advance of his appearance, a suggestion that David Pakman refuted. This made national headlines, including being the center of a discussion on Sirius XM's The Michaelangelo Signorile Show[23].

In later programs, Pakman has mentioned that LaBarbera personally emailed him later to insist that Pakman was dishonest by not telling him advance about his position on gay rights. During the interview, LaBarbera also discussed his regular trips to gay fetish events, including leather events, and indicated that his group, Americans for Truth About Homosexuality is a "pro-family" organization.

Paul Cameron

During an interview with Paul Cameron,[24], the controversial anti-gay psychologist and sex researcher, Cameron made a number of comments which have been the subject of question and criticism. Among these were the suggestion that homosexuality was equivalent to drug abuse, that homosexuals were addicted to homosexual activity in a way different from heterosexual, and cited a study conducted by his own Family Research Institute which reported that gays and lesbians in the military are far more likely to rape or sexually abuse fellow soldiers.

Numerous blogs[25] and websites[26], including the Huffington Post[27] reported on the interview, as did gay culture and gay rights websites/blogs[28].

Richard Clarke

An interview with Richard A. Clarke aired on Midweek Politics on May 5, 2010[20]. During the interview Clarke made a number of statements about the Bush-Cheney administration which were the subject of controversy. Referring to Dick Cheney's comments that President Barack Obama, Clarke indicating that Cheney was "baiting" for a terrorist attack to be later blamed on Obama. He also state that "what Dick Cheney is doing is the political equivalent of a hedge fund. He is buying a bet that there will be a terrorist attack in the US, and if there is one, he wants it to benefit him and his party politically." He also described it as "the most pandering, partisan, despicable kind of activity."[29][30]

The statements and interview spread quickly throughout the internet, becoming the subject of much discussion and controversy among both liberals and conservatives.

Westboro Baptist Church

Appearances on Midweek Politics by members of the Westboro Baptist Church, known for their "God Hates Fags" slogan and protests, date back to October 4, 2006, when Jonathan Phelps, son of Fred Phelps, was interviewed[31] in what a segment involving ad hominem attacks from Phelps directed at Pakman and the show's producer and co-host, Louis Motamedi. Among the many claims made by Phelps was the statement that all homosexuals in the US should be put to death. Homosexuality was blamed by Phelps as the cause of numerous nationwide and worldwide problems in which the United States is involved. Additionally, Phelps threatened to "end this pretense of an interview" when the idea that Phelps' church's views were based on one of many Bible interpretations, as opposed to the only interpretation, was suggested by Pakman. Phelps stayed on the phone until the completion of the interview.

Midweek Politics host, David Pakman was also criticized for the Jonathan Phelps interview for not being sufficiently critical and confrontational with Phelps and his statements, who was once brought up on a variety of criminal charges stemming from information gathered following a raid of the Westboro Baptist Church. In follow up interviews and programs, Pakman defended the interview by saying that it "should go without saying that he did not agree with Phelps," and that he has condemned the church on the program in the past. In addition, he said that "because interviews with members of Westboro members often turn into unproductive shouting matches, letting Phelps speak would allow listeners to hear the heinous nature of the church and their views, digging his own hole."

The most well known member and public face of the Westboro Baptist Church, Shirley Phelps-Roper, was interviewed on Midweek Politics three times following her brother Jonathan's interview[32]. During one interview, Phelps-Roper denied that homosexuality in animals was a concern of hers, and said that her church protested Heath Ledger's memorial service because he "taught rebellion to this generation" by playing a homosexual character in the movie Brokeback Mountain.

During the following interview, Phelps-Roper called Massachusetts a "state of rabid perverts," presumably based Massachusetts' landmark legalization of gay marriage. Phelps-Roper added that that Jews not accepting Jesus Christ as their savior, including David Pakman, the host of Midweek Politics, would be going to hell as a result of having "killed, murdered, and rejected" Jesus Christ. Further, she accused Pakman of being a "bad fig."

