Radio is dead, right? People have been saying that since the first iPod dropped, yet here we are in 2026, and the AM dial is still kicking. Specifically, The Patriot 1150 AM (KEIB) remains a massive fixture in the Los Angeles media landscape. If you've ever spent an hour stuck in 405 traffic—which is basically everyone in LA—you know exactly what this station represents. It's the blowtorch.
KEIB isn't just a frequency; it's a specific kind of digital-analog hybrid ecosystem that serves a very loyal, very vocal audience. While FM stations chase the latest pop hits and podcasts fight for scraps of attention in the creator economy, The Patriot 1150 AM leans into the one thing that actually keeps people tuned in: personality-driven, high-stakes political discourse. It’s loud. It’s opinionated. Honestly, it’s exactly what its listeners are looking for when the rest of California feels like it's moving in a different political direction.
The Power of the Signal: What is KEIB 1150?
Owned by iHeartMedia, The Patriot 1150 AM operates out of Los Angeles with a 50,000-watt signal. That’s the legal limit. It means during the day, that signal rips across the basin, reaching from the high desert down into Orange County. When the sun goes down, AM signals do this weird thing called "skywave" propagation where they bounce off the ionosphere. You could theoretically be in a different state and catch a faint glimmer of a host arguing about tax policy.
The station actually has a pretty storied history. Before it became the conservative powerhouse we know today, 1150 AM was KMPC, a legendary sports station. Then it shifted through various identities, including a stint as KTLK. The pivot to "The Patriot" branding was a strategic move by iHeartMedia to consolidate its conservative talk lineup in the second-largest radio market in the country. They needed a home for the big guns.
The Lineup That Keeps the Lights On
You can’t talk about The Patriot 1150 AM without talking about the voices. It’s a syndicate-heavy station, which some critics say lacks "local flavor," but the ratings tell a different story. People tune in for the brands they recognize.
- The Morning Shift: Usually, the day kicks off with heavy hitters like Glenn Beck. Whether you love him or hate him, Beck is a master of the medium. He doesn’t just read news; he builds a narrative. For a commuter in Simi Valley or Riverside, that’s the morning coffee.
- The Midday Giants: This is where the station really earns its keep. For years, this slot was defined by the legacy of Rush Limbaugh. Since his passing, the station has leaned into the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show. It’s a different energy—younger, more sports-adjacent, but strictly conservative.
- Sean Hannity: The afternoon drive is Hannity’s world. By the time 3:00 PM rolls around, he’s ready to litigate whatever happened in D.C. that morning. It’s fast-paced. It’s repetitive. It works.
There’s a common misconception that AM radio is only for people over 70. Sure, the demographics skew older, but iHeartMedia has been aggressive about pushing The Patriot 1150 AM onto the iHeartRadio app. They know that the physical radio in a 2026 Tesla might not even have an AM tuner. By moving the stream to digital, they’ve kept the brand alive even as the hardware disappears.
👉 See also: Effingham County Jail Bookings 72 Hours: What Really Happened
Why Conservative Talk Thrives on The Patriot 1150 AM
California is a deep blue state. Los Angeles is a deep blue city. So, why does a station like The Patriot 1150 AM stay so profitable? It’s the "echo chamber" effect, but not in the way you might think. When you feel like your local government, your state representatives, and your local newspaper all disagree with your fundamental values, you seek out a "home."
For many Southern Californians, KEIB is that home.
The Counter-Culture Element
There is a certain irony in conservative talk being the "counter-culture" in Los Angeles, but that’s exactly how it’s marketed. The hosts frequently talk about "the liberal elite" or "the mainstream media" as if they aren't broadcasting from a massive corporate studio owned by the biggest radio company in the world. This framing is brilliant. It makes the listener feel like part of an underground resistance.
Community and Call-ins
Unlike a pre-recorded podcast, The Patriot 1150 AM is live. That matters. When a big news story breaks—a Supreme Court ruling, a local protest, or a change in gas prices—people want to hear the reaction now. They want to call in. They want to hear their neighbors vent. That immediacy is something Spotify can't quite replicate yet.
