Editing Rush Limbaugh (section)

==Career==

===1971–1988: Early radio career===
In February 1971, after dropping out of college, the 20-year-old Limbaugh accepted an offer to DJ at [[WGBN|WIXZ]], a [[Top 40]] station in [[McKeesport, Pennsylvania]]. He adopted the airname "Bachelor Jeff" Christie and worked afternoons before moving to morning drive.{{sfn|Chafets|2010|p=32}} The station's general manager compared Limbaugh's style at this time to "early [[Don Imus|Imus]]".{{sfn|Colford|1994|p=22, 24–25}} In 1973, after eighteen months at WIXZ, Limbaugh was fired from the station due to "personality conflict" with the program director. He then started a nighttime position at [[KQV]] in Pittsburgh, succeeding [[Jim Quinn]].{{sfn|Chafets|2010|p=35}} In late 1974, Limbaugh was dismissed after new management put pressure on the program director to fire him. Limbaugh recalled the general manager telling him that he would never land success as an air personality and suggested a career in radio sales.{{sfn|Colford|1994|p=32}} After rejecting his only offer at the time, a position in [[Neenah, Wisconsin]], Limbaugh returned to living with his parents in Cape Girardeau.{{sfn|Chafets|2010|p=35}} During his time in Pittsburgh, he became a lifelong fan of the [[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]] NFL team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_052209/content/01125104.guest.html|title=Login |work=Rush Limbaugh|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728025915/http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_052209/content/01125104.guest.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/01/transcript-rush-limbaughs-address-cpac |title=Transcript of Rush Limbaugh's Address at CPAC |publisher=[[Fox News]] |date=March 1, 2009 |access-date=September 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003083609/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/01/transcript-rush-limbaughs-address-cpac/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/fanatics-brave-cold-for-titanic-super-bowl-contest-between-steelers-and-packers/story-e6frg7mf-1226000987695 |work=The Australian |title=Fanatics brave cold for titanic Super Bowl contest between Steelers and Packers |date=February 6, 2011 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607120417/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/fanatics-brave-cold-for-titanic-super-bowl-contest-between-steelers-and-packers/story-e6frg7mf-1226000987695}}</ref>

In 1975, Limbaugh began an afternoon show at the Top 40 station [[KMBZ-FM|KUDL]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. He soon became the host of a [[public affairs (broadcasting)|public affairs]] talk program that aired on weekend mornings which allowed him to develop his style and present more controversial ideas.{{sfn|Colford|1994|p=34, 35}} In 1977, he was let go from the station but remained in Kansas City to start an evening show at [[KCXL|KFIX]]. The stint was short-lived, however, and disagreements with management led to his dismissal weeks later.{{sfn|Colford|1994|p=40, 42–43}} By this time, Limbaugh had become disillusioned with radio and felt pressure to pursue a different career. He looked back on himself as "a moderate failure [...] as a deejay".{{sfn|Colford|1994|p=43}} In 1979, he accepted a part-time role in group sales for the [[Kansas City Royals]] baseball team which developed into a full-time position as director of group sales and special events. He worked from the [[Royals Stadium]].{{sfn|Colford|1994|p=45–46}} There he developed a friendship with then-Royals star third baseman and future [[List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[George Brett]]. The two men remained close friends.<ref>{{cite book |last=Toma |first=George |author2=Goforth, Alan |author3=Brett, George |title=Nitty gritty dirt man |publisher=SportsPublishingLLC.com |year=2004 |page=164 |isbn=978-1-58261-646-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l1xauXzmbvkC&q=rush+limbaugh+george+brett&pg=PA164 |access-date=October 16, 2020 |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217180022/https://books.google.com/books?id=l1xauXzmbvkC&q=rush+limbaugh+george+brett&pg=PA164 |url-status=live}}</ref> Limbaugh said that business trips to [[Europe]] and [[Asia]] during this time developed his conservative views as he considered countries in those geographic areas to have lower standards of living than the United States.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2013/09/12/an_explanation_of_american_exceptionalism_for_vladimir_putin_and_barack_obama/|title=An Explanation of American Exceptionalism for Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama |website=The Rush Limbaugh Show|access-date=May 1, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=May 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502061157/https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2013/09/12/an_explanation_of_american_exceptionalism_for_vladimir_putin_and_barack_obama/}}</ref>

