Salem Media Group has announced a significant programming shift in its midday lineup, with Charlie Kirk taking over the time slot previously held by longtime conservative radio host Dennis Prager on many affiliate stations. The transition comes as Prager continues recovering from an injury that has kept him off the air since November 2024.
Kirk, already a dominant force in conservative media, will now have an expanded presence on Salem’s nationwide network, where his program is currently syndicated to 195 radio stations with a total of 500 affiliates. His show, which runs from noon to 3 p.m. ET, will seamlessly replace Prager’s noon-to-2 p.m. ET time slot in numerous markets, Salem announced Wednesday.
Kirk’s influence has grown exponentially in recent years. As the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), he has built a grassroots movement that now boasts over 2 million members across 4,000 high school and college campuses. His reach extends beyond radio, with a massive online following of over 26 million and a widely popular podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, which remains one of the top-rated conservative podcasts in the country.
His efforts in mobilizing young voters were credited as a major factor in Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential victory, and in January 2025, The New York Times dubbed him “the youth whisperer of the American right.” With this expansion, Kirk solidifies his status as one of the most influential conservative voices of his generation.
And that’s on accountability@charliekirk11 pic.twitter.com/4ij0aPCedg
— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) March 18, 2025
Despite stepping back from his full-time slot, Prager is not leaving the airwaves entirely. Beginning June 3, he will return for a one-hour broadcast from 2 to 3 p.m. ET each weekday. “Dennis may have some physical limitations at the moment, but his wit, wisdom, insights, and passion are as strong as ever,” said Phil Boyce, Salem’s Senior VP of Spoken Word. “We want Dennis to remain a part of the Salem family, and we want his millions of loyal fans to continue hearing his voice.”
To bridge the transition, Salem has tapped Jack Posobiec as the substitute host for the third hour on both Kirk’s and Prager’s affiliates. Posobiec, a well-known conservative commentator with a significant following on X, has been a rising star in right-wing media.
Prager has been a staple in conservative talk radio for over 25 years, beginning his national career on KABC in Los Angeles before joining Salem. His impact extends beyond radio, with more than 10 books to his name, including The Rational Bible series. He also co-founded PragerU, the influential conservative educational platform that garners over a billion downloads annually.
As Prager continues his recovery, Salem will maintain his PragerTopia subscription service, ensuring that listeners can access both archived material and new exclusive content. His signature segments, such as the “Happiness Hour” and the “Male-Female Hour,” will still have a place in his reduced schedule.
