if the question was who is most effective per minute, I'd say Jon Stewart. He doesn't get many minutes, so my answer is Colbert, given his exposure, good-natured humor and appeal.

MSNBC obviously has the most exposure, 24 hours, but only for cable subscribers.

SNL has had the longest influence -- over 50 years, but as they should, they make fun of all politicians, based on their flaws and idiosyncrasies. Right-wing Republicans are low hanging fruit. Their priority is making laughs, not points. Kimmel and Myers make it a point to make a point.

South Park has the most balls and a cartoon-limited audience.

The Right likes to accuse CNN of being leftist, but they're managed by a conservative and do provide a microphone for both sides.

Maher considers himself a liberal but has adopted a number of right-wing talking points. It's debatable whether he still does more good by drawing the right out, from inside their biased bubble.

For me, the most influential left-leaning shows are not on television (I balk at folks who get their news from TV comedy shows). They are on the radio; that is the medium where I get most news.

Besides National Public Radio (which ain't what it used to be and probably will be less so because of reprehensible GOP funding cuts), "Pacifica Radio" provides the radical Leftist-Progressive-Socialist perspective that educates and appeals to me.

Of course, Democracy Now! is a Pacifica Radio staple. Perfectly complementing Amy Goodman and her DN colleagues is (national treasure) Ralph Nader whose Radio Hour is highly informative and inspirational. I also listen to CounterSpin, the radio show produced by the national media watch group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), and several locally produced radio talk shows. To be added to my playlist: The Final Straw and The Project Censored Show.

thanks for providing the links, mac.

regarding serious political shows, i find that i'm not interested or stimulated by hearing what i already believe. So, i do prefer my political news with some humor. I admit, though, that as the situation we're in gets more urgent and serious, i resent it all being fodder for laughs.

also, it's important for me to know what America, in general, is being told, so that i can consider what America needs to hear. So a couple of times a week i'll watch some national network news and growl at the screen.

23 minutes ago, V.3 said:

regarding serious political shows, i find that i'm not interested or stimulated by hearing what i already believe.

I dig.

The only television news that I watch is on MSNBC, which will be changing to MS NOW next week. The arguable "star" of that channel is Rachel Maddow whom I first heard on the late, lamented Air America radio, which also begat talk show hosts Thom Hartmann and Randi Rhodes (both of who are still at it).

I know that I am in an "echo chamber." But, life is short -- and getting shorter -- and I am not wasting one precious millisecond on phoney-baloney, "fair and balanced," right-wing, corporate agitprop that skyrockets my blood pressure and bunches my undies.

i stopped watching msnbc about a dozen years ago because i can read as much news as i need online instead of listen to them milk a topic -- and try to sell me things in between. I think Maddow is tops in her field but she may be the worst milker.

Thom Hartmann and Randi Rhodes were my favorites on radio long ago. Glad to hear they're still at it. I may have to find them on the dial when i'm in the car.

I agree with most of the content at MSNBC but if you watch or try to watch an evening’s worth, you’ll get the same story rehashed three or four times on three or four different programs. There must be more voices, more untold stories and more points of view than those we see on MSNBC every evening.

2 hours ago, Freshwater5 said:

There must be more voices, more untold stories and more points of view than those we see on MSNBC every evening.

indeed. ratings and profits are their priority too. For profit news is a conflict of public interest. When you make money from what you report, you report what sells.