Eric Alterman

About the author: Eric Alterman is an award-winning author who has written several best-selling books. His work has also appeared in many national magazines including the Nation, Rolling Stone, Mother Jones, Elle, and World Policy Journal.

More than one in five American adults say they listen to talk radio at least once a week. And even conservatives agree that this powerful medium is dominated by commentators who espouse a right-wing viewpoint. Rush Limbaugh is the most popular commentator on talk radio even though many of his diatribes against Democrats are less than accurate while some consist of outright lies. Despite his questionable commentary, Limbaugh has galvanized his listeners to support Republican politicians and is credited with helping Republicans gain unprecedented political power in recent years. Limbaugh has spawned dozens of right-wing imitators...