In November 1983, Limbaugh returned to radio at [[KMBZ (AM)]] in Kansas City for a year. He decided to drop his on-air moniker and broadcast under his real name.{{sfn|Colford|1994|p=60}} He was fired from the station, but weeks later he landed a spot on KFBK in [[Sacramento, California]], replacing [[Morton Downey Jr.]] The show launched on October 14, 1984.{{sfn|Colford|1994|p=69}} Limbaugh began to express his political opinions in 1985 when he mocked the [[Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament]], which he considered along with the general [[anti-war movement]] to be "inherently [[Anti-Americanism|anti-US]], yet was reported as substantive and morally correct by a willing and sympathetic media".{{Sfn|Limbaugh|1992|p=30}} The [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]'s repeal of the [[FCC fairness doctrine|fairness doctrine]]—which had required that stations provide free air time for responses to any controversial opinions that were broadcast—on August 5, 1987, meant stations could broadcast editorial commentary without having to present opposing views. [[Daniel Henninger]] wrote, in a ''[[The Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]]'' editorial, "[[Ronald Reagan]] tore down this wall [the fairness doctrine] in 1987&nbsp;... and Rush Limbaugh was the first man to proclaim himself liberated from the [[East Germany]] of liberal media domination."<ref>{{cite news |last=Henninger|first= Daniel|date=April 29, 2005 |url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110006626 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050429070116/http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110006626|archive-date=April 29, 2005 |title=Rush to Victory|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

===1988–1990s: WABC New York City, syndication, and tie brand===
[[File:Rush Limbaugh At The Phil Donahue Show (2972311063).jpg|thumb|right|At ''[[The Phil Donahue Show]]'', 1991]]

In 1988, former ABC Radio Network executive Ed McLaughlin offered Limbaugh the nationally syndicated 12pm–2pm slot at [[ABC Radio Network]] to replace Owen Spann. Since many local radio stations of the time were hesitant to carry nationally syndicated programming during the daytime, he also secured Limbaugh a separate 10am–12pm show at [[WABC (AM)|WABC-AM]] in [[New York City]] to satisfy the provision of his contract requiring employment in a Top 5 market to leave KMBZ.{{Sfn|Limbaugh|1992|p=6-14}}

Limbaugh began his new show at WABC-AM on July 4, 1988, with the first episode focusing on the [[Iran Air Flight 655]] shootdown the previous day. His national program debuted on 50 stations the next month on August 1, and by three months later had expanded to 100 stations.{{Sfn|Limbaugh|1992|p=6-14}}{{sfn|Chafets|2010|p=44}} He debuted just weeks after the [[1988 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]], and just weeks before the [[1988 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]]. Limbaugh's radio home in New York City was the talk-formatted WABC (AM), and this remained his [[Flagship (radio)|flagship station]] for many years, even after Limbaugh moved to [[West Palm Beach]], [[Florida]], from where he broadcast his show.{{sfn|Colford|1994}} Limbaugh's show moved on January 1, 2014, to WABC's cross-town rival [[WOR (AM)]], its final New York outlet.<ref>{{cite web |title=WOR 710 Announces All New Programming Line-up for 2014 |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131209005404/en/WOR-710-Announces-New-Programming-Line-up-2014 |website=businesswire.com |date=December 9, 2013 |publisher=Business Wire, Inc. |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728110731/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131209005404/en/WOR-710-Announces-New-Programming-Line-up-2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

