These Radio Hosts Are Some of the Most Powerful Republicans You've Never Heard Of

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Since 2011, when he took over the drive-time WHO slot in Des Moines (IA), Simon Conway has acted as a gatekeeper for political candidates. He’s not the only one in Iowa. Jan Mickelson, who hosts the morning block, gets his own time with would-be senators and presidents. Steve Deace, who used to host Conway’s block, now broadcasts a syndicated show with less meddling and many of the same guests.

Iowa’s Republican caucus-goers have an outsized influence on who becomes the party’s presidential nominee. Iowa’s radio talkers have the same power, just in greater quantity, spread among fewer people. They can’t be handled with precious walk-and-talk interviews or soundbites, like the national press. They can’t be blown off like newspaper editorial boards; Republican voters are more than three times as likely to trust their talk radio hosts than to trust their local fishwrap.


These Radio Hosts Are Some of the Most Powerful Republicans You've Never Heard Of