In the most recent interview on March 10, 2010, Shirley Phelps-Roper commented on the Supreme Court case involving free speech and the church, and indicated that Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg "seems almost senile." The interview went viral due to the incendiary nature and content. In the same interview, Phelps-Roper, in discussing whether it was worse, in her opinion, to be Jewish or homosexual, indicated that she "wants the Jew to be a fag."

After the interview, show producers published a press release related to the interview which misquoted Shirley Phelps-Roper. The press release indicated that Phelps-Roper had said she would tell the Supreme Court to "drink a tall frosty mug of shut the hell up" in relation to the pending free speech trial, while in reality, Phelps-Roper had predicted the Court would tell the plaintiff in the case to "drink a tall frosty mug of shut the hell up." Pakman admitted their mistake in the following broadcast, and said they had retracted the press release.

On September 10, 2010, Shirley Phelps-Roper was a guest on The David Pakman Show, on to discuss her church's planned burning of the Koran on the upcoming 9/11 anniversary in light of Dove World Outreach Center's Terry Jones conceding that he would not burn Korans on 9/11 as originally planned. Phelps-Roper claimed that "Mohammad was a pedophile," was critical of Terry Jones, and also was asked to address questions from Pakman's audience relating to the markedly infrequent blinking observed of Phelps-Roper during numerous television interviews[33].

Christian homeschooling controversy

On March 17, 2010, during an interview with Christian homeschooling advocate Mike McHugh, Pakman questioned McHugh about the validity of constructing an entire curriculum around the story of Jesus Christ, referring to the virgin birth, death, and resurrection associated with Jesus, which resulted in McHugh indicating that he was "offended" by the question, and refusing to answer.[34][35][36]. Pakman indicated that he did not find the question offensive, and listeners indicated it was not the question, but the tone of the question, that could be interpreted as offensive. The interview continued, with McHugh clearly altered by the exchange. During followup, Pakman indicated rather than backing down from the question, in retrospect he would have preferred to push McHugh on "just what was offensive about the question."[34][37]

Ralph Nader

Former Presidential candidate and activist Ralph Nader was long known for stating that, with regard to the 2000 presidential election, both George W. Bush and Al Gore were essentially the same, and that it would make no difference which candidate was elected. While Nader maintained that position for some time, in an interview on Midweek Politics he made what some consider to be the first direct statement that while Bush and Gore have very similar positions on a plurality of issues, "no one would have mangled the situation (war) in Iraq the way that George W. Bush did as President[38].

Howard Stern

Pakman has been criticized by both traditional liberals as well as religious conservatives for his support of free speech, specifically as applied to Howard Stern and censorship. On September 27, 2006, Pakman specifically defended Stern, the Sirius Satellite Radio business, the success of Stern's show to date, and stated that he believes the type of ideology stated by Rush Limbaugh and other talk radio hosts is equally or more offensive than the type of content censored when Stern's show was on terrestrial radio. The comment was seen as an attack by both liberals and religious conservatives, both being offended by Stern's show for different reasons.

On May 5, 2010, a clip of Midweek Politics was mentioned and played by Stern on the air involving an ongoing joke on the Howard Stern Show to which Pakman referred on Midweek Politics.

2006 election and Deval Patrick

During the leadup to the 2006 mid-term election, Pakman had more than one run-in with Massachusetts Governor-election Deval Patrick on the issue of polling. During an August 23, 2006 interview, Patrick was reluctant to admit that the Democratic candidate who would go on to win the primary in September was in a strong position to win in the general election in November, although the polls were overwhelmingly pointing in that direction.

This issue was brought up again in person by Pakman at an October 3, 2006 debate at American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. At this point, Patrick had already won the Democratic primary and was, according to some polls,[who?] more than 30 points ahead of the second place Republican Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey. When asked if he would finally admit to having some comfort in his lead, Patrick explained that "he doesn't always trust the polls." When asked by Pakman whether or not Healey should be worried that she is more than 30 points down, Patrick shrugged the question off by asking "is it now that much?" and moving on to another reporter's question.

