AP: Congressional letter obtained by AP outlines drastic job cuts expected at Voice of America

Congressional letter obtained by AP outlines drastic job cuts expected at Voice of America

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration appointee overseeing the Voice of America has outlined job cuts that would reduce employment at the state-run news organization from over 1,000 people to 81.

The Voice of America, which has delivered news to countries all over the world for the better part of a century, has been largely silent for two months following an executive order by President Donald Trump. He believes Voice of America, and similar organizations like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, have reported with a liberal bias.

Most of VOA’s employees have been on administrative leave since mid-March amid reports that layoff notices were forthcoming.

Kari Lake, who has been overseeing the U.S. Agency for Global Media for Trump, outlined planned employment changes in a letter Tuesday to U.S. Sen. James Risch that was obtained by The Associated Press. Lake said Trump had directed the agency “to reduce the performance of its statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.” [Continue reading…]

TWR Guam To End Broadcasting

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The Guam Transmitting Site (Source: TRW)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Tracy Wood, who write:

This is sad but expected news. Guam is seeing a lot of land acquisition pressure due to greater military and commercial activity on the island.

https://twr.org/story/transition-for-twrs-guam-station

Another One Bites The Dust In Brazil?!?!

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Written/Published/Edited by SWLing.com Contributor Paul Walker, avid SW DXer and manager of KSKO 89.5 McGrath, Alaska

Surprisingly, RBC’s 7.5KW signal on 11815khz was quite regular here and heard very well at times. A few weeks ago, I realized I hadn’t heard it in several months, which has never happened really. I’m a member of the North American Shortwave Association so I posted a question there, because no matte how niche a station may be, someone can usually find or knows the answer.

I was greeted with this answer from Rich D’Angelo:

The following ius from May’s Listeners Notebook contributed by Brazilian DX’er Pedro de Castro:

Rádio Brasil Central AM – which currently operates at 1270 – will migrate to FM, according to the process approved by the Ministry of Communications at the end of last February. According to the president of Agência Brasil Central, Reginaldo Junior, the migration will guarantee the survival and legacy of 75 years of the station. The AM operation will be terminated at Fazenda Bananal, where the transmitters of these operations in medium, short and tropical waves are installed. Two other FM radio stations may be created with the migration of shortwave and tropical frequencies as well, still unpredicted. (Juliana Carnevalli via Agência Brasil Central (ABC) – Government of Goiás/Pedro de Castro-Brazil)

Sad to hear, but we must face the reality and progression of time and technology. SW equipment is tough, expensive and time to repair, maintain or purchase new. With a few well placed FM signals, they can cover the areas that really matter in much better, much more consistent quality. We have to remember we as DX’ers aren’t the target and the fact we can hear a sub 10,000 Watt signal outside of its target area wasn’t intended and just a bonus. The electricity costs for a few FM signals are likely less than a 50KW full time AM and 2 full time shortwave signals.

Dan says it’s, “Just like the good ol’ days on 60 meters.”

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes:

Hi Thomas:

One of the benefits of DXing in 2025 is the ability to tune into a signal far from your listening post, yet still get strong, generally clear reception, all by simply finding a suitable receiver much closer to the station’s transmitter site. Well, sometimes it is not quite that simple. For example, the selection of Kiwi SDR’s from which to choose, is far less in Africa and South America than what is available in Europe or the USA.

Tonight, I came across a decent signal on 4775 kHz while listening on a Kiwi located in Lima, Peru. Just after 2300 UTC (when I began this brief recording), the announcer began rattling off a bunch of station call letters and frequencies in Spanish. This was followed by “Transmite Radio Tarma. Desde Tarma, Peru en America del Sur.” The program that followed was called “Antena Deportiva”, or Sports Antenna in English. This program can be found listed on their website.

Recording:

Audio Player

00:00

Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.

Tarma, Peru is nestled in the Andes Mountains somewhat northeast of Lima. According to Short-wave.info, their power is listed as 1 kw.

Dan Greenall

London, Ontario, Canada

Thank you for sharing this, Dan! Readers, if you’d like an up-close look at Radio Tarma, check out this post from our archives by our friend and vagabond DXer, Don Moore!

Music is the universal shortwave language

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Greetings as always to all the SWLing Post community, we are now ready to spill the beans on what we have to offer on the shortwave spectrum this week. Be ready for some space business and more about things that run on rails.

Firstly on Saturday 7th June 2025 at 1100 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 8th June 2025 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and at 2000 UTC on 3975 kHz and 6160 kHz (via the services of Shortwave Gold) we bring you the sounds of outer space with Starship Skybird.

Orbiting the ionosphere the skyship will bring you lots of intergalactic musical goodness, the sounds of distant planets, atmospherics and a whole lot more. Start the countdown to next weekend when you can strap yourself in for a trip of a lifetime. Tune in, make yourself a cosmic cocktail if that’s your thing and enjoy the sounds of space.

On Wednesday 11th May 2025 via WRMI at 0200 UTC we depart again on a “locomotive journey across the ionosphere” with another episode of CTRN. We are back on the rails to present an hour of train tunes, class rail timetabling tales and memories of train stations that once were. Please tune in, mind the doors and enjoy the ride. Please make sure you present your Railcard alongside your rail ticket if you are expecting a shortwave discount.