Talk radio's America : how an industry took over a political party that took over the United States / Brian Rosenwald.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The colossus rises -- With talent on loan from God -- Media that sounds like us -- Necessity, mother of invention -- The new Republican king -- Bill Clinton, talk radio innovator -- Stopping legislation in its tracks -- The political earthquake -- Everything changes -- The Democrats wake up -- Talk radio takes over television-and tries to impeach a president -- Money propels talk radio to the right -- Talk radio in the 2000s: big changes for the medium and for politics -- The parties go their own ways -- Disgruntled but still loyal - unless you're a moderate -- The titans of talk, 1-bipartisanship, 0 -- Never a Republican puppet -- The conservative media empire -- I hope he fails -- The relationship sours -- Hunting RINOs -- Trying (and failing) to govern -- Turning the power structure upside down -- The president that talk radio made -- The big picture.

The march to the Trump presidency began in 1988, when Rush Limbaugh went national. Brian Rosenwald charts the transformation of AM radio entertainers into political kingmakers. By giving voice to the conservative base, they reshaped the Republican Party and fostered demand for a president who sounded as combative and hyperbolic as a talk show host.-- Provided by publisher.