Chris Stigall
Chris Stigall | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Stigall in 2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 5, 1977 Richmond, Missouri, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Northwest Missouri State University (BA) |
| Website | Official website |
Chris Stigall (born January 5, 1977) is an American politician, conservative[1] talk radio personality, cable news contributor, online columnist and host of The Chris Stigall podcast. He currently hosts the morning show on Salem Media Group’s AM 990 The Answer in Philadelphia, and was the prior host of WPHT Morning Show in the Delaware Valley market from 2011 to March 2019. Previously, he hosted The KCMO (AM) Morning Show in the Kansas City market from 2006 until 2010.
Stigall launched a nationally-syndicated show on the Salem Radio Network in January 2025, hosting the morning show from 6 to 9 AM EST. He replaced Hugh Hewitt, whose show moved to the 3 to 6 PM slot in order to replace Sebastian Gorka, who left Salem to join the second Trump administration.[2]
Stigall is the Republican nominee for Missouri's 6th congressional district in 2026.[3] He gave up his nationally-syndicated talk show to seek public service in the U.S. House of Representatives, as have others from the Salem Radio Network.[4]
Education and early career
[edit]Stigall graduated from Northwest Missouri State University, where he studied comedy writing and television production as an intern with the Late Show with David Letterman in New York. Stigall also served as a representative and press assistant to U.S. Representative Sam Graves, and later went on to work in Kansas City radio in 1999.
Career
[edit]In 2009, Stigall was selected as the master of ceremonies at the Mayor’s Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.[5]
On November 18, 2010, WPHT in Philadelphia announced that Stigall will be anchoring its morning show focused on "local and national policy, the economy, the biggest news stories and issues that affect all Philadelphians, coupled with interviews of the day’s news and decision makers."[6]
On March 6, 2019, Stigall and WPHT ended their broadcast partnership after 8-plus years, according to insiders the "split wasn't unpleasant."[1] Stigall went on to launch a podcast version of his previous radio show featuring his former co-host Paige Powers.[7]
Stigall has filled in for nationally-syndicated hosts Michael Savage, Rusty Humphries, Lou Dobbs, Fred Thompson, Jerry Doyle, Steve Malzberg, and Sebastian Gorka. He has also been a contributor for Salem-owned outlets Townhall and Human Events, as well as Andrew Breitbart's BigHollywood, Philadelphia, The American Spectator, and the Platte County Landmark.
Sharyl Attkisson revelation
[edit]On May 25, 2013, Stigall conducted an interview with Sharyl Attkisson and inquired about if she suspected her computer of being hacked as a part of the 2013 Department of Justice investigations of reporters. Sharyl responded that her personal and work computers had been compromised and were under investigation.[8] She responded, "I think there could be some relationship between these types of things and what happened to me," adding that "something suspicious had been happening since."[9] Stigall then had a media clash with Erik Wemple from The Washington Post. Prior to the release of Attkisson's book, Wemple had criticized her for "ladling out hints and half-assertions about the violations of her computers, as she was apparently holding back details that could assist the public in determining just who was responsible for them."[10] Her 2014 book Stonewalled chronicled her on-air exchange with Stigall and revealed that it was an unexpected encounter for her that became a national news story.
Political career
[edit]2026 Congressional campaign
[edit]On March 27, 2026, Stigall joined five Republicans running to replace retiring U.S. Representative Sam Graves in Missouri's 6th congressional district.[11][12]
Endorsed in the race by Graves,[13] he won the five-way Republican primary on August 4, 2026 with 44% of the vote, beating second-place finisher, Kansas City Council member Nathan Willett, by 12 percentage points.[14]
Charity work
[edit]Through a partnership with the Pennsylvania SPCA and the Piazza Auto Group, Stigall has helped find homes for over 100 shelter animals through his weekly on-air segment “The Piazza Pet of the Week.”[15]
Philadelphia’s USO chapter known as Liberty USO has partnered with Stigall and the Philadelphia Phillies to surprise military service members annually with a trip to Phillies Fantasy Camp in Clearwater, Florida.[16]
Controversy
[edit]In March 2011, Stigall became heavily involved in the Delaware County priest trial. Stigall thought The Philadelphia Inquirer was heavily biased in its coverage and one priest and his lawyer declared their innocence on Stigall's morning talk show.[17]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Fiorillo, Victor (March 6, 2019). "Conservative Radio Host Chris Stigall Out at 1210AM". Philadelphia. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Salem Radio Network and Salem News Channel Announce Lineup Changes", Business Wire, December 9, 2024
- ↑ Bayless, Kacen (August 5, 2026). "Radio host Chris Stigall wins GOP primary for Rep. Sam Graves' Northland seat". Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ Tradup, Tom (August 8, 2026). "Salem Radio Network: Petri Dish for National Politics". townhall.com. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ Hendricks, Mike (November 19, 2009). "Ulterior motives lurk behind the tree-lighting ceremony". Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
- ↑ "WPHT To Launch New Lineup With Chris Stigall Hosting Morning Drive". CBS Philly. November 30, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
- ↑ Fiorillo, Victor (May 15, 2019). "What Happened to Chris Stigall After He Left 1210AM? A Podcast, of Course". Philadelphia.
- ↑ Byers, Dylan (May 21, 2013), "Sharyl Attkisson's Computers Compromised", Politico
- ↑ Mirkinson, Jack (May 21, 2013). "CBS' Sharyl Attkisson: My Computers Were Compromised, 'Could Be Some Relationship' To DOJ Scandals". The Huffington Post.
- ↑ Wemple, Erik (October 29, 2014), "Philadelphia Radio Host Hammers Erik Wemple Blog to Smithereens Over Sharyl Attkisson", The Washington Post
- ↑ Cunningham, Joe (March 27, 2026). "National Conservative Radio Host Leaves the Microphone Behind to Run for Congress". redstate.com. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ Jahraus, Seth. "Why Chris Stigall is running for Missouri's 6th District". KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ Bayless, Kacen (July 26, 2026). "Inside the heated race to represent Kansas City's Northland in Congress". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- ↑ Quinn, Steph; Hanshaw, Annelise (August 5, 2026). "Chris Stigall wins Republican primary for Missouri's 6th Congressional District". Missouri Independent. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Piazza Pet of the Week", CBS Philadelphia
- ↑ "Wounded Warrior Joins the Phantasy Camp". January 8, 2014.
- ↑ Mucha, Peter (March 15, 2011). "Priest declares innocence, lawyer rips judge on radio show". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012.