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August 4, 2026: The Vote Nobody Was Watching
Description
A signature that didn't stamp anything "rejected" turned out to matter more than most people realized at the time.
On June 19, 1987, President Reagan vetoed a bill that would have permanently written the Fairness Doctrine into law, and six weeks later, on August 4, 1987, the Federal Communications Commission voted 4 to 0 to abolish the doctrine outright, ending a 38 year old rule that had required broadcasters to present contrasting viewpoints on controversial issues. Less than a year later, Rush Limbaugh's nationally syndicated radio show launched, and a business built entirely on unfiltered opinion took off, eventually growing into a talk radio and cable news economy worth billions of dollars.
This is bsnsHistory, the daily podcast about the moments when business quietly reshaped the world.
Written and hosted by Ron Trucks. Research and editing by Rodney Russ. Sound design by Angela Cahoy. Music by Cody Martin and Soundstripe.
For more daily business stories, visit www.bsnsDAILYpodcasts.com