A bipartisan bill requiring an AM radio antenna in every new car sold in the United States is set for a vote in Congress this week, with backers arguing it safeguards both emergency communications and a rare surviving forum for civil public debate. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which has more than 300 House co-sponsors and 60 in the Senate, is primarily framed as a resilience measure so emergency alerts can still reach drivers if digital networks fail, but the author also credits local AM stations with hosting balanced, non-partisan discussion and community coverage that has largely disappeared from local newspapers.

Citing WFMD in Frederick, Maryland, now marking 90 years on air, the piece describes a typical AM schedule of local morning shows, syndicated news and afternoon call-in politics programmes, such as "Mid-Maryland Live," hosted by a conservative and a liberal presenter together. The author argues AM radio's reliance on local advertising, rather than government funding, gives it an incentive toward cross-partisan appeal, unlike publicly funded models. Estimates cited suggest 80–90% of Americans listen to AM or FM radio weekly, and more than 80% of car owners switch it on when starting their vehicle.