By 1990, Limbaugh had been on his ''Rush to Excellence Tour'', a series of personal appearances in cities nationwide, for two years. For the 45 shows he completed that year alone, he was estimated to have made around $360,000.<ref name=NYT90 />

In December 1990, journalist Lewis Grossberger wrote in ''[[The New York Times Magazine]]'' that Limbaugh had "more listeners than any other talk show host" and described Limbaugh's style as "bouncing between earnest lecturer and political vaudevillian".<ref name=NYT90>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/16/magazine/the-rush-hours.html|first=Lewis|last=Grossberger|title=The Rush Hours|date=December 16, 1990|work=[[The New York Times]] Magazine|access-date=October 16, 2019|archive-date=October 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016201730/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/16/magazine/the-rush-hours.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Limbaugh's rising profile coincided with the [[Gulf War]], coupled with a stalwart support for the war effort and relentless ridicule of [[Peace movement|peace activists]].{{According to whom|date=September 2024}} The program was moved to stations with larger audiences, eventually being broadcast on over 650 radio stations nationwide.

By the [[1992 United States presidential election]], Limbaugh had established himself as an influential political commentator. During the [[1992 Republican Party presidential primaries|Republican Party presidential primaries]], Limbaugh expressed a preference for [[Pat Buchanan]] over the incumbent [[George H. W. Bush]], which Buchanan himself attributed to his early success in the primaries. [[George H. W. Bush 1992 presidential campaign|Bush's campaign]] subsequently worked to court Limbaugh, culminating with an invitation to stay overnight at the [[White House]]'s [[Lincoln Bedroom]]. Limbaugh was also given a seat at the president's box in the [[Astrodome|Houston Astrodome]] during the [[1992 Republican National Convention]], and both President Bush and Vice President [[Dan Quayle]] appeared on Limbaugh's program.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Staci D. |date=1992-10-30 |title=The Gospel According to Rush |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-11-30-9204190360-story.html |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Yorke |first=Jeffrey |date=1992-06-09 |title=Limbaugh, Bush's White House Guest |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/06/09/limbaugh-bushs-house-guest/6b211e43-99e0-42f2-9c6a-1a729904614b/ |access-date=2022-06-07 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fallows |first=James |date=1994-05-01 |title=Talent on Loan from the GOP |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1994/05/talent-on-loan-from-the-gop/303852/ |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kruse |first=Michael |date=March 2015 |title=Jeb's Talk Radio Problem |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/jeb-bush-rush-limbaugh-talk-radio-116283 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=[[Politico]] Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

