WNYC: Tuning into The Divided Dial

The podcast explores the history and present state of shortwave radio, particularly its use for propaganda, cultural messaging, and, more recently, by extremist groups and financial traders. Katie Thornton, who produced the series "The Divided Dial," explains how shortwave technology works, its role during World War II and the Cold War, and its resurgence among private stations in the U.S. after government backing decreased. The discussion covers the rise of far-right programming on shortwave, the story behind a collection of anti-fascist recordings from Costa Rica, and the surprising interest from Wall Street in using shortwave for high-frequency trading. Listeners pose questions about the ownership and regulation of shortwave stations, the demographics of listeners, and the potential for ham radio to reflect political shifts.