» Lawmaker, Journalist Rip Rush: As his U.S. Senate career nears an end and rumors of a post within the new Barack Obama administration continue, Senator Chuck Hagel (R- NE) used a speaking appearance in Washington yesterday (11/18) to take a shot a conservative Talk radio in general and at Rush Limbaugh specifically. "You know, I wish Rush Limbaugh and others like that would run for office," said Hagel. "They have so much to contribute and so much leadership and they have an answer for everything. And they would be elected overwhelmingly. They try to rip everyone down and make fools of everybody, but they don't have any answers." Meanwhile, during an appearance last weekend on MSNBC, when asked by host Chris Matthews who would assume the role of "chief jeerleader" for the Republicans against the Democrats and the new Obama administration, Newsweek Senior Editor Howard Fineman said, "It's going to be Limbaugh and what's left of the conservative commentariat. They are going to be in charge of the party until the Republicans begin to get their act together."

» What's Up, Chuck? Longtime Don Imus sidekick and news anchor Charles McCord will be setting his alarm clock just a bit earlier starting next week. Along with his current duties alongside the I-Man from 6-10am, beginning November 24 McCord will also host the new 5-6am Imus In The Morning News Hour. That hour has been covered by WABC/New York and ABC Radio Networks syndicated talker Curtis Sliwa who will undoubtedly be happy to relinquish the split shift, early morning hour he's held down since the arrival of Imus last December. Joining McCord on early wake-up duties will be legendary New York sportscaster Warner Wolf along with news reporters Babita Hariani and Scott Salotto. "We're giving people a great place to land for a concise, but complete, update -- everything they'll need to know to decide whether it's worth getting up," said McCord. "I'm expecting to be able to tell them that it is."

» Women Inside The Campaign Trail: That's the title of a post-election conversation that will be hosted by the New York City chapter of American Women in Radio and Television tomorrow (11/20) at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square. Huffington Post CEO Betsy Morgan will moderate a panel of journalists fresh off the recent presidential campaigns including CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic, CNN's Janelle Rodriguez, and ABC News' Kate Snow. The trio will share behind-the-scenes stories from the campaign trail and discuss the realities of news reporting in a world with nearly limitless media distribution. Registration and networking begin at noon, with lunch and the panel starting at 12:30. For more info contact AWRT's Rosemarie Sharpe HERE.

» AP Restructures Regional Coverage: The Associated Press reports it will restructure its regional reporting team in Washington, DC to provide every state with regional representation in the nation's capital by the start of the new Congressional year. Under the plan, AP's current corps of regional reporters will be reorganized into teams from four regions who will be responsible for spot news from the Congressional delegations they cover and broader Washington issues affecting their region. The restructuring will provide AP regional Washington coverage for 28 states that now are not represented. "Every state will soon have coverage from an AP Washington regional reporter," said Michael Oreskes, AP managing editor for U.S. news. "Just as important, they'll have a team focused on regional issues of vital relevance to them and, with the team structure, they will also have back-up. We believe this move will appreciably help our members at a time when many are hungry for news of their delegates in Washington. Where once we had no 'local' coverage, now we will."

» ESPN Gets BCS: The sports media giant has reached an extensive agreement with the Bowl Championship Series, granting exclusive TV, radio, digital, international and marketing rights for 15 BCS games from January 2011 through January 2014. The deal includes the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar Bowls each season and the BCS National Championship Game in 2011, 2012 and 2013. ESPN Radio, which has broadcast all BCS games since 2000, gains exclusive national radio rights for the length of the deal (2011-2014). ESPN Radio is in the midst of a sub-license agreement (that expires in 2010) with current BCS rights holder FOX Sports to broadcast the games.

» Strangers In Paradise: Nationally syndicated talker Dan Patrick recently escorted listener and "Dan Nation" contest winner Steve Giordano of Philadelphia to an undisclosed island in the Caribbean to watch this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue photo shoot. Hopping off their private Marquis jet to hob nob with supermodels in bikinis are (l-r); Giordano, Patrick and the winner's very lucky pal Calvin deGrasse who joined his friend for the trip. The Dan Patrick Show is produced by The Content Factory.