Website hacking

Shortly after the April 28, 2010 broadcast[16], visitors to the Midweek Politics website began to observe that the site was not functioning properly, and sometimes was inaccessible altogether. Additionally, associated podcasts and ancillary content also functioned only sporadically. Audience members suggested on internet forums the possibility that there had been some type of sabotage of the website. On May 9, 2010, the website went down altogether, completely disappearing from the internet. In the later part of May 10, 2010, the website came back on in a limited way, with a message indicating that there had been malicious attempts made on the site, including denial of service attacks. By May 11, 2010, much of the website was back in place.

On the May 12, 2010 broadcast of Midweek Politics[39], Pakman announced that the website had indeed been in the target of unknown deliberate malicious attacks starting immediately after the April 28, 2010 broadcast. Pakman did not indicate the specifics of who was suspected to be involved, but said a more detailed investigation was underway, and alluded to a connection between a guest on the program between April 28 and May 12. Guests appearing on Midweek POlitics during that time include former Governor Jesse Ventura racist Senate candidate Glenn Miller, Congressmann Dennis Kucinich, and terrorism expert Richard A. Clarke.

Affiliate stations

The following list of affiliates may not be complete, or up to date, and is based on the list found on the The David Pakman Show website[5]

Radio affiliates

Television affiliates

The David Pakman Show airs on Free Speech TV on DirecTV channel 348 and DISH Network channel 9415. Check Free Speech TV for listings.

Internet affiliates

Guests

Following is a partial list of guests on the program:

Credits

The show is hosted by David Pakman executive produced by David Pakman, and produced by Louis Motamedi and Natan Pakman at The David Pakman Show studios in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Press

References

  1. ^ Perkins, Matt (2006-12-26). "Unexpected Success". The Daily News Tribune.
  2. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/membership
  3. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/about/
  4. ^ http://northamptonmedia.com/AstheValleyTurns/?p=541
  5. ^ a b http://www.davidpakman.com
  6. ^ http://freespeech.org/blog/fstv-welcomes-david-pakman-news-line
  7. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/stations/
  8. ^ a b http://www.davidpakman.com/stations
  9. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/midweek-politics-with-david-pakman-launches-nationally-on-free-speech-tv-network/
  10. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/guests-and-interviews/shirley-phelps-roper
  11. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/2010/03/10/march-10-2010/
  12. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/radio-tv-show/2010-shows/february-2010/february-17-2010/
  13. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/guests-and-interviews/ray-comfort/
  14. ^ http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/northampton_david_pakman_midweek_politics.html
  15. ^ a b http://www.jewishledger.com/articles/2010/03/22/west_mass/news/news05.txt
  16. ^ a b http://www.davidpakman.com/2010/04/april-28-2010/
  17. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNrKqjYfv74
  18. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH93qfvnxls
  19. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7KaZisboIU
  20. ^ a b http://www.davidpakman.com/2010/05/may-5-2010/
  21. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ0EmMdA5Bs
  22. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmvlLJbgXzY
  23. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/midweek-politics-interview-on-sirius-radios-michaelangelo-signorile-show/
  24. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22LJAF3PIz0
  25. ^ http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/15211/paul-cameron-claims-gays-will-rape-willynilly-if-allowed-to-serve-openly-in-the-military
  26. ^ http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/right-wing-round-215
  27. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alvin-mcewen/discredited-researcher-ga_b_461404.html
  28. ^ http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/02/infamous-anti-gay-nutcase-paul-cameron.html
  29. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqQ97JJ-yrU
  30. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w68w8cVUDEM
  31. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/guests-and-interviews/jonathan-phelps/
  32. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/shirley-phelps-roper/
  33. ^ http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/09/11199/
  34. ^ a b http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMpxh-u4Aq8
  35. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bRsiasSrF8
  36. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/2010/03/17/march-17-2010/
  37. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bRsiasSrF8
  38. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/guests-and-interviews/ralph-nader/
  39. ^ http://www.davidpakman.com/2010/05/may-12-2010/
  40. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pi8R_FUGys
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_David_Pakman_Show&oldid=401656745"