(updated below w/transcript - Update II)

Media Matters' Eric Boehlert yesterday wrote an article arguing that Matt Drudge's ability to shape media coverage of the election has "collapsed" over the last two months; that "the Drudge Report [has been] completely neutered by current events"; and that "Drudge has mostly been shooting blanks and remains unrecognizable from the 2004 campaign, when his site was central in pushing President Bush's re-election."

On Salon Radio today, I talk to Boehlert about whether there has been a serious and long-lasting reduction in Drudge's influence; the on-going reverence which most campaign reporters continue to harbor for him and their abject fear of criticizing him (as illustrated by this worshipful paean from The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza); and, more generally, the media treatment in this election cycle of the two parties as contrasted with 2000 and 2004. 

The discussion is roughly 25 minutes and can be heard by clicking PLAY on the recorder below.  A transcript will be posted shortly.

UPDATE:  The transcript is now here.

UPDATE II:  The improved podcast system that we intended to begin using has not, for several reasons,  worked out, which means we are still using the original system that produces sound quality that is erratic (sometimes it's quite good and other times it isn't).  If you're truly an expert in these matters and are interested in helping find the best way to do this, please email me.

On a different note, the ACLU has had an online symposium the past several days relating to voter fraud and voter suppression issues, which begins here and here (and here is an important Digby post from today on one of the main reasons that issue matters so much).