Uproar over Fresh Air in Mississippi

After Mississippi Public Broadcasting abruptly dropped Fresh Air from its radio schedule July 8, its explanation of "recurring inappropriate content" in the talk show didn't sit well with fans of the program.

Judith Lewis, executive director of the state-operated Mississippi Public Broadcasting TV and radio networks, decided to cancel Fresh Air one day after its interview with comedian Louis C.K., but MPB took a drubbing from angry listeners and snarky bloggers over the decision before conceding that host Terry Gross's conversation with the star of the FX television series Louie prompted the cancellation. Two weeks later, Lewis is reconsidering the decision. MPB may put Fresh Air back in the schedule at a later hour. The state network needs some time for reflection "to decide what to do with a program that causes us consternation," she said.