I always love your rewriting of history but then I'm a big fan of Orwell's "1984".
No, Democrats did not move to remove AM radio from cars; rather, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, including prominent Democrats, introduced the "
AM for Every Vehicle Act" to
prevent automakers from removing AM radio, particularly from electric vehicles. The legislation, led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) alongside Republicans, aims to keep AM radio as a critical, free emergency alert system.
Key Details regarding the effort to keep AM radio:
- The Problem: Major automakers like Tesla, BMW, Ford, and others began removing AM radios from new electric vehicles (EVs) because the electric engines cause electromagnetic interference, or for cost-saving reasons.
- The Legislative Response: The "AM for Every Vehicle Act" was introduced in 2023 and 2025 to require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate that all new vehicles include AM radio, without extra fees.
- Safety Rationale: Supporters argue that AM radio is vital for delivering emergency alerts during natural disasters, especially when internet or cellular data is unavailable.
- The Political Stance: This is a bipartisan effort, with members of both parties advocating for the protection of AM radio as a public-safety resource.
While some automakers sought to remove it, lawmakers in Congress have taken action to preserve it.