John Rothmann is one of those free guilty pleasures.
A political junkie, a presidential-historian with several thousand volumes of information in his home library, and yes, one of those holdovers from the old KGO.
He's now doing fill-in work on Newstalk 910.
I've always found Rothmann engaging and pleasing to listen to. He doesn't insult, he rarely shouts, (which should automatically disqualify him for terrestrial radio); Rothamnn is pure unadulterated educational radio on the air and his program is must-listen status, particularly given the fact that this is an election year.
Rothmann's style is straight-forward and simple. He's got a commanding voice which elevates the topic at hand. In addition to politics, his niche subject is the Middle East debate and there, Rothmann makes no bones: He's a partisan supporter of the state of Israel, but handles that debate about as objective as can be, allowing the other side plenty of equal time.
During the post-KGO format change, I got an e-mail from a student at UC Davis who was upset because his fraternity made it a point to listen to Rothmann's monologues on Monday night. Seriously. Picture a throng of 19-20 year-olds holding court listening to a SF-based radio talk-show host. "It was sort of like having a lecture by my history professor--we loved it, and we we're bummed when he was let go.", said the Davis student. (So much for the stereotype that some of the ex-KGOers were deemed "old." Hardly).
If you haven't heard Rothmann, give a listen. He's ripe for a captive audience, especially if you're a political junkie like me. Better yet, listen to a show devoid of contrived drama and gimmicks. Rothmann is at the peak of his game and here's hoping Newstalk 910 or another station for that matter scoops him up quickly to take advantage of the 2012 presidential election race. That benefits all Bay Area listeners.
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I am a big John Rothmann fan and happy to have him back, even part-time, on Newstalk 910. I learn so much from listening to him for just a few hours. He is a knowledge base that one rarely gets access to for free. I hope he gets a full-time gig in the Bay Area soon.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how to listen to 910 KKSF over iTunes? I know I can play it on their iHeart website.
ReplyDeleteI keep forgetting to turn it on because it's not in my sidebar.
It is a shame that the Award winning hosts fired from Cumulus 50KW KGO and full WORLD WIDE internet streaming has to now settle for a half size radio station at 20KW 910 with only In Country (USA) only streaming. Talk about being cut down in size... Ouch!!!
DeleteiHeartRadio is available to customers in the United States and can be downloaded via the iTunes App Store at this link:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iheartradio/id290638154?mt=8
Good Luck!!
Every day that there is breaking political news, nationally or internationally, my first thought is "John Rothmann will be talking about it." And then I make sure to tune in. Or, more accurately, I WAS sure to tune in because now he isn't on every day and his new time slot on 910 isn't very convenient for me.
ReplyDeleteI emailed Newstalk 910 and told them that they simply must find a regular slot for Rothmann in an election year. There is just no one who can match him.
If 910 decides to replace Armstrong and Getty, be careful because "white folks are ready to riot!".
ReplyDeleteYou can't stream 910 on iTunes. ClearChannel only allows streaming through their proprietary iHeartRadio app and site.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteTrue, but you can listen to podcasts of shows almost immediately on iTunes. Haven't been able to find Gene Burn's show, but A & G is on there. Current shows are under Armstrong and Getty, NOT Armstrong and Getty-910AM or The Armstrong and Getty Show.
DeleteSome of the best radio in the bay
ReplyDeleteYes, we need John Rothman in the Bay Area, he would be perfect in the 10 pm to 1 am spot on 910, John and Jeff is booring the few times I have tried to listen to them. Gene and John is my favorites, Gene has a very unique style, and his takes on the subjects were always so interesting, but I can't say who I prefer, it varies with subjects, guess it is a tie. Like I posted the other day in an e-mail, I expect 910 to continue to evolve, probably why the having all the guest hosts, to see who gets most ratings. We need to continue to contact 910 and commend them on good decisions, and voice out opinions on the the different hosts.
ReplyDeletetechnically, its an apt library....too large for his home, he rents a 2 bdrm that acts as his library...has had it since the early 70s
ReplyDeleteused to let us kids roam his stacks...much cooler than going downtown to the main library
of course he relates to college kids...iv
the fact that college kids listened to him is not surprising to me...and its just more evidence that the clueless sobs in the atl lied about doing research
Rothmann is one of a kind and it does not suprise me to hear poly-sci students listening to him for insight. 910 needs to pick this man up on a permanent basis. They also need Gil Gross.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of syndicated radio people. Mostly because I want to hear about local issues. 910 would be better off getting rid of Tom Sullivan and Alan Combs. I'm sure money is part of this issue.
His son is a student at Davis.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, John Rothmann is a gem. I'm proud to call Davis both my hometown and alma mater, and encouraged to hear that UCD students show intelligence and maturity in listening to John. I miss listening to John from 10 to 1 am week nights. Someone needs to make sure he is hired locally. The Bay Area's collective IQ would go up 50 points. There's no one like John when it comes to politics.
ReplyDeleteRothmen is in the mold of a Michael Krasny. KQED-FM should give him a look-see.
ReplyDeleteTim Flagerman
Sonoma County
Sure would love to hear John on a regular evening show. I was so glad he got the 10pm - 1am slot on the old KGO and sure miss him there.
ReplyDeleteYea, Rothman providing college student with his very one-sided view on U.S. history. Great!
ReplyDeleteLove Jofn Rothmann.
ReplyDeleteRothmann hasn't wavered much since the days he first started on KGO with the night Princess Diana was killed to replacing Chris Clarke on the overnights (whatever happened to him?). Rothmann has always been a gentleman while others took the gonzo route to get cheap ratings and attention.
ReplyDeleteWhile his presidential knowledge is probably greater than most of us, his area of focus is the Vice Presidents. The man is a delight to have on the radio. He makes us all smarter and nicer.
