Austin Rhodes Show is a local talk radio program in Augusta, Georgia airing on WGAC AM 580 and is hosted by radio personality, Austin Rhodes. The show airs between 3:05 pm EST and 6:00 pm EST Monday through Friday.

The host is a self-proclaimed Conservative Republican. Topics center around politics, and Rhodes often takes cues from nationally syndicated conservative talk show hosts, Rush Limbaugh and Neal Boortz. However, unlike nationally syndicated talkshows, Austin Rhodes discusses topics of local interest, and is a frequent critic of The Augusta Commission.

Controversy

Austin Rhodes has his critics in Augusta, the most vocal being local Liberal political activist Mark Gelbart. Rhodes has been accused of tinging his rhetoric with racism. A local weekly newspaper, The Metropolitan Spirit, refused to publish a column by Rhodes that reffered to a local black activist using offensive racial epithets. Rhodes subsequently ceased writing columns for The Metroplitan Spirit, but has recently reprised his role as a columnist for the weekly paper.

Critics also charge that Rhodes targets his rhetoric disproportionately at black local politicans, often giving white politicians accused of corruption a pass.

But Rhodes has also praised black local politicians like Democratic State Senator Ed Tarver.
Rhodes has been a vocal advocate for efforts to Honor local musical celebrity James Brown with a statue and a music festival.

For many years, Austin Rhodes was the only local afternoon political talk radion program. However, recently Rhodes has been getting some competition from Ryan B. from station WAAW. A nasty war of words has erupted between Rhodes and Ryan B.

Rhodes often repeats certain words and phrases on his show ad nauseum such as "awesome", "in my humble opinion", and "incredible".

Rhodes often mocks those who call into his show, parodying their voice, and making snide remarks.

External Links

WGAC Radio AM 580, radio home of Austin Rhodes

/ Mark Gelbart's commentary on Austin Rhodes