In November 1992, Democrat [[Bill Clinton]] was elected President of the United States. Limbaugh satirized the policies of Clinton and [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] [[Hillary Clinton]], as well as those of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in general. Following the [[Republican Revolution]], in which the party regained control of Congress in the [[1994 United States elections|1994 midterm elections]] after several decades, the freshman [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] class awarded Limbaugh an honorary membership in their caucus, crediting him with having had a role in their success.<ref name="Seelye">{{cite news |last=Seelye |first=Katherine Q. |title=Republicans Get a Pep Talk From Rush Limbaugh |pages=A16 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 12, 1994 |access-date=August 28, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/12/us/republicans-get-a-pep-talk-from-rush-limbaugh.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730112618/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/12/us/republicans-get-a-pep-talk-from-rush-limbaugh.html |archive-date=July 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1995, Limbaugh started selling a line of neckties under the brand No Boundaries Collection,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pugmire|first=Genelle|date=May 1, 1996|title=Firm Affords Direct Connection To Net Goods |work=Deseret News |url=https://www.deseret.com/1996/5/1/19239779/firm-affords-direct-connection-to-net-goods|access-date=February 18, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=February 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219190549/https://www.deseret.com/1996/5/1/19239779/firm-affords-direct-connection-to-net-goods}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Walke|first=Paul|date=April 16, 1996 |title=Limbaugh releases 2nd tie collection|url=https://universe.byu.edu/1996/04/16/limbaughrnnreleases-2ndrnntie-collection/|url-status=live|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=The Daily Universe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012095017/http://universe.byu.edu/1996/04/16/limbaughrnnreleases-2ndrnntie-collection/|archive-date=October 12, 2015}}</ref> designed by his then-wife Marta without themes, ties to politics, or ties to issues. Limbaugh complained about coverage of the line, which he said underrated the ties' radicalness, and said media descriptions were emblematic of their general inaccuracy.<ref name="Franken">{{Cite book|last=Franken |first=Al|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PZDcoEchkIAC |title=Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations|date=1999|publisher=Dell|isbn=978-0-440-50864-9|author-link=Al Franken|access-date=February 18, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=March 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329220504/https://books.google.com/books?id=PZDcoEchkIAC}}</ref> Sold in nearly 1,500 retail outlets by 1996, the brand sold more than $5,000,000 worth in the first year. The New York Times described the designs: "Much like their promulgator, Mr. Limbaugh's four dozen or so styles seem designed to evoke maximum sensory outrage. Like Rainbow Black, whose interweaving rainbow strands and blue raindrops play around an Ionic column, atop which a cranberry-red pomegranate tree sprouts from an urn. Or Triangle Red, with colliding stacks of black-and-yellow triangles and disjointed horizontal black stripes on a background of speckled salmon."<ref name="Vinciguerra">{{Cite news|last=Vinciguerra |first=Thomas|date=August 4, 1996|title=No Talk Show, But a Loud Tie|work=[[The New York Times]]|page=43 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/04/style/no-talk-show-but-a-loud-tie.html |access-date=February 18, 2021|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111195110/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/04/style/no-talk-show-but-a-loud-tie.html}}</ref> In 2000, Limbaugh rented the email list collected from the No Boundaries website to [[Rudy Giuliani]]'s [[2000 United States Senate election in New York|senate campaign]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2000| title=Right-Wing Southerner Is Rudy's Secret Weapon in Senate Campaign |url=https://observer.com/2000/01/rightwing-southerner-is-rudys-secret-weapon-in-senate-campaign/|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=Observer|url-status=live |archive-date=June 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626024638/http://observer.com/2000/01/rightwing-southerner-is-rudys-secret-weapon-in-senate-campaign/}}</ref> The business dissolved along with his marriage to Marta<ref>{{Cite book|last=Duncan|first=Bernadette|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jq6oDAAAQBAJ |title=Yappy Days: Behind the Scenes with Newsers, Schmoozers, Boozers and Losers|date=June 30, 2016 |publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=978-1-5246-0054-9|access-date=February 18, 2021|archive-date=March 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329220459/https://books.google.com/books?id=Jq6oDAAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="McCabe">{{Cite news|last=McCabe|first=Scott|title=Limbaugh, third wife parting after 10 years|work=[[The Palm Beach Post]]|date=June 12, 2004|access-date=November 4, 2006|url-status=dead |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/news/limbaugh/c1a_rush_0612.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619214410/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/news/limbaugh/c1a_rush_0612.html|archive-date=June 19, 2004}}</ref> but in 2020 the ties were still being sold by TieGal, Inc., for $29 each.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 6, 2012|title=PHOTOS: Rush Limbaugh Used To Be A Fashion Designer|website=[[HuffPost]]|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rush-limbaugh-ties-no-boundaries_n_1325060 |access-date=February 18, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124155238/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rush-limbaugh-ties-no-boundaries_n_1325060}}</ref>

===2000s===
Limbaugh had publicized personal difficulties in the 2000s. In late 2001, he acknowledged that he had become almost completely deaf, although he continued his show. He was able to regain much of his hearing with the help of a [[cochlear implants|cochlear implant]] in 2001.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Limbaugh Receives Cochlear Implant|first=Susan|last=Boswell|date=December 15, 2018|journal=The ASHA Leader|volume=7 |pages=1–21 |doi=10.1044/leader.ftr2.07012002.1 |url=https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/leader.FTR2.07012002.1 | issn = 1085-9586}}</ref><ref>https://huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5207860{{dead link|date=February 2021}}</ref>