Regarding streaming on iTunes, I don't know about Live other than the iHeart link on their page but once they archive the show as a podcast, you can download it and then play it back in iTunes. Frequently the commercials are cut out so you can get an hour's show in under 40 minutes. And for us On Demand crowd that can always be their when it is live, this works out wonderfully.
So 8:07... Where did you come up with the wisdom of A&G going anywhere. These guys rule the bay area and Sacramento airwaves in the early morning. I'm disappointed they lost an hour to El Rushbo. Even when I listened to KGO most of the time, I still tuned in to A&G early in the day. These guys are talented quick and full of whit. Let's not go there.
ReplyDeleteJust saying ... Joe and Jack have always been concerned about quality replacements when on vacation.
Deleteyes, brevity is the soul of "whit"..as in not giving one
DeleteThe truth is Rothman isn't good enough. It's that simple. Mediocre is the word. Radio is a talent medium.
ReplyDeleteHe was one of the reasons KGO was going down the tubes. They needed to change hosts not change the format.
Oh my. The KGOne trolls are still at it!
DeleteSo transparent, luv.
You are utterly and completely incorrect.
DeleteJsutton--
DeleteAnd you know this because......?
I like John Rothmann, I listen to him and agree with the above comments, but I wish he were a little less saccharine and "goody-goody two shoes."
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love listening to John. He is always fascinating and I know I've gone through a program where I learned something. My 19 year old was so pleased to listen to John in place of A&G, as he said 'I can't stand those dickheads'. Anyone who thinks that the younger generation isn't listening to radio for an education is a dolt!
ReplyDeleteComes across as stilted,and more significantly,irresponsible, disseminating inaccurate information concerning Iran; fanning the flames of war. Hope he remains unemployed.
ReplyDeleteRothman's myopic view towards Israel is infuriating. In his eyes Israel is never wrong and criticism of Israel is akin to antisemitism. Rothman is a gentleman as long as you agree with him. I've heard him be rude and cut off callers critical of Israel. Don't forget, Rothman was one of the most ardent Iraq war hawks at KGO. He still has egg on his face for that screw up and now he is at it again advocating an attack on Iran.
ReplyDeleteCould not agree more. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteanyone who says that radio is a "talent medium", please explain to me the current version of red eye radio
ReplyDeleteI love listening to John Rothmann. John Rothmann=Must Listen Radio.
ReplyDeleteAnonymousFeb 10, 2012 10:31 PM
ReplyDeleteThe truth is Rothman isn't good enough. It's that simple. Mediocre is the word. Radio is a talent medium. He was one of the reasons KGO was going down the tubes.
The 10pm-1am host was one of the reasons KGO was failing? Mmmmmmkay.
Hey Ritchie...what's going on? No Saturday blog? Those of us who get our 'guilty pleasure' out of reading your daily musings are concerned!
ReplyDeleteWhen will you return!
Almost drove off the road when I turned the dial to A&G and instead got the old screed about Egypt and the Muslim Brotherhood. WTF? I think 9:04 is on to something. Rothmann has a devoted audience that adores him but his focus is far too narrow for most. No, he is not in the same league with Michael Krasny. Krasny will allow civil discussion from all sides with guests as far ranging as George Galloway and (gasp) the radical left wing Jimmy Carter. I would posit the more mainstream Bay Area audience is tired of the Middle Eastern war drum beating. As for the college kids, I would think Dr Bill's following is far greater. These kids want practical solutions to our own problems not more dead and broken friends. I've heard John speak of his "library"..... If only Santa Clara had rent control. Wouldn't we have loved to keep our 2 bedroom apartments we paid $250/month for in the 70's?
ReplyDeleteRothman is good, but please, don't overstate what he does.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the "He doesn't insult" ~ please. He's just smarter at it than Bernie Ward or Ray Taliaferro. For example, whenever some caller would rationally mention the massive costs of illegal immigration on health care, education, or our prison system (or all three), in Rothman's answer he would slip in the word "xenophobe", without ever truly addressing the true, massive costs - of illegal immigration! (Whereas the other two would just call said callers a racist.)
And yeah, how wealthy is he to afford to rent a 2 bedroom apartment to store his books in?
According to Christine Craft, extremely wealthy/destined to inherit one of the largest fortunes in USA history, via marriage.
DeleteFreakishly scary that you know so many personal details...
Deleteif you are going to attribute stuff to me.you might want to get it right..John is a member of the Haas-Lilienthal family..It's no big secret. HIs family is very well-known for its philanthropy...Think Levi Strauss and famous coffee too.
DeleteWho knows how wealthy, but to be able to rent a 2-bedroom apartment to house books, it's probably a safe bet that he's a lot better off than those of us slaving at minimum wage.
DeleteSay what you will about John Rothmann on the radio! I have tried to stump him several times on United States History and United States Presidents! I couldn't do it. I've tossed a few questions at John Rothmann in regard to United States Presidential election 2000. He's off to the races esp if you ask him about Bush vs Gore. Say what you will! He'll drive you crazy! It's just that he knows a thing or two on history. Just get him started! He'll go there!!!
ReplyDeleteListening from SoCal John Rothmann has been must-listen radio for years first as a weekender, and more recently as a Full-Time late night host. I so appreciated him being on the 50K blow torch that is 810. While I am happy that he is picking up occasional shifts on 910, he is no longer accessible on-air here, but I have streamed his live show via iHeart.com and add my voice to the chorus that hopes that ClearChannel decides to add him permanently to KKSF, and even better, syndicates him to other CC news-talkers, possibly as a weekly weekend foreign affairs program.
ReplyDelete