The Feds threatened L.A. radio station KFI?

Posted Sat, Jun 26, 2004 at 10:01 am

[UPDATE #3 (7/6/04): despite UPDATE #2, this story appears to have been partly confirmed. See the post The White House is complaining about KFI's John & Ken]

[See UPDATE #2, which is rather important.]

The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly threatened to bar KFI reporters from DHS news conferences. KFI, at 640AM in Los Angeles (kfi640.com), is one of most listened-to news-talk stations in the country and can be heard throughout Southern California and on the Internet.

The DHS will reportedly deny KFI reporters access unless KFI hosts John & Ken stop their current campaign requesting that their listeners contact the DHS in support of the recent immigration sweeps in Southern California.

Bowing to pressure from a few Congressmen, the DHS has placed these sweeps under review ("Official says SoCal immigration sweeps violated federal policy", link)

John & Ken do not encourage their listeners to harass the DHS in any way. They have simply been asking their listeners to contact the DHS and let their voices be heard. So far, the DHS has received thousands of emails and phone calls in support of the sweeps.

The right to "petition the government for a redress of grievances" is a fundamental American right enshrined in the First Amendment. John & Ken are simply encouraging the public participation of their listeners. Any government attempt to stifle these attempts is contrary to our most fundamental principles.

Many news organizations might disagree with John & Ken's positions on the sweeps. However, all news organizations should feel threatened when the government attempts to restrict access simply because talk-show hosts upset government agencies by encouraging listeners to pursue their First Amendment rights.

I urge all news organizations to look into this matter and to hold accountable anyone who has been responsible for this threat against our most basic rights.

Addendum:

John & Ken discussed the threat from the DHS at approximately 6:45pm on Friday June 25, 2004. Other listeners have confirmed that they said this.

From John & Ken's web site:

If you want to thanks the San Diego Border Patrol for taking care of business, you can e-mail them at SDC.PIO@DHS.GOV

Contact Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border & Transportation Security and tell him that you want the Border Partol to do their job! Call at 202-282-8010 or e-mail him at asa.hutchinson [atsign] dhs.gov. Also, contact Robert Bonner, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection who sent out a memo for the Border Patrol to stop the sweeps at homeland [atsign] mail.house.gov or robert.bonner [atsign] dhs.gov.

Contact your Congressman! Click here (house.gov/writerep), and simply find your Congressman and let them know that if they don?t support the Border Patrol Sweeps, then they WILL NOT get your vote in November!

UPDATE: It should be noted that John & Ken broadcast Monday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm Pacific time. Thus, this threat was discussed at the end of their show. Hopefully they will have more information on Monday.

UPDATE 2: I listened to their show on Monday but I didn't hear anything about this. So, I called KFI...

Unfortunately, they don't know whether the DHS threat was legitimate or not. The person who made the DHS threat called in and did not leave a message or phone number.

And, KFI has contacted Asa Hutchinson's secretary. She says KFI will not be banned and everything's hunky dory between DHS and KFI.

So...

I should have called KFI first and gotten the details. I at least could have included the bit about the call's legitimacy being in doubt in the post.

Tags: 
department of homeland security
asa hutchinson
john and ken

Comments

Becky Reed (not verified)

Fri, 04/14/2006 - 20:06

I missed your show today but was told you warned tourist going to Tiajuana against going as it isn't safe with kidnaping going on. Is this true? We had planned on going in two weeks and I'd like to know.
Thank you

Patrick Stallings (not verified)

Tue, 02/15/2005 - 14:16

Zeta should be put back on the radio instead of thi new crappy station.ZETA ZETA ZETA!

do (not verified)

Tue, 06/29/2004 - 20:39

Nonsense. I regularly consult Lonewacko, as, I imagine, do quite a few other people. If I do not regularly comment, it is not because Lonewacko's post are not well written, it is because they speak for themselves -- i.e., that they are perfectly well written for the purposes at hand. Your business about "professional writers" is overblown and, frankly, silly. I have been a professional writer on and off, both in my political capacity and otherwise. I know what it takes -- as well as what it excludes. While you are quite right to say that blogging does not lead to fine writing or, for that matter, much in the way of interesting commentary, it does provide a venue for publicizing issues that might not otherwise see the light of day. That's why bloggers like Lonewacko and others are useful. That's also why your criticisms are beside the point. Take it from a writer: do not be so impressed by your (print matter) pundits.

do (not verified)

Tue, 06/29/2004 - 20:38

Nonsense. I regularly consult Lonewacko, as, I imagine, do quite a few other people. If I do not regularly comment, it is not because Lonewacko's post are not well written, it is because they speak for themselves -- i.e., that they are perfectly well written for the purposes at hand. Your business about "professional writers" is overblown and, frankly, silly. I have been a professional writer on and off, both in my political capacity and otherwise. I know what it takes -- as well as what it excludes. While you are quite right to say that blogging does not lead to fine writing or, for that matter, much in the way of interesting commentary, it does provide a venue for publicizing issues that might not otherwise see the light of day. That's why bloggers like Lonewacko and others are useful. That's also why your criticisms are beside the point. Take it from a writer: do not be so impressed by your (print matter) pundits.

Peter (not verified)

Sun, 06/27/2004 - 20:16

It pains me to say this -- because I'm on your side politically -- but the reason your blog has a low readership and attracts few comments is that your work isn't very engaging.

Sorry to be the one to break the news, especially since we're on the same side of the political/philosophical fence. It's just that some people are made for writing, and some people aren't. You obviously fall into the latter camp, which is why you're probably best off sticking with the comments threads over at Reason's Hit & Run.

And before you throw any kind of fit about this post, keep in mind that when one chooses to write for the public -- which is what happens on a blog -- then one is fair game for criticism. It comes with the territory, whether you're a skilled professional writing for a major daily newspaper or merely an amateur plopping out thoughts on some obscure blog.

I think one reason I feel compelled to write this here is that I've become disenchanted with the blogosphere lately. I used to have high hopes for it -- that it would democratize the world of commentary, that it would empower people, etc. But I've come to the sad realization that there's a valid reason real journalists and columnists get paid to do what they do: they're good at it.

After a couple of years of living in blog-land, and giving my best effort to be a supporter, I'm not sure I can take the noise-to-signal ratio anymore. Your blog is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. There's no need for me or anybody else to waste our time here. It's time for a lot of us to give ourselves a reality check, and get back into a 1999 frame of mind -- i.e., to realize that professional writers, reporters and critics are PROFESSIONALS for a reason. The marketplace has put them where they are -- at the top -- for a good reason.

That's a hard concession for me to make, but I've come to the reluctant conclusion that it's simply the truth.

Anyway, your comments threads seem so damned empty, I guess I just wanted to help fill some space so you don't feel entirely horrible about the time you've wasted with this blog.

do (not verified)

Sat, 06/26/2004 - 19:35

so you know:

I've posted on the PBS documentary, here:

http://resipsaloquitur.blogspot.com/2004/06/farmingville-more-pbs-propaganda.html

WhyNot (not verified)

Sat, 06/26/2004 - 10:57

Why your posting on freerepublic was moved.

The reason your posting on freerepublic was moved is because you posting something that is negative against the Bush Admin. Remember, it doesn't matter if they are conservative, all that matters is they have a R by there name.