In 2003, Limbaugh had a brief stint as a [[American football|professional football]] commentator with [[ESPN]]. He resigned a few weeks into the [[2003 NFL season]] after making comments about the press coverage for [[quarterback]] [[Donovan McNabb]] that caused controversy and accusations of [[racism]] on the part of Limbaugh. His comment about McNabb was:

<blockquote>I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the [[NFL]]. I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there's a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn't deserve. The defense carried this team.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Was Limbaugh Right to Resign from ESPN? |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,493270,00.html |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=October 6, 2003 |access-date=September 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130827034051/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,493270,00.html}}</ref></blockquote>

The sportswriter [[Peter King (sportswriter)|Peter King]] construed the comment as "boneheaded".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/peter_king/09/30/mcnabb_limbaugh/ |title=Open mouth, insert foot, Limbaugh's comments on McNabb aren't racist, but they are boneheaded |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |first=King |last=Peter |author-link=Peter King (sportswriter) |date=September 30, 2003 |access-date=March 14, 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206144610/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/peter_king/09/30/mcnabb_limbaugh/ }}</ref> The sports analyst [[Allen Barra]] wrote Limbaugh's viewpoint was shared by "many football fans and analysts" and "it is{{nbsp}}... absurd to say that the sports media haven't overrated Donovan McNabb because he's black".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Barra |first=Allen |author-link=Allen Barra |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2089193/ |title=Rush was Right |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=October 2, 2003 |access-date=October 10, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-date=October 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016082346/http://www.slate.com/id/2089193}}</ref>
[[File:Rush Limbaugh.jpg|thumb|upright|Limbaugh in 2006]]

In 2003, Limbaugh stated that he was addicted to pain medication, and sought treatment.<ref name=CNN2003>{{cite news |title=Limbaugh admits addiction to pain medication |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/10/rush.limbaugh/ |newspaper=[[CNN]]|date=October 10, 2003 |access-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217050248/http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/10/rush.limbaugh/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2006, Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities, on a warrant issued by the [[Palm Beach County, Florida|Palm Beach County]] [[State's attorney|state attorney]]'s office, and was arrested "on a single charge of prescription fraud".<ref>{{cite news |title=Rush Limbaugh Turns Himself In On Fraud Charge In Rx Drug Probe |author=Peter Whoriskey |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042801692.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 29, 2006 |access-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026055232/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042801692.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His record was later [[Expungement|expunged]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rush Limbaugh, conservative radio host, rushed to Hawaiian hospital with chest pains: report |author=Dave Goldiner |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rush-limbaugh-conservative-radio-host-rushed-hawaiian-hospital-chest-pains-report-article-1.437568 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=December 31, 2009 |access-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-date=June 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603031604/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rush-limbaugh-conservative-radio-host-rushed-hawaiian-hospital-chest-pains-report-article-1.437568 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2010s===
In 2013, news reports indicated that [[Cumulus Media]], some of whose stations carried Limbaugh's program in certain major markets, including New York, Chicago, [[Dallas]], [[Washington, D.C.|Washington D.C]]., and Detroit, was considering dropping his show when its contract with Limbaugh expired at the end of that year, reportedly because the company believed that its advertising revenues had been hurt by listener reaction to controversial Limbaugh comments.<ref name="politico.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/05/rush-limbaugh-may-leave-cumulus-163282|title=Rush Limbaugh may leave Cumulus|first=Dylan|last=Byers|work=[[Politico]]|date=May 5, 2013 |access-date=February 17, 2021|archive-date=February 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212213043/https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/05/rush-limbaugh-may-leave-cumulus-163282|url-status=live}}</ref> Limbaugh himself said that the reports were overblown and that it was a matter of routine dollars-and-cents negotiations between Cumulus and his network syndication partner, [[Premiere Networks]], a unit of [[Clear Channel Communications]]. Ultimately, the parties reached agreement on a new contract, with Limbaugh's show moving from its long-time flagship outlet in New York, the Cumulus-owned WABC, to the latter's cross-town rival, the Clear Channel-owned WOR, starting January 1, 2014, but remaining on the Cumulus-owned stations it was being carried on in other markets.<ref name="politico.com" />