Navigating the Content: More Than Just Politics
While the "Patriot" name implies 24/7 flag-waving, the station actually handles a fair amount of lifestyle and financial programming, especially on weekends. You’ll hear shows about:
✨ Don't miss: Joseph Stalin Political Party: What Most People Get Wrong
- Real estate trends in Southern California.
- Retirement planning and "gold as an investment" (a staple of AM advertising).
- Health supplements and "longevity" science.
It’s a specific vertical of advertising. The people listening to The Patriot 1150 AM generally have disposable income. They are homeowners. They are concerned about the economy. Advertisers know this, which is why you hear so many ads for home security systems and tax relief services. It’s a highly targeted environment.
The Technical Reality of 1150 AM in 2026
We have to address the elephant in the room: static. AM radio (Amplitude Modulation) is susceptible to everything. Power lines, lightning, even the LED headlights on the car next to you can cause that annoying buzz.
If you are trying to listen to The Patriot 1150 AM and it sounds like a swarm of bees, you aren't alone. This is why the station pushes its "HD Radio" signal and its streaming options so hard. If you have a modern car, look for the HD2 or HD3 channels on the FM dial; iHeart often "translates" its AM stations onto FM sub-channels. It’s crystal clear. No static. No buzzing. Just the politics.
Common Misconceptions About the Station
- "It's just a repeat of 870 AM." KRLA 870 (The Answer) is the primary competitor. While they share similar ideologies, the lineups are totally different. KRLA leans more toward the Salem Media Group roster (Larry Elder, Dennis Prager), while 1150 AM is the iHeart/Premiere Networks powerhouse.
- "No one under 50 listens." Actually, data suggests that conservative talk radio has a surprising "pass-along" rate with younger family members and a growing audience in the 35-45 demographic who are becoming more concerned with property taxes and local school boards.
- "It’s only for Republicans." You’d be surprised. A lot of political junkies from the "other side" listen to KEIB just to know what the talking points are for the day. It's "opposition research" for the average Joe.
How to Get the Most Out of The Patriot 1150 AM
If you’re new to the station or just moved to SoCal, don't just graze the dial.
Download the App. Seriously. The AM signal is great if you’re in a 1998 Ford Ranger, but if you want to hear the nuances of a debate, the iHeartRadio app stream is 128kbps of clean audio. Plus, you can pause it when you have to run into a 7-Eleven.
🔗 Read more: Typhoon Tip and the Largest Hurricane on Record: Why Size Actually Matters
Check the Weekend Schedule. The weekdays are for the national stars, but the weekends often feature local hosts who talk about California-specific issues. If you want to know why your utility bill is so high or what’s happening with the latest ballot initiative in Sacramento, Saturday mornings are usually better than a Tuesday afternoon with a national host based in Florida or NYC.
Engagement is Key. The Patriot isn't just a one-way street. They are very active on social media (X/Twitter especially). If you disagree with a take, call the studio line. They actually answer. Well, the producers do, and if you’re coherent enough, you might actually get on air.
The Future of the Frequency
As we look toward the end of the decade, the survival of The Patriot 1150 AM depends on one thing: relevance. As long as there is a political divide in America, there will be a market for a station that takes a side. KEIB has positioned itself as the "loudspeaker" for a specific segment of Los Angeles that feels unheard.
Whether you find the content indispensable or infuriating, you have to respect the hustle. In an era of 15-second TikToks, 1150 AM is still asking people to sit down, listen, and think for three hours at a time. That’s a rare commodity.
Actionable Steps for Listeners
To stay connected with the station's pulse and the broader community, here is what you should do next:
- Sync Your Devices: Add KEIB to your presets on the iHeartRadio app to bypass the AM interference common in the LA canyons and downtown areas.
- Monitor the Local Shifts: Pay attention to the "local drop-ins" during commercial breaks. This is where the station provides the most value for SoCal residents, covering traffic updates and local news headlines that national hosts miss.
- Verify the Podcasts: If you missed a specific segment, most of the "Patriot" hosts archive their shows as podcasts within an hour of the broadcast ending. Use the search function on your preferred platform for "KEIB" or the specific host's name to catch up.
- Support Local Sponsors: If you use the services advertised on the station, mention that you heard them on 1150 AM. This is the only way local radio survives in a digital-first world.