On this morning’s (12/30) edition of MSNCBC’s Morning Joe, host Joe Scarborough was discussing the current fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip with former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brezesinki — who also happens to be the man Joe’s co-host, Mika Brezesinki, calls “Dad.” About six-and-a-half minutes into the interview Dr. Brezesinki accused Scarborough — a former U.S. Congressman from Florida — of being “stunningly superficial” in his knowledge of the subject and that’s when the real fun begins. From there, the back-and-forth sparring escalates, as Scarborough’s co-host looks increasingly uncomfortable at being trapped between the good-natured, but obviously pointed duel. Definitely made for some great TV for Scarborough and his co-host who recently signed with ABC Radio Networks to host a new, daily WABC/New York-based radio show. You can watch this morning’s New Year’s fireworks for yourself on the Morning Joe page at www.msnbc.msn.com.

Longtime Twin Cities media veteran Patrick Reusse (pictured) has been named morning host at Hubbard Broadcasting News/Talker KSTP-AM/Minneapolis. Reusse, a sports columnist at the Star-Tribune and co-host, with Joe Soucheray, of KSTP’s Saturday Morning Sports Talk, will host wake-ups beginning January 12. One of the Twin Cities most well-known media personalities Reusse has penned five columns a week for the Star-Tribune for the past two decades. He’ll continue to write a twice-a-week column for the newspaper after beginning his new full time radio gig at KSTP. “Somewhere between wacky and Minnesota Public Radio there’s a morning show to be done and that’s what I hope to be part of Monday through Friday on KSTP,” said Reusse. “The goal is for us to put together a morning show that I would listen to.” KSTP host Jay Kolls, newsman Bob Berglund and traffic reporter Kenny Olson will join Reusse to round out the station’s new morning show lineup.

Fox News Channel has named the network’s Chief White House Correspondent to succeed Brit Hume as Hume makes his previously announced move to step down after 10 years as anchor of the daily news hour. Hume will continue to appear on the show as Senior Political Analyst, while also occasionally anchoring major news events and contributing to FOX News Sunday. Baier (pictured), who has frequently filled-in for Hume on the newscast, will officially takeover as anchor of Special Report on January 5. He’s served as a correspondent and anchor for FNC for the past 10 years.

The former WCBS-AM/New York PD and longtime news maven has been named Director of Programming at Westwood One-owned Metro Networks/New York. She’ll take the chair most recently occupied by Steve Doman who is moving to a regional engineering post with the network traffic and news provider. Quimby left WCBS earlier this year as the result of one of what would become several rounds of cutbacks by CBS Radio at its stations nationwide in 2008.

Soon-to-launch Bonneville/St. Louis FM Sports outlet “Sports/Talk 101.1″ grabs radio rights to the NFL St. Louis Rams beginning with the 2009 season. The team will move to the new station after nearly a decade on crosstown KLOU. The deal is the latest in a flurry of programming announcements by the company over the past several weeks about the new Sports/Talker which is scheduled to debut on January 1.

The former United States Senator, actor and Republican presidential hopeful has signed on with Westwood One to host a new daily two-hour Talk radio show, from noon-2pm (ET) beginning in March of 2009. Thompson will replace The Radio Factor with Bill O’Reilly following the FOX News Channel personality’s exit from radio at the end of February after a six-year run. It’s the second network radio gig for Thompson who served as a special commentator for ABC Radio Networks prior to his run for the Republican presidential nomination last year. The former Tennessee Senator and Law & Order co-star was widely speculated to be the heir apparent to ABCRN’s Paul Harvey upon the legendary newsman’s eventual retirement. Thompson’s new WW One show will be the latest entry into the race of hosts seeking to scoop up some of O’Reilly’s current 400+ affiliates that also includes FOX News Radio’s John Gibson (who is moving to a new midday timeslot next month) and a still-to-be-announced new entry from Talk Radio Network, which is also currently offering a re-feed of The Laura Ingraham Show to stations looking to replace O’Reilly sooner vs. later.

The veteran programmer/manager has left the building at CBS Radio all-newsers KNX and KFWB and will join crosstown Citadel News/Talker KABC as Director/Operations on January 5. Hall’s arrival displaces current KABC PD Erik Braverman who will exit his post on December 31. Hall spent the past five years at CBS following 13 years at KFI/Los Angeles, a station with which he will now compete directly. “It’s exciting to join a radio station that, despite today’s economy, is committed to investing in a news product to complement their strong lineup of Talk personalities,” said Hall about his new gig. “I have always had a tremendous respect for KABC, not only as a tough competitor, but one with strong heritage as the original all-Talk station in America.