===2020s===
In January 2021, Limbaugh called the [[GameStop short squeeze]] "the most fascinating thing" to happen in a long time and said that "the elites are bent out of shape that a bunch of average, ordinary users have figured out how to make themselves billionaires".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flood|first=Brian|date=January 28, 2021|title=Rush Limbaugh: GameStop saga mirrors politics as elites attempt to prevent regular people from benefiting|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/rush-limbaugh-gamestop-story-mirrors-politics-elites-attempt-regular-people-benefiting|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=[[Fox News]]|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128200814/https://www.foxnews.com/media/rush-limbaugh-gamestop-story-mirrors-politics-elites-attempt-regular-people-benefiting|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''The Rush Limbaugh Show''===
{{Main|The Rush Limbaugh Show}}
Limbaugh's radio show aired for three hours each weekday beginning at noon [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]] on both [[AM broadcasting|AM]] and [[FM broadcasting|FM]] radio. The program was also broadcast worldwide on the [[Armed Forces Radio Network]].

Radio broadcasting shifted from [[AM broadcasting|AM]] to [[FM broadcasting|FM]] in the 1970s because of the opportunity to broadcast music in stereo with better fidelity (AM stations in the United States would not get the opportunity to broadcast in [[Stereophonic sound|stereo sound]] until August 2, 1982). Limbaugh's show was first nationally syndicated in August 1988, on the AM radio band. Limbaugh's popularity paved the way for other conservative talk radio programming to become commonplace on AM radio. The show increased its audience in the 1990s to the extent that even some FM stations picked it up. {{As of|2019|1|post=}}, about half of Limbaugh's affiliate stations were on the FM dial.

Limbaugh used [[Theatrical property|props]], songs, and photos to introduce his [[monologue]]s on various topics. On his radio show, news about [[homeless]] people was often preceded by the [[Clarence "Frogman" Henry]] song "[[Ain't Got No Home (Clarence "Frogman" Henry song)|Ain't Got No Home]]".<ref name=NYT90 />

In March 2006, [[WBAL (AM)|WBAL]] in [[Baltimore]] became the first major market radio station in the country to drop Limbaugh's nationally syndicated radio program.<ref>{{cite news | last = Hiaasen | first = Rob | title = WBAL Radio Cancels Rush Limbaugh: Station is First to Drop Show, Wants to Focus on Local News | newspaper = The Baltimore Sun | date = March 14, 2006 | url = http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/427188/wbal_radio_cancels_rush_limbaugh_station_is_first_to_drop/index.html | access-date = March 1, 2009 | archive-date = March 3, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090303151540/http://redorbit.com/news/technology/427188/wbal_radio_cancels_rush_limbaugh_station_is_first_to_drop/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In 2007, ''TALKERS Magazine'' again named him No.{{nbsp}}1 in its "Heavy Hundred" most important talk show hosts.

Limbaugh frequently mentioned the EIB (Excellence In Broadcasting) Network, trademarked in 1990. In the beginning, his show was co-owned and first syndicated by Edward F. McLaughlin, former president of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], who founded EFM Media in 1988, with Limbaugh's show as his first product. In 1997, McLaughlin sold EFM to [[Jacor Communications]], which was ultimately bought up by Clear Channel Communications. Limbaugh owned a majority of the show, which is syndicated by the [[Premiere Radio Networks]].

According to a 2001 article in ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'', Limbaugh had an eight-year contract, at the rate of $31.25 million a year.<ref>"Vital Statistics", U.S. News & World Report, July 30, 2001, p. 7.</ref> In 2007, Limbaugh earned $33 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Celebrity 100: #36 Rush Limbaugh |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_Rush-Limbaugh_YNXQ.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525071826/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/53/07celebrities_Rush-Limbaugh_YNXQ.html |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |work=[[Forbes]] |date=June 14, 2007}}</ref> A November 2008 poll by [[Zogby International]] found that Limbaugh was the most trusted news personality in the nation, garnering 12.5 percent of poll responses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zogby poll finds the internet today's most trusted news source|date=November 20, 2008|work=The IFC Media Project|url=http://www.imao.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/media_project_poll_info.pdf |access-date=September 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911034053/http://www.imao.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/media_project_poll_info.pdf|archive-date=September 11, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Limbaugh signed a $400-million, eight-year contract in 2008 with what was then Clear Channel Communications, making him the highest-paid broadcaster on terrestrial radio. On August 2, 2016, Limbaugh signed a four-year extension of the 2008 contract.<ref name="BondHollywoodRep08022016">{{cite news |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=August 2, 2016 |title=Rush Limbaugh Extends Radio Contract for Four More Years |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rush-limbaugh-extends-radio-contract-916511 |newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |location=Los Angeles, California |access-date=August 2, 2016 |quote=Premiere and iHeartMedia said that in 2016 The Rush Limbaugh Show experienced significant audience growth, including 18 percent in adults 25–54 and 27 percent among women in that age group. Despite efforts among progressive groups like Media Matters for America to discourage advertisers, ad revenue for the show increased 20 percent year-over-year. |url-status=live|archive-date=February 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219185458/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rush-limbaugh-extends-radio-contract-916511}}</ref> At the announcement of the extension, [[Premiere Radio Networks]] and [[iHeartMedia]] announced that his show experienced audience growth with 18% growth in adults 25–54, 27% growth with 25–54 women, and ad revenue growth of 20% year over year.<ref name="BondHollywoodRep08022016"/>

In 2018, Limbaugh was the world's second (behind [[Howard Stern]]) highest-paid radio host, reportedly earning $84.5 million.<ref name="auto"/> On January 5, 2020, Limbaugh renewed his contract again. Though media reports said it was "a long-term" renewal, (with no length specified), according to Donald Trump it was a four-year deal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stelter |first1=Brian |title=Rush Limbaugh renews radio show contract in a 'long-term' deal |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/05/media/rush-limbaugh-show-contract/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |date=January 5, 2020 |publisher=Cable News Network.Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. |access-date=January 6, 2020 |archive-date=January 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106001811/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/05/media/rush-limbaugh-show-contract/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Regular guest host [[Ken Matthews (radio)|Ken Matthews]] was also selected a ''TALKERS Magazine'' "Heavy Hundred".<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 14, 2020|title=Thursday, May 14, 2020|url=http://www.talkers.com/2020/05/14/thursday-may-14-2020/|access-date=July 22, 2020|website=TALKERS magazine|url-status=live|archive-date=July 22, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200722132101/http://www.talkers.com/2020/05/14/thursday-may-14-2020/}}</ref>

In May, Premiere Networks announced that on June 21, 2021, The Limbaugh Show radio timeslot would be taken over by [[Clay Travis]] and [[Buck Sexton]] in hundreds of markets.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rush-limbaughs-radio-show-to-be-taken-over-by-clay-travis-and-buck-sexton-11622127616|title=WSJ News Exclusive &#124; Rush Limbaugh's Radio Show to be Taken over by Clay Travis and Buck Sexton|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=May 27, 2021|last1=Steele|first1=Anne}}</ref>

===Television show===
Limbaugh had a [[television syndication|syndicated]] half-hour television show from 1992 through 1996, produced by [[Roger Ailes]]. The show discussed many of the topics on his radio show, and was taped in front of an audience. In the months after its debut on September 12, 1992, it was the third highest rated late-night television show after ''[[Nightline]]'' and ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]''.<ref name=":9" /> Limbaugh said he loved doing his radio show,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_060909/content/01125106.guest.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612165955/http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_060909/content/01125106.guest.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 12, 2009 |title=Rush Receives 'Freedom of Speech Award' from Talkers Magazine |publisher=Rushlimbaugh.com |date=June 6, 2009 |access-date=March 10, 2010 }}</ref> but not a TV show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_111309/content/01125106.guest.html |title=Rush and Roger Ailes Speak at Boy Scouts Awards Dinner |publisher=Rushlimbaugh.com |date=November 11, 2009 |access-date=March 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218013406/http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_111309/content/01125106.guest.html |archive-date=February 18, 2010 }}</ref>

===Other media appearances===
Limbaugh's first television hosting experience came March 30, 1990, as a guest host on [[Pat Sajak]]'s [[CBS]] late-night talk show, ''[[The Pat Sajak Show]]''.<ref>{{YouTube|LNK4byQkn7w|Rush Limbaugh guest-hosts the Pat Sajak show in 1990}}</ref> [[AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power|ACT UP]] activists in the audience<ref name="Newsday">{{cite news|first=Richard|last=Gehr|title=Mouth At Work|work=Newsday|page=4 |date=October 8, 1990|quote="For all his bravado, however, Limbaugh is immensely sensitive to charges of insensitivity. When asked about the racist they-all-look-alike connotation of a statement like `Have you ever noticed how all newspaper composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?` this professional talker from a family of lawyers pleads total innocence.`You may interpret it as that, but I, no, honest-to-God, that's not how I intended it at all. Gee, don't get me in this one. I am the least racist host you'll ever find.` Recalling a stint as an `insult-radio` DJ in Pittsburgh, he admits feeling guilty about, for example, telling a black listener he could not understand to `take that bone out of your nose and call me back.`"}}</ref> [[heckled]] Limbaugh repeatedly; ultimately the entire studio audience was cleared. In 2001, Sajak said the incident was "legendary around CBS".<ref>{{cite video|people=Sajak, Pat|title=Larry King Live| medium=TV series|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 3, 2001}}</ref>

On December 17, 1993, Limbaugh appeared on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tom |last=Maurstad|title=Stern, Limbaugh meet their match; Hosts Leno, Letterman hold their own in war|work=The Dallas Morning News|page=1C|date=December 20, 1993}}</ref> Limbaugh also guest-starred (as himself) on a 1994 episode of ''[[Hearts Afire]]''. He appeared in the 1995 [[Billy Crystal]] film ''[[Forget Paris]]'', and in 1998 on an episode of ''[[The Drew Carey Show]]''.<ref name="looper.com">{{cite web |last1=Greenbaum |first1=Aaron |title=Rush Limbaugh Cameos You Forgot Existed |url=https://www.looper.com/336666/rush-limbaugh-cameos-you-forgot-existed/ |website=looper.com |date=February 18, 2021 |access-date=May 22, 2021}}</ref>

In 2007, Limbaugh made cameo appearances on [[Fox News Channel]]'s short-lived ''[[The 1/2 Hour News Hour]]'' in a series of parodies portraying him as the future [[President of the United States]]. In the parodies, his vice president was fellow conservative pundit [[Ann Coulter]]. That year, he also made a cameo in the ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "[[Blue Harvest (Family Guy)|Blue Harvest]]", a parody of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' in which Limbaugh can be heard on the radio claiming that the "liberal galactic media" were lying about [[climate change]] on the planet [[Hoth]], and that [[Lando Calrissian]]'s administrative position on [[Bespin|Cloud City]] was a result of [[affirmative action]]. His later appearances on ''Family Guy'' were in the 2010 episode "[[Excellence in Broadcasting]]", and 2011's "[[It's a Trap!|Episode VI: It's a Trap!]]", a parody of ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''.<ref name="